I need some help guys...someone bumped my door in the parking lot today and now i've got a big scratch on my door handle..any ideas on how to get it out...ps. i tried meguiers scratch x and nothing.
ohh ya. BAD DRIVERS SUCK
scratch removal
- Thread starter nips2300
- Start date
I need some help guys...someone bumped my door in the parking lot today and now i've got a big scratch on my door handle..any ideas on how to get it out...ps. i tried meguiers scratch x and nothing.
ohh ya. BAD DRIVERS SUCK
Mac98SHO
Active LVC Member
How deep is the scratch?
3M (1500 grit) Rubbing Compound, and some elbow greese might do the trick.
I have gotten some deep scratches out with that stuff.
3M (1500 grit) Rubbing Compound, and some elbow greese might do the trick.
I have gotten some deep scratches out with that stuff.
If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail, there isn't much you can do. Otherwise, I would try the 3M rubbing compound and use as directed. At the detail shop I manage, a rule of thumb i use is that if I can feel it with my finger nail, than the very best that can be done for it is to minimize it.nips2300 said:
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
Where can I get this stuff? Local Autozone?
The same thing happen to me saturday night, but a the a-hole took it all the way down past the paint and took a little chunk out of one part. I am going to have to buy a new door handle now. I am so excited.
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
Where can I get this stuff? Local Autozone?
G
GrayGhost1
Guest
If you can feel the scratch with your finger nail as stated above you really can fix it completely without having it re-painted. However, it if its a very light scratch or scuff then you can probably "color sand" it out. Here is what will work:
1. Take 2000 wet/dry sandpaper and soak it in soapy water for about 5 minutes.
2. Use the soapy water as a lubricant as you GENTLY rub the sand paper over the affected area.
3. Squeegee away excess water to see if the scratch is going away. Be careful because you are sanding layers of clear coat. You don't want to rub hard as you may eat all the clear coat and just leave base coat. Base coat can NOT be buff out to shine.
4. Once the light scratch or scuff is gone then you can start the polishing.
5. Take light duty rubbing compound like 3M Light Rubbing Compound and polish the area. If you are not using a dual action polisher machine and doing this by hand it may take several polishings to get the area shiney.
6. Once the area has produced a shine, take some swirl mark remover polish and polish the area again. 3M makes a very good swirl mark polish compound. If you are not using a dual action polisher machine then you may have to repeat this several times until the paint is completely swirl mark free.
7. Once the area is completely shiny and smooth without swirl marks then top it off with your favorite wax.
What I described above is called "color sanding". All professional detailers and painters use this method to remove orange peel, dust and other imperfections from the paint. This is really an art than it is anything else. It takes some practice to be very good at it but the novice can take their time and accomplish this with very good results. If the scratches are too deep and past the layers of clear coat and into the base coat you really can't do anything with it unless you have it re-painted.
You might want to take it to a professional detailer in your area and let them look at it if you are uncomfortable about doing this. Also, visit Meguiars Online for more information on how to "color sand" and polishing techniques.
1. Take 2000 wet/dry sandpaper and soak it in soapy water for about 5 minutes.
2. Use the soapy water as a lubricant as you GENTLY rub the sand paper over the affected area.
3. Squeegee away excess water to see if the scratch is going away. Be careful because you are sanding layers of clear coat. You don't want to rub hard as you may eat all the clear coat and just leave base coat. Base coat can NOT be buff out to shine.
4. Once the light scratch or scuff is gone then you can start the polishing.
5. Take light duty rubbing compound like 3M Light Rubbing Compound and polish the area. If you are not using a dual action polisher machine and doing this by hand it may take several polishings to get the area shiney.
6. Once the area has produced a shine, take some swirl mark remover polish and polish the area again. 3M makes a very good swirl mark polish compound. If you are not using a dual action polisher machine then you may have to repeat this several times until the paint is completely swirl mark free.
7. Once the area is completely shiny and smooth without swirl marks then top it off with your favorite wax.
What I described above is called "color sanding". All professional detailers and painters use this method to remove orange peel, dust and other imperfections from the paint. This is really an art than it is anything else. It takes some practice to be very good at it but the novice can take their time and accomplish this with very good results. If the scratches are too deep and past the layers of clear coat and into the base coat you really can't do anything with it unless you have it re-painted.
You might want to take it to a professional detailer in your area and let them look at it if you are uncomfortable about doing this. Also, visit Meguiars Online for more information on how to "color sand" and polishing techniques.
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
OK...but say i have A LOT of litte scratches all over the car. I have those damn swirl marks all over...none are deep.
If this safe to do to the whole car?
If this safe to do to the whole car?
G
GrayGhost1
Guest
Yes, you can do the entire car but that is a tremendous amount of work. However, it would look like glass once done. Just be careful around edges and corners.cableguynoe said:
I would recommend getting a good dual action polisher like the one Porter Cable sells. Meguiars.com sells the for around $250. I have one and use it to apply all of the Meguiars products.
Mac98SHO
Active LVC Member
cableguynoe said:
Wal-Mart, Autozone, Napa and such.
I got out buffed out some deep scratches with that stuff. The scratches were still there but they were no longer as noticible. Unless you were really looking for them.
You know I bought this new turtle wax the other day for my LS. It matches the color of my car "black" and it took out all my lights scratches. It also came with a wax stick of some sort that you can rub onto deeper scratches and it is supposed to fill it in. In worked real well on my LS, I think they make different colors in it. I saw black, white, and red, but I wasn't paying much attention to the other colors. Check out Autozone, that's where I got it from. Just look for it, it has something called a chipstic on it.
cableguynoe
Well-Known LVC Member
J3ff.. I've used that one many times. It looks great when you first do it, but it really doesnt remove the sratches/swirls. They will come back. The stick was pretty good for a deep scratch i had. It didnt remove it, but now it's darker, so it's not as noticeable.
I'm definately going to go with the products that Greyghost recommened. It my last hope!
I'm definately going to go with the products that Greyghost recommened. It my last hope!
kudisbetta
Well-Known LVC Member
cableguynoe said:
repaint it.. worth it in the long run