| keremoner |
Yesterday, while I was backing the X up from a parking space, I slightly rubbed the car next to me. The scratch is barely visible and not worth going to my insurance company for since I have a $500 deductible. The location of the approximately 10 inch scratch is on the driver side, behind the rear wheel where the body moulding/rear quarter panel (bumper?) is raised up. (sorry no pictures) As I said it is barely visible but when you run your finger on it you definitely feel the scratch where the paint has been damaged.
Can I simply use a buffer and touch up paint to fix it my self? What is the way to get out scratches like the one I tried to describe?
Thanks in advance of your responses. |
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| A6MDX |
Or is the clear coat scuffed? If it's just the clearcoat I would suggest buffing it BY HAND. Start with a Swirl mark remover like 3M. If that doesn't help then go with a fine cut cleaner if it is not into the metallic paint coat. If that does not work then go up to a medium cut cleaner. Once you get it where you want it, work in the reverse direction with a fine cut cleaner then a glaze. Don't be impatient and work with a light touch so as to not rub into the paint coat. As a novice I wouldn't go with more than a medium cut cleaner as even that can do more harm than good if you are not careful.
Fine scratch repair
If it's into the paint coat then look here.
Paint Chips and Scratches |
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| keremoner |
| The scratch is on the paint itself. You can clearly feel it. |
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| whynotmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by keremoner
The scratch is on the paint itself. You can clearly feel it.
The clear coat is paint as well and a scratch in it would be felt. The question is did it scratch the color paint or just the clear coat. |
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| keremoner |
quote:
Originally posted by whynotmdx
The clear coat is paint as well and a scratch in it would be felt. The question is did it scratch the color paint or just the clear coat.
How can you tell whether it is the clear coat or the paint that is scratched? |
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| whynotmdx |
quote:
Originally posted by keremoner
How can you tell whether it is the clear coat or the paint that is scratched?
My guess would be that the paint is pretty thin and if scratched you could see the primer under it.
Someone else may have a better answer though. |
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| A6MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by whynotmdx
My guess would be that the paint is pretty thin and if scratched you could see the primer under it.
Bingo.
However, fine scratches could still make it down to the paint level and you could still not be able to actually see the primer. In this case the best you can hope for is to polish the clear coat and live with the fine scratches or just get the whole panel reshot.
I'd still try the fine cut polish cleaner first. Be gentle and follow that up with swirl mark remover then something like 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. |
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