I got keyed - need info on scratch remover
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 6
From: Alva Oklahoma
I got keyed - need info on scratch remover
My car was keyed by an amateur, however it's still a scratch on a nearly perfect car... From the passenger headlight, down the side, to the rear fender by the marker light. They didn't get through the clear coat down to paint, but I know it's there and I'm pretty pissed.
I live in a small town and the only automotive stores we have is an O'Reilly's and Wal-Mart. We have a Napa, but they only carry parts, they don't have anything for car care.
I don't have a power buffer or know anyone that does, although I have absolutely no fear of wasting an entire day buffing or scrubbing by hand to get a scratch removed.
Please help!
I live in a small town and the only automotive stores we have is an O'Reilly's and Wal-Mart. We have a Napa, but they only carry parts, they don't have anything for car care.
I don't have a power buffer or know anyone that does, although I have absolutely no fear of wasting an entire day buffing or scrubbing by hand to get a scratch removed.
Please help!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 654
Likes: 1
From: chandler az
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
From: West MI
St. Jude Donor '12
Sorry to hear that...I'd be pissed too
....I'd try to get a hold of a buffer( low speed) try that first,but if it got through to the paint,that's gonna need some professional help.That's a D___ shame people can't keep their hands to their selves,found a smaller scratch on my truck like that so i know how ya feel,I was ready to someone,If that was my vette I'd be sick.
....I'd try to get a hold of a buffer( low speed) try that first,but if it got through to the paint,that's gonna need some professional help.That's a D___ shame people can't keep their hands to their selves,found a smaller scratch on my truck like that so i know how ya feel,I was ready to someone,If that was my vette I'd be sick.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 6
From: Alva Oklahoma
I wouldn't exactly call them professionals, but let's be honest... a car can be scratched, and then a car can be keyed.
Almost all of mine isn't through the clear coat, but if they were good at keying a car, they wouldn't stop pressing until they saw silver metal.
My friend's dad had an old car that he let us do whatever we wanted to it since it didn't run. We decided that we were going to carve our names into it one day, and we found out that it's a lot harder than most people think to actually get through clear coat and paint.
I will go to the store in the morning and see if there is something that I can hand polish this out with.
Almost all of mine isn't through the clear coat, but if they were good at keying a car, they wouldn't stop pressing until they saw silver metal.
My friend's dad had an old car that he let us do whatever we wanted to it since it didn't run. We decided that we were going to carve our names into it one day, and we found out that it's a lot harder than most people think to actually get through clear coat and paint.
I will go to the store in the morning and see if there is something that I can hand polish this out with.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I have had good luck with this as well by hand. Hope it works out OK for you,
I hate it when people do stuff like that. My Pontiac was done on the hood but with a screwdriver. Bunch of kids that went through town doing ever car, my wife was just on the wrong place at the wrong time. I think they got caught because they also did about 30 new cars at the Dodge dealer.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Warning! Factory clear coat is not uniform and sometimes VERY thin. Very little sanding can break through the clear and then you are looking at a respray. And there is no way I know of to tell when you are getting close until it's too late. If not too deep a buff job will greatly help to disquise the scratches. They very well may still be there but much less obvious.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
I hate it when people do stuff like that. My Pontiac was done on the hood but with a screwdriver. Bunch of kids that went through town doing ever car, my wife was just on the wrong place at the wrong time. I think they got caught because they also did about 30 new cars at the Dodge dealer.
What is it with this these days?? When I was little I built model cars and was learning to spray paint even back then. I did and still do enjoy making things look nice. The idea of going out and screwing up stuff never entered my mind.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 5
From: Caledonia Ms
i can feel you pain as well. my daughter just bought her car a month ago. a mitsubuhi eclipse....poor kid didnt have it 3 days and some sob keyed the hell outta it. she spent 1400 on the new paint job.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 1
From: Fairbanks, Alaska
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
I bought a brand new Car, drove to the Bank to make a deposit, came out and my car was Keyed. Only owned it for about 30 mins....
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
From: Greenville NY
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,905
Likes: 250
From: Orlando FL
Start with this:
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4576
It is very fine and you will not be able to damage your clear coat using this by hand. Apply with a soft cloth and buff. It will remove most light scratches. If this doesn't take care of it, you can try using some polishing compound (not rubbing compound) if you are comfortable trying it. You may need to take it to a professional if the above doesn't take care of it.
http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.do?q=4576
It is very fine and you will not be able to damage your clear coat using this by hand. Apply with a soft cloth and buff. It will remove most light scratches. If this doesn't take care of it, you can try using some polishing compound (not rubbing compound) if you are comfortable trying it. You may need to take it to a professional if the above doesn't take care of it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 6
From: Alva Oklahoma
I am amazed at how nicely this stuff turned out... Only downside is now I don't have swirl marks on that line down my car. Now I want to do the rest of it so it's all showroom shine.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Great Falls MT
This is a good example of why we need to keep the death penalty! But if this is your BABY, then you should bite the bullet (keep a spare in case you find out who did this) and take it to the best paint shop you know of and get it done right. Just my 3 cents...
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Murrysville PA
Invest in a dual action/ dual speed polisher and Meguires Ultimate Compound.
I found that you will be unable to touch up by hand. In the long run this will pay for itself by just allowing to remove swirl marks that will become present no matter how careful you are when washing and waxing your vet.
I found that you will be unable to touch up by hand. In the long run this will pay for itself by just allowing to remove swirl marks that will become present no matter how careful you are when washing and waxing your vet.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
The depth of the scratch is the main point. Some can be buffed out, some with rubbing compound, some with a respray of clear and some have to be completely filled-in, re-primered, painted and clear coated.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 261
Likes: 6
From: Alva Oklahoma
I just got home on lunch and put the car out in the sun so I could get the best possible view of it. There is really only one spot that can be seen if you are about two inches away from the car and looking in the direction of the scratch exactly where the scratch is.
I got some McGuire's yesterday and worked for a very long time, and I believe that it's good enough for what I need. If it takes me that much work to find out where the scratch is, or if it's even there... no one else will know it even exists.
I got some McGuire's yesterday and worked for a very long time, and I believe that it's good enough for what I need. If it takes me that much work to find out where the scratch is, or if it's even there... no one else will know it even exists.