Scratch Repair Help
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 104
From: Springfield Ohio
That looks like it can easily be wet sanded and the polished to look like new. Do a search on wet sanding paint scratches and you'll get some very good videos on how it's done. Any local detailer can do it for you if you're a little nervous about doing it yourself. No one will ever know it was ever there!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 349
Likes: 7
From: San Diego CA
Doesn't look bad at all in the picture. A rag and mild polishing compound will make it 95% good. If the scratch is deep enough to leave an indentation, wet sanding will cure that. It doesn't look like it needs sanding though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
I can be done with touch up paint your color is one of the easier ones to do it with. Cut a brush at an angle and slowly fill it with several coats letting it dry totally between coats till the scratch area is level with the surrounding area then use 1200 grit wetsand paper to knock it down level gently and polish with 3M finesse it.It may take a couple of days to fill it and let dry between coats. It may be pretty close to perfect if done right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 190
From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
It's hard to tell from the pic, but if your not comfortable with wetsand, I suggest 3M medium cut cleaner, then a good polish, then wax...if you find after using the med cut cleaner that it's not to your satisfaction then try using 1500 grit or 1000 grit wetsand paper....you don't have to over do it, just get it enough where it feels smooth, then apply the polish. At this stage adding when you add the polish you can tell if you need to wetsand some more or if it is to your satisfaction. Good luck!
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: Lafayette La
I can be done with touch up paint your color is one of the easier ones to do it with. Cut a brush at an angle and slowly fill it with several coats letting it dry totally between coats till the scratch area is level with the surrounding area then use 1200 grit wetsand paper to knock it down level gently and polish with 3M finesse it.It may take a couple of days to fill it and let dry between coats. It may be pretty close to perfect if done right.
Did that to a huge scratch on my BSM. Worked perfect. Several coats over 3 days.
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If you do this yourself, post back up what you did and how it turned out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 825
Likes: 66
From: Baltimore Md
If the car is wet, can you see the scratch? Wet your finger and wipe it across... If it disappears, then the scratch is only in the clear and can be wetsanded and buffed without any colored touchup. If the scratch remains, I suggest the above methods over a couple days in order to touch up and wetland the scratch. Watch the edge of the bumper and don't heat things up too much or you may burn/deform/damage the bumper
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 969
From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
If the car is wet, can you see the scratch? Wet your finger and wipe it across... If it disappears, then the scratch is only in the clear and can be wetsanded and buffed without any colored touchup. If the scratch remains, I suggest the above methods over a couple days in order to touch up and wetland the scratch. Watch the edge of the bumper and don't heat things up too much or you may burn/deform/damage the bumper
Advice well heeded. You don't want to make a scratch repair turn into a whole hood paintjob.
