It seems that one of the local drivers has left this wonderful scratch on my passenger door. It doesn't look massively deep but it has obviously gone down to the primer.

I was thinking to do the following:

Clean area with IPA.

Carefully apply primer in deeper scratches

Carefully apply matched paint on all scratches

Apply lacquer on all scratches

Rub down slightly with 3000grit wet paper

Use a medium polish over the area

Use a fine polish over the area

Use a sealant

Wax

If the above sounds wrong or incomplete, please shout.

Edited 7 June, 201610 yr by UdayP

Doing all that by hand might be tricky. If it is not down to metal, you may not need primer, and I'd be tempted to try mixing the lacquer in with the paint 50/50.

 

But yeah, IPA is vital so you can get any oils/greased/products well out.  It be worth using a lint free rag to smear the paint in then use a heavy polishing pad rather than wet and dry.  I'm sure experts will chime in better though.

Doing all that by hand might be tricky. If it is not down to metal, you may not need primer, and I'd be tempted to try mixing the lacquer in with the paint 50/50.

 

But yeah, IPA is vital so you can get any oils/greased/products well out.  It be worth using a lint free rag to smear the paint in then use a heavy polishing pad rather than wet and dry.  I'm sure experts will chime in better though.

 

Its definitely not down to metal, its not very deep either, I have had a feel and seems like the black paint layer is just thin. 

 

I was also thinking to just mix the paint and lacquer together but I wasn't entirely sure.

 

I guess I could use a soft spreader to put the paint in as well.

Its definitely not down to metal, its not very deep either, I have had a feel and seems like the black paint layer is just thin. 

 

I was also thinking to just mix the paint and lacquer together but I wasn't entirely sure.

 

I guess I could use a soft spreader to put the paint in as well.

 

The problem I foresee with painting them with a brush is that you'll end with up with raised ridges.  I'd be looking at using a spreader/cloth and smearing it in as if it were filler.  Being a dark car, I'd wager they would be almost invisible once finished off with a DA.

 

There are chipex kits, but I'm not sure they're any good for anything other than stone chips.  I'm going to be giving them a go myself soon.

Yeah I was looking at the paints4u kit. They seem to have morr work invloved but kit you everything you need. I'll be using them for the wealth of road rash on the front at some point.

Ok I'll take your advice and spread the paint and polish it off.

Yeah I was looking at the paints4u kit. They seem to have morr work invloved but kit you everything you need. I'll be using them for the wealth of road rash on the front at some point.

Ok I'll take your advice and spread the paint and polish it off.

Hold on for now  I'm no expert and someone who knows better might rush in a say I'm talking rubbish. It's just what I'd do and what I've seen done but I'm not sure on details of what exactly is entailed.  I do know a lot like to mix the lacquer in with the paint so you don't have to worry about multiple layers.  The more product you have to apply the more of a bulge/ridge you'll get.

I don't think you'd be able to polish the excess off, as the pad is soft it will end up removing paint where you don't want it to.

Your best bet IMO would be to fill it carefully with a brush, then block sand with 2000 grit wet and dry and then polish the sanding scratches out with a fairly heavy compound. Sanding with a block is important, as it'll help stop you going through the surrounding paint.

For that scratch you might be best off getting a smart repair company to do it instead to be honest. If you've never wet sanded paint before you're quite likely to go straight through the clear coat at least, so be careful!

It might be worth mentioning this thread in the Styling and Car care section and asking for their advice. There's some knowledge there.

Edited 8 June, 201610 yr by nickgpfc

This is the guide I'll be following soon myself:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20127

I have some fairly deep scratches and stone chips, so I'm more than willing to give it a go for £20. If it doesn't work, or I make them worse, I'll just go back to my original plan of getting the front end resprayed...

This is the guide I'll be following soon myself:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=20127

I have some fairly deep scratches and stone chips, so I'm more than willing to give it a go for £20. If it doesn't work, or I make them worse, I'll just go back to my original plan of getting the front end resprayed...

before and after pictures please. The beemer bonnet in the article looks pretty darn good..

Not sure if its me, but the damage in the first post looks more like top coat lacquer scuffing than cutting through the paint right down to the primer.  I believe I could flat and polish most of that back but without seeing a better picture or the damage in the flesh, I can't make that call.

Not sure if its me, but the damage in the first post looks more like top coat lacquer scuffing than cutting through the paint right down to the primer.  I believe I could flat and polish most of that back but without seeing a better picture or the damage in the flesh, I can't make that call.

If you are referring to my post in the beginning, I will get some more pictures later this weekend to help make that judgement.

 

Does top coat lacquer usually turn white if scuffed?

I agree it does look like at least some of that might polish out - it should probably be the first thing you try at least

 

On my Octy the metal primer is a sort of yellow colour and then there's a black undercoat on top of that, no grey primer in sight, so you might be in luck.