Corvettes_Rock

Best Way to get light scratches out of LeMans Blue Paint? First LeMans Blue Vette I've had....

Prior owner put light scratches on back area around truck area by obviously putting things in trunk with no protection as to the paint.
1) Best product to buff it out?
2) Preferred method to buff?

Thanks for any info you can give me, just bought it 2 months ago and light scratches all around trunk area driving me crazy.

Thanks so much. Sherry

Guard Dad

Really depends on how "light" they are. A light polishing with a random orbital polisher and a swirl/scratch remover polish would be a good start. If that doesn't sound like something you'd like to do, a detailer or body shop could do it for not too much money.

BWF07

Are the scratches through the clear as well as the base coat? If it is in the clear coat only, can you feel the scratches with your finger nail? If not they most likely can be buffed out, if you can, it will take a professional to correct it,

I recommend an random orbital buffer unless you have experience with a circular buffer. Most of the top brand swirl and haze removers and polishes have the cutting ability to remove light scratches, but you will need to work at it, as the clear coat on Corvette is very hard, but also very thin.

Corvettes_Rock

Thanks for the responses....

I found Scratch Away, clear coat Paint Restore at Corvette Central, for $15...thinking of trying this?????

Guard Dad, where would I find the swirl/scratch remover polish???? Thanks, Sherry

Cherokee Nation

I had the same on my 08 black vette.I wet sanded with 2000 grit & used my flex DA & WolfGang stuff...

duckvett

Sherry,
This kind of paint correction is extremely difficult to do by hand, you really need a dual-action buffer and all the associated pads and product that go with it. If you are willing to lay out the money to buy everything and learn to detail your car(s) yourself there is a lot of advise in the Car Care Discussion forum. If you don't plan on doing that, I suggest you have a professional detailer evaluate your Corvette's needs.

Corvettes_Rock

Advice well taken...

BWF07

Sherry, you have not said how deep the scratches are. If you can fell them with you nail, they will be extremely difficult to remove. As mentioned in my earlier post and others have said you will need to invest in some supplies such as the orbital buffer and different pads as well as the polishes. Wet sanding is an option, but ift is also something that I would not suggest trying unless you have done it before.

I have used Adams products for many years and he also has a forum that is all about detailing. He is a forum vendor and his products carry the GM logo as they have been licensed by GM as the official car care product for new Corvette's and Camaro's. Here is a link to his site, http://www.adamsforums.com/index.php. The members can really help you out and you may find someone on there that is in your area and would be willing to help you out.

Mr.Nubain

My dad's red 3000GT has tons of hairline and swirl mark scratches. I used a clay bar, some McGuires polish of sorts and then their gold class wax and the car looked like a different car. Try it by hand first and expect to spend a whole day at it. It's a lot of work, but kinda fun seeing the changes. Unless your a pro with a buffer, I wouldn't do it. When that wax and polish ware off the track marks are worse than before. However, if your a pro go for it.

BWF07

Actually a random orbit buffer will bot harm the clear coat or paint, it is the big circular buffers that do the damage unless you are well versed in the use of them. I use a Ports Cable at least twice a year on my '07 and I did on my '01 and never had an issue.

There is always the Glazing route to try. A good glaze will fillin the small scratches and swirls, but they will appear again when the glaze wears off. A good coat of glaze followed with a good wax will last a while. It is easier then the buffing, but then again you are not fixing the issue, only masking it and again it will only work on minor scratches and swirls.