How to polish out small scratches

Zuffy · 04-29-2003, 12:13 PM

Anyone have a favorite product or technique to polish out small scratches in the clear coat? I have a Meguires product to use on scratches my friend bought me, but I'm wondering if I might do more damage to the clear coat using it.

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kenchan · 04-29-2003, 01:52 PM

i use ScratchX. then wax afterwards.

sometimes if it is a
very light scratch, clearner wax will also work.

WRXmy02 · 04-29-2003, 02:14 PM

Use the force Zuffy ...[Meguires is it]

cnstman · 04-29-2003, 02:55 PM

another vote for Stratch X

Zuffy · 04-29-2003, 08:30 PM

OK, thanks guys for psyching me up. I was getting all worried about using this stuff and then buffing to the metal because of the dreaded "thin Scooby paint." I'll use the force, err Scratch X and just go real slow and softly.

Thumper23 · 04-29-2003, 09:21 PM

my paint is getting to the point now where I'm thinking of just taking it to a professional detailers and let them work their magic. I know it will be expensive, but I think worth it.

VipersEatLotus · 04-29-2003, 10:35 PM

i always advertise these two sites when it comes to paint care or detailing:

Autopia
and
Proper Auto Care

best damn sites i have seen on paint and body care

the autopia forums are great for questions like this. not to say that you guys who responded are wrong or anything but just some other options out there that is just my $.02

dave

zombiedog · 04-29-2003, 11:43 PM

I get 1200 grit sand paper and wet sand the chip smooth. Then I get auto paint (touch up will work too) and tiny paint brush and build the paint up into and slightly around the chip. Letting each layer to dry then adding another. Then sand the new paint flat to the original. Then I get 3M perfect it 2 and 3 which is just good rubbing compound. I rub it out then wax it. Takes a while but the chip dissapears even on close inspection. This is the technique show car and restorers use for flawless chip fixes.

Took me 2-3 times to get it down good but once you got it you can do your whole car in an hour. I do it about 2 times a year. Here's a link that explains better than me.

http://www.scottgrundfor.com/ideas/ipaintchips.html

Zuffy · 04-30-2003, 12:08 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. I went and used the Scratch X and it worked pretty well on the small scratches. You can't even see some of them anymore, but I have some deeper ones on the hood which look like a squirrel ran across and they wont buff out. I wonder if that Zaino stuff will work for the deeper stuff. I don't want to remove any clearcoat if I can help it. Only had the car for 3 weeks so far.

kenchan · 04-30-2003, 05:59 PM

i would mask off that section and use more scratchX...after you
get it buffed to a point you can accept, remove the mask and
gently scratchX around it to blend it in (if necessary).

remember though, you are removing a very thin layer of clearcoat
so be careful.

wax afterwards.

Zola · 04-30-2003, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zuffy
I wonder if that Zaino stuff will work for the deeper stuff.

A few coats of Z5 did WONDERS for my swirl marks. Serious scratches it can't do anything about, of course.

Zuffy · 04-30-2003, 09:20 PM

Hummmm mash the affected area. Very good idea Ken, I never thought of that. I found that every time I started buffing the scratch X stuff gets moved around so much a large area ends up getting buffed. Maybe I should wait till the stuff dries a bit more before buffing it off. Gotta try those tips out.

04-29-2003, 12:13 PM	#1
Zuffy Scooby Specialist Member#: 35268 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Canada Vehicle: 2004 WRX Stg2 & with added PDX goodness	How to polish out small scratches Anyone have a favorite product or technique to polish out small scratches in the clear coat? I have a Meguires product to use on scratches my friend bought me, but I'm wondering if I might do more damage to the clear coat using it. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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04-29-2003, 01:52 PM	#2
kenchan Scooby Guru Member#: 15106 Join Date: Feb 2002	i use ScratchX. then wax afterwards. sometimes if it is a very light scratch, clearner wax will also work.

04-29-2003, 02:14 PM	#3
WRXmy02 Scooby Newbie Member#: 14938 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: East Pa. Vehicle: 02 Wrx	Use the force Zuffy ...[Meguires is it]

04-29-2003, 02:55 PM	#4
cnstman Scooby Specialist Member#: 9548 Join Date: Aug 2001 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Colorado Springs Vehicle: 2004 WRX STi PSM, 10.741 @ 126.29	another vote for Stratch X

04-29-2003, 08:30 PM	#5
Zuffy Scooby Specialist Member#: 35268 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Canada Vehicle: 2004 WRX Stg2 & with added PDX goodness	OK, thanks guys for psyching me up. I was getting all worried about using this stuff and then buffing to the metal because of the dreaded "thin Scooby paint." I'll use the force, err Scratch X and just go real slow and softly.

04-29-2003, 09:21 PM	#6
Thumper23 Scooby Specialist Member#: 11571 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Portsmouth, RI Vehicle: '08 BMW 135i F/A-18C	my paint is getting to the point now where I'm thinking of just taking it to a professional detailers and let them work their magic. I know it will be expensive, but I think worth it.

04-29-2003, 10:35 PM	#7
VipersEatLotus Scooby Guru Member#: 21007 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Chesapeake, VA	i always advertise these two sites when it comes to paint care or detailing: Autopia and Proper Auto Care best damn sites i have seen on paint and body care the autopia forums are great for questions like this. not to say that you guys who responded are wrong or anything but just some other options out there that is just my $.02 dave

04-29-2003, 11:43 PM	#8
zombiedog Scooby Specialist Member#: 25138 Join Date: Sep 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: DC - MD Vehicle: 85 e30 PRIMERZ!	I get 1200 grit sand paper and wet sand the chip smooth. Then I get auto paint (touch up will work too) and tiny paint brush and build the paint up into and slightly around the chip. Letting each layer to dry then adding another. Then sand the new paint flat to the original. Then I get 3M perfect it 2 and 3 which is just good rubbing compound. I rub it out then wax it. Takes a while but the chip dissapears even on close inspection. This is the technique show car and restorers use for flawless chip fixes. Took me 2-3 times to get it down good but once you got it you can do your whole car in an hour. I do it about 2 times a year. Here's a link that explains better than me. http://www.scottgrundfor.com/ideas/ipaintchips.html

04-30-2003, 12:08 PM	#9
Zuffy Scooby Specialist Member#: 35268 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Canada Vehicle: 2004 WRX Stg2 & with added PDX goodness	Thanks for the tips guys. I went and used the Scratch X and it worked pretty well on the small scratches. You can't even see some of them anymore, but I have some deeper ones on the hood which look like a squirrel ran across and they wont buff out. I wonder if that Zaino stuff will work for the deeper stuff. I don't want to remove any clearcoat if I can help it. Only had the car for 3 weeks so far.

04-30-2003, 05:59 PM	#10
kenchan Scooby Guru Member#: 15106 Join Date: Feb 2002	i would mask off that section and use more scratchX...after you get it buffed to a point you can accept, remove the mask and gently scratchX around it to blend it in (if necessary). remember though, you are removing a very thin layer of clearcoat so be careful. wax afterwards.

04-30-2003, 09:20 PM	#12
Zuffy Scooby Specialist Member#: 35268 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Canada Vehicle: 2004 WRX Stg2 & with added PDX goodness	Hummmm mash the affected area. Very good idea Ken, I never thought of that. I found that every time I started buffing the scratch X stuff gets moved around so much a large area ends up getting buffed. Maybe I should wait till the stuff dries a bit more before buffing it off. Gotta try those tips out.