Thought I would do a brief how-to on some scratch removal I did recently. Car had been "painted" by a little kid with a stone or something. Thankfully not done maliciously so there was a small blessing that the scratches were not as bad compared to someone who might key a car right down to metal. I'll just put up a few photos.

Technique

1) measure all paint depths, especially around the scratches

2) decontaminate paintwork, mixture of tardis, iron-X and clay

3) wet sand using 1200, 2000 and 2500 grit wet & dry (done wet) using small eraser as a block for even force application.

4) dry off paintwork to leave dry (but hazy/sanded) paintwork.

5) polish using a 2" wool pad and a hard cutting polish

6) refine using a larger pad and a gentler polishes to remove scuffing left by the sanding & tough cutting stage

Wing before

Wing after

Bonnet before

Close-up!

Testing an area - scratch!

Sanded away - looks knackered right?!

But no...

The important thing to remember is at every stage paint depths were measured using a highly accurate gauge to ensure adequate clearcoat left. This isn't a task that can be done again (I think) should it get attacked again in a similar manner. But, the results were good, and a first "proper" attempt at wet sanding out scratches (I have done wet sanding on my red Porsche, but that's not the same....) proved to be worthwhile. Any further questions about techniques / products used, I'll be happy to assist.

I notice that scratches were on a silver coloured wing marked ('Before') whereas wing marked ('After') wing was now blue?

Perhaps it's me missing the whole point, I shall apologise, immediately.

That looks like a FORD wing, perhaps a FOCUS?

I think the colour difference is just a white balance conflict on the camera. 

 

 Great thread Jase, I need a few scratches taking out of the Golf, what device do you use to measure the lacquer depth?

Its very satisfying when the scratches are removed isn't it Jason?

How much did you charge?

I notice that scratches were on a silver coloured wing marked ('Before') whereas wing marked ('After') wing was now blue?

Perhaps it's me missing the whole point, I shall apologise, immediately.

That looks like a FORD wing, perhaps a FOCUS?

 

Yes, trick of the camera / light later in the day.  I was using my gazebo as sun shade which didn't help lighting up the car for photos.  Another shot from slightly different angle.  It was a Fiesta, 2004 one.

 

 

 

 

 

I think the colour difference is just a white balance conflict on the camera. 

 

 Great thread Jase, I need a few scratches taking out of the Golf, what device do you use to measure the lacquer depth?

 

"Paint Detective" - Great bit of kit sourced in a group buy for a good price

 

In action

 

 

 

 

Its very satisfying when the scratches are removed isn't it Jason?

How much did you charge?

 

Very satisfying indeed.  This thread is intended as a how-to with Colin's verbal approval, so keeping all unrelated details out.  Just for assistance to others to perhaps do the same on their own cars.

Wow I thought it was yours for a moment when I was reading.

Great result though

I tried this on an inconspicuous area with 1500 and 2500 grit. When sanding wood, as long as I don't skip more than one grit, I can get the previous grit scratches out. Just wondering if it's the same here, or do I really need that 2000 grit in between?

 

Second, I don't have a 'proper' cutting compound, I was only able to do a test with Meguiar's Ultimate Polish which brought the sanded patch back most of the way, but leaving a slight halo (surrounding paintwork unaltered). I suppose either the Megiuar's isn't hard enough to remove 2500 grit scratches properly, or the lack 2000 grit is to blame?

Great work Jason, awesome stuff.

I think this is the start to potentially a great thread but I think it possibly needs a bit more detail if it is used "for assistance to others to perhaps do the same on their own cars".

For example, there isn't any info about what you used to polish the car? I'm certain you used a DA or rotary machine polisher, but others may not?

There are plenty of others I could include, but I don't want it to come across like I'm just criticising this or trying to tear it apart. I do think it's an awesome idea but with nowhere near enough additional information to actually help someone try it themselves though.

Don't get me wrong, I am no expert, but having done this myself I can see you have the basic steps to follow, but it isn't expansive enough for those who don't know the bits between the lines to replicate your results.

I used both a rotary (EP801) (donkey work) and a DA (DAS6) (refinement)  

 

I used to be just in the DA camp only, but I never regret jumping to a rotary.

I started with a rotary as I was terrified of wasting my time on the rock solid red Audi paint with my quest for paint perfection on. Yet to add a DA to my arsenal, but I will at some point as they're pretty useful too.

Can someone point out why we're not allowed such threads or point me in the direction..... I'm

guessing somewhere in the T&C's?!

Thread split as it's going off topic for what is a how to. MY comments are in the other thread.