You don't need fancy tools to distinguish a scratch from a mark. A fingernail drawn over the surface at 90 degrees to the defect will tell you if it's gouged into the paint or sitting on top of it. If it's a mark that appears to be from rubber, plastic or even other paint, it may come off easily with an aerosol tar or adhesive remover.
Stubborn scratch marks often can be removed with acetone or lacquer thinner on a soft rag. If the mark is still there after using one of these solvents, try hand rubbing or polishing compound. First, clean the area with soap and water, then spread rubbing compound on the mark and rub the area in a circular motion until the mark disappears.
Once the scratch gone, switch to a back-and-forth motion to remove circular buffing marks. Buff the area with a clean cloth to remove rubbing compound. Then, using a fresh pad, clean the area with polishing compound to remove the fine scratches left by the rubbing compound. Finish by sealing the surface with a good car wax.
1. Shoe polish can be used to visualize the scratches.
2. Wipe the shoe polish over the panel. This fills the scratches with polish.
3. Block sand the panel with 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper and plenty of water. Sand until the shoe polish disappears.
4. Polish out the sanding scratches with rubbing compound.
5. A polishing wheel makes short work of bringing the shine back. An oscillating polisher is less aggressive than this rotary polisher. Don't buff through the paint into the next layer, especially on high-crown or sharp edges.
6. Finish with light hand buffingto remove the last of the compound. Follow with car wax.
No comments:
Post a Comment