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removing scratches (not swirls)

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5.6K views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  03Z06EB405  
#1 ·
Hey all-

Got a nice story (reaffirming my hatred for other motorists) to share.

Was at a stop light yesterday, a riced out neon is in front of me with some girl driving. Im sitting there trying to read her old english style lettering on her back window when she starts BACKING UP. Apparently she thought she was too far into the intersection and had to backup - WITHOUT SEEING I WAS 10 feet behind her!

Figuring she would stop - nope - I had to quick throw it in reverse and nail it - barely missed her hitting me (or so I thought). So I honked my horn and flicked her off - she proceeded to peel out through the intersection nearly causing another accident.

So I get to the gym and I get out to look at the front bumper - lo and behold theres like 10 2" long vertical scratches on my front bumper above the license plate holder. The area that was scratced is around 2" tall x 3" wide - just barely got me.

I await anxiously for seeing her on the road again so I can have a little 'chat', but in the meantime can anyone give me tips on how to remove these? They are too deep for swirl mark remover. Does that G5 scratch remover stuff really work, or at least hide them? I do not want to get my entire bumper repainted for such a small area of scratches.

Thanks!
 
#2 · (Edited)
If its just her paint on you car you can get it off with fine compound,if its a scratch that you actually can fell with your fingernail when you run it down then its in the clearcoat and i would recommend taking it to a good detailing shop and see if they can rub it out depening how deep its in the cleacoat they may be able to rub it out by compounding or wet sanding,good luck.
 
#3 ·
Thanks - yeah i got her paint residue off, so the scratches arent as bad and no one else would probably notice, but it still lingers in my mind that my car is no longer 'perfect' :) Ill try some detailers in town and see what they have to say.
 
#6 ·
Bummer. Do the scratches go just as far as the clear coat or are they into the color coat? Try a POLISHING compound---NOT a RUBBING compound & see if this is enough. Hope it works for you.

David
 
#7 ·
I can rub my finger nail in them - not sure to tell how deep they are. I tried all my swirl removers and waxes and nothing really has an effect (other than removing the paint marks) :(
 
#8 ·
Sounds like they need to be wet sanded. Essentially you need to even out the surface around the scratches by wet sanding, then you build up the area with polish and wax. I got a nice scratch on my door today too :-/ Spent a good deal of time waxing and polishing, and I even used toothpaste to no luck. So tomorrow I may give the wet sanding route a try. Otherwise it'll go to a body shop.

hth,

-N
 
#9 ·
N-
Thanks for the tip. Ill take it to the body shop when the weather clears up and have them check it out :)
 
#10 ·
Wet sanding is something I might consider AFTER I used a buffer and compound. Are you handy with a power buffer?

Charlie
 
#11 ·
I have one - no luck :\
 
#12 ·
Spy-- I also use Langka with great success (although haven't used it with clear). Here's my plan:

1- tape of area .25" around scratch with masking tape.
2- either spray clearcoat on apply it on with my clearcoat pen (haven't decided which one to use - buy all my stuff from http://www.paintscratch.com/)
3- smooth out "blob" of clear by either wet sanding or using Langka (http://www.langka.com/newsite/index2.html)
3b - I may use toothpaste to dull the new clear to match surrounding area as needed
4- apply polish and wax as needed.

I'm going to pick up some 2000 grit wet sandpaper and some factory clear in a bottle this AM and give it a shot. I'll snap some pix.

-N
 
#14 ·
Blue Coral makes a scratch remover that works very well. I think it's called "Scratch Remover" http://www.bluecoral.com/exterior_frame_link.htm

I tried it on my G35 Coupe which had like a fingernail type scratch in the trunk, and it was gone with this stuff. I was skeptical, but it really worked. I don't know if it will help with bigger scratches like you have, but it's worth a shot. Most auto parts stores carry it. I think I bought my tube of it at Pep Boys.
 
#15 ·
Thanks z06ified - ill check it out - trying anything at this point :D
 
#16 ·
Meguairs has a scratch remover that I have used and it works...

Good Luck