Advice on scratch removal

M

md4ua

New member
Have been a lurker for some time now, but would like some advice on scratch removal. Will try to include image of the trunk of my `93 black Acura Legend so you can view my problem. There are numerous scratches here, probably only the larger ones are easily seen in this photo, but hopefully you can appreciate the problem. Fortunately, the rest of the car doesn't look this bad! There a few other spots on the side panel and hood, along with a few swirl marks.



I have already tried ScratchX, and it didn't do much. What kind of swirl remover, polish, etc, would be best in this situation?

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Are you doing this by hand? If not, then you have a slight advantage, since it should help work the product into the paint easier. I'd use some nice rubbing compound or somthing. Most scratch removers never work very good. ( MY EXPERIENCE)
 
I have a Porter Cable 7424 polisher now so I can use just about any products that you think would be best. And I live in southeast Alabama (Dothan, just north of the Florida border.)
 
md4ua- Welcome to Autopia! Those are some pretty nasty scratches you have there, I dunno if the PC is gonna cut it (oops, pun :o ). Unfortunately, that's a good example of a job that sorta calls for a rotary (or ScottWax).



Get something like 1Z's Ultra Polish, and also some Paint Polish and maybe some Metallic Polish too. Use the Ultra with a cutting pad on speed 6. If that doesn't do much of anything, you can try a wool pad for a few passes, but do most of it with the cutting pad. Do it until things are better (the UP will leave it's own marring, don't worry about it). Then use the Paint Polish, also with a cutting pad on 6 to remove the marring that the UP left behind. Then PP again with a polishing pad (maybe a few times). Maybe then follow *that* with 1Z's Metallic Polish, also with a polishing pad. That should make a big difference, but it still won't be perfect. Follow with a "heavy" wax, like Meg's #16. That's about as good as *I* could do with a PC.



I can't really give any recommendations about other brands for something like what you have. I've just never had decent results with anything except the 1z products when working on serious marring with a PC.
 
Thanks a lot! That's what i was looking for. I just don't know enough about the brands, so your advice is right on the spot. I'll give that a try when I get some time. Thanks again! :)
 
md4ua --



Black 1984 Mustang using a PC7424 and various pads, chemicals. The scratches on this one seemed about similar to the ones shown in your photo. The Mustang took several chemicals. I also didn't have the full spread of pads, so I could easily have bumped up the 'grit' and sped up the work. Essentially, higher speeds, grittier chemical (ie Meguiar's Medium Cut or similar), orange/yellow pads or better. It's amazing how much these little machines can take out, when the right combination of pad/chemical is used.
 
OceanRagtop, that was a great job on the Mustang! I would be happy to get even close to such a finish on my car.



Thanks for the reply!
 
Accumulator said:




Get something like 1Z's Ultra Polish, and also some Paint Polish and maybe some Metallic Polish too. Use the Ultra with a cutting pad on speed 6. If that doesn't do much of anything, you can try a wool pad for a few passes, but do most of it with the cutting pad. Do it until things are better (the UP will leave it's own marring, don't worry about it). Then use the Paint Polish, also with a cutting pad on 6 to remove the marring that the UP left behind. Then PP again with a polishing pad (maybe a few times). Maybe then follow *that* with 1Z's Metallic Polish, also with a polishing pad. That should make a big difference, but it still won't be perfect. Follow with a "heavy" wax, like Meg's #16. That's about as good as *I* could do with a PC.



I can't really give any recommendations about other brands for something like what you have. I've just never had decent results with anything except the 1z products when working on serious marring with a PC.
Click to expand...





I can attest to this 100%. I recently spent 4 1/2 hours working on the trunk of my other car using basically this method with ther 1z and PC on light to moderate scratches and marring. I really need to step up to the rotary.
 
I notice that UPP carries a fairly aggressive rating. Since I have little experience with the PC, can I be comfortable that the UPP won't cause further damage/scratching/or marring than I already have?



I was planning on using the method recommended by Accumulator using UPP followed by PP, but am now concerned that I might make things even worse since I haven't used the PC very much. Would I be better off trying the PP alone first or are my concerns unwarranted?
 
md4ua - Maybe just try the PP. UP *can* make things "worse" if it's used improperly. PP might not fix things completely, but it'll sure make an difference. I hesitate to say "your concerns are unwarranted" since I just don't know enough about the situation.



So err on the side of caution and just use PP, going over each area a few times.
 
The only thing I've seen that can actually get that out would be wetsanding. It's really not that hard, or at least it doesn't look it, but I've only seen it done and not actually done it myself.



Basically get some 3000 grit finishing paper and a backing pad and follow the directions. Only problem is that once your done you will need a rotory with some pretty abrasive compound to get out the scratches that the wetsanding leaves behind.



You can do it yourself but honestly it would probably be better if you get a professional to do it.
 
Thanks for the replies!



I think I will try the PP first and see how that goes. The wetsanding approach sounds like a more definitive answer, but not for this rookie!



The car is 11 years old and the paint is not in too bad of a condition otherwise (those places on the trunk and a few spots on the hood are the worst.) I used Meg's cleaner wax for the first few years, followed by Deep Crystal polish and Gold Class Wax in later years before finding this website as a fabulous source of information. But, again, I am a true novice so the old rule of "First, do no harm" still rings true for me!



(Of course, I could change that rule to "No guts, no glory!"):D
 
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