how to deal with scratches

[duhtroll]

Hey everyone,

I have some scratches on the hood, which I think was caused by ice melting and sliding off (or it happened in some parking lot where some idiot set stuff on the car) but it happened right after the snowstorm a couple weeks ago so I am guessing ice.

Anyway, I am going out to hand wash/wax this afternoon, and am leery of buffing compounds with our thin paint problem. Anyone got a solution for some scratches? They are white, which means through the paint (I know it doesn't seem right that ice *should* cause that, but our paint is so damn thin after all).

They aren't dealer/factory fault, so I doubt I can go in and claim a warranty paint job. :lol:

What say you? Buffing compound? Does clay bar do that much? I'm open to suggestions. Sorry I don't have pics, but they are about 5-6 scratches a couple inches in length, not very wide, but deep enough to hit primer.

On a related note, I have been using the Mr. Clean wash system to keep salt and stuff off in the winter (I want to do it every day and this is cheaper). Is the Mr. Clean soap taking my wax off? The sheeting dry action does work, but the water beading is gone. Can anyone explain that? Is the wax still there just smoother with the rinse stuff the MR. Clean uses, or is the soap stripping my wax the first time I use it?

Sorry for all the questions, but this board is so helpful I can't keep them to myself!

Thanks all,
-Andrew

[CRUZTAKER]

If you end up cleaning it up yourself....

Use '3M SWIRL MARK REMOVER' Part #39009, it comes in a black bottle with a rustic label with yellow print.
Use a damp sponge, or your fingers, and rub the compound until it turns clear and wet looking. It will remove some of the deepest scratches. DO NOT use a towel, even if it is 100% cotton.

Recommended by the folks at Zaino themselves as a pre starter before / after the clay bar. Use the clay bar as well with mother's or maguires spray detailer wax as lube.

[Smokie]

I have used Turtle wax Swirl remover for Black paint, comes with black wax stick to fill the scratch with color and the swirl remover is also black, is what I used to hide my shame prior to new paint job. It works.

[jgc61sr2002]

I have used Turtle wax Swirl remover for Black paint, comes with black wax stick to fill the scratch with color and the swirl remover is also black, is what I used to hide my shame prior to new paint job. It works.



Short of painting I agree with Javier.^^^^^^

[Petrograde]

Anyone got a solution for some scratches?
I like the Zaino swirl remover (uh-uh,... here we go :rolleyes: ) However, Barry used some of the 3M stuff of a particularly bad scuff on my front quarter panel at M'Ville I. It worked pretty well!


They are white, which means through the paint
Probably, but not necessarily,... could be salt residue, or just plain 'ol crap.


What say you? Buffing compound? Does clay bar do that much? hmmm,.. clay bar... I'm thinking about doing this too. But, my understanding of how a clay bar works is it removes crud from the paint. I'm not sure if it does anything for swirls or scratches. If someone knows out there, speak up!


I have been using the Mr. Clean wash system to keep salt and stuff off in the winter (I want to do it every day and this is cheaper). Is the Mr. Clean soap taking my wax off?
I've been using this too. Pretty good stuff, if you have the patience to wait for it to dry. I haven't noticed it taking off my Zaino.


The sheeting dry action does work, but the water beading is gone. Can anyone explain that?
Check your filter, if you've used it more than 5 times, it might be cashed out.


Is the wax still there just smoother with the rinse stuff the MR. Clean uses, or is the soap stripping my wax the first time I use it?
I don't know what kind of wax you use. But, like I said, I've had no problems so far.


Sorry for all the questions, but this board is so helpful I can't keep them to myself!
..sorry? why?... that's why we're here man!

Tom

[89VERT]

If the scratch can be felt with your fingernail or it's down to the primer , there probably isn't a lot you can do yourself .
I'd be inclined to find a touch-up /paint chip specialist that most likely could fix the problem quickly and somewhat affordably.
The clay bar only removes surface contaminants from the paint and is perfect to utilize prior to using swirl remover .I use Meguiars swirl remover and it's effective.

[duhtroll]

Both Wally World and the auto parts place near my house did not stock any swirl removers except the Meguiar's, so I got some. It pretty much hides every single scratch save one of them. That one is much better than it was but still visible if you look for it.

I also Mr. Clean washed, clay bar, and waxed with the Mother's cleaner wax included with the clay bar. I wanted to top that with the new Nxt Gen wax I also bought today, but I ran out of time. That will have to wait until next time.

$14 a bottle - it better be good! ;-)

Thanks for the help guys,
-A

[Sactown]

hmmm,.. clay bar... I'm thinking about doing this too. But, my understanding of how a clay bar works is it removes crud from the paint. I'm not sure if it does anything for swirls or scratches. If someone knows out there, speak up!Tom

If you can feel the scratch is cut through your paint, claybar will be of no use to you. It is designed to remove embeded particles from the surface of your paint, and nothing more. It does this very well, but has no magical powers to deposit matching paint into scratch marks. If the "scratch" is actually a mark on the paint, the claybar may actually help to remove the residue that is making the mark.

I highly recommend claybar. When used properly it makes your paint very smooth to the touch without adding any scratches.

[Rob1559]

I have had good results with Meguires scratch remover.

[TAF]

Glad you got it worked out Andrew...if you want to get the deeper one...stop by your dealers body shop...shop it to their best paint guy...slip him a $20 bill for lunch/beers...and ask him to tackle it. He'll probably fix you right up.:up: