need some help with paint
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
need some help with paint
It looks like someone took a fine sandpaper to the paint. There are marks every where. My detailer and I have only used microfiber towels and polishing cloths on it so we both have no clue how it got this way. Does anyone know an unbelievable product that can make the paint look new again or should I just have the car repainted?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,142
Likes: 1
From: SE Coast FL
Find a reputable detailer to "cut" the clear in a 3-5 stage detail process. It should do the trick, depending on how deep the marks are. Should cost you around $300, alot cheaper than paint and minimal if you do need repainting in the end.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
Take it to a shop that specializes in Corvette paint and body work and have them evaluate the scratches. That shop can advise you how much they charge to correct the scratches and how to prevent a repeat.
I do not know how you wash your car, so it could be from a commercial car wash, either the kind with the swirling brushes or the pressure wand do-it-yourself type. These car washes are notorious for scratching paint but most citizens don't care.
It could also be that you or your detailer are scratching the paint when using the microfiber towels, without knowing it. A microfiber towel won't scratch paint but the dirt trapped in it will. If the towel is dropped on the ground and reused without first laundering it, the dirt will scratch your paint. Also, if you do not change out your towels frequently, the dirt you wiped off, scratches everywhere else you wipe. -Clark
I do not know how you wash your car, so it could be from a commercial car wash, either the kind with the swirling brushes or the pressure wand do-it-yourself type. These car washes are notorious for scratching paint but most citizens don't care.
It could also be that you or your detailer are scratching the paint when using the microfiber towels, without knowing it. A microfiber towel won't scratch paint but the dirt trapped in it will. If the towel is dropped on the ground and reused without first laundering it, the dirt will scratch your paint. Also, if you do not change out your towels frequently, the dirt you wiped off, scratches everywhere else you wipe. -Clark
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 3
From: Dyer IN
3m 2000 grit wet sandpaper -------> go over the entire car
3m 3000 grit wet sandpaper -------> repeat above step
apply 3m perfect-it polish using a waffle pattern pad
apply your favorite wax ...... it will look like glass when you are done.
3m 3000 grit wet sandpaper -------> repeat above step
apply 3m perfect-it polish using a waffle pattern pad
apply your favorite wax ...... it will look like glass when you are done.
Last edited by Xedes; Oct 26, 2009 at 10:23 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Thank you for the replies. I have never taken it to a car wash. The only 2 that touch the car are myself and the detailer. I've never dropped the towel but I haven't washed them that much and that could be the problem. I'm going to see if he can cut the clear coat before looking into repainting. Cost on the repaint is not an issue. My brother-in-law repaints cars so the only cost would be the actual paint. If anyone else has a suggestion please let me know.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,022
Likes: 8
From: Stafford VA, home of our wolf den. No house break ins to date.
check your micro fiber towels......asap there are a lot of cheap ones out there. take a blank CD. rub the CD with the towel like you would the car. if it scratches the CD..it will scratch your clear coat.
zaino has the best towels out there in my opinion.
zaino has the best towels out there in my opinion.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 914
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Georgia
Careful
If you do try this process, make sure you have a good hard rubber block with the sandpaper wrapped around it. Also, get a good soap like DAWN to lubricate the sandpaper along with lots of water....
ps: only use micro fiber towels one time....they are fairly cheap to purchase in bulk, don't take the risk of washing and trying to dry them correctly, I was told to never ever put them in clothes dryer...wash by hand and hang out to try.
You could of course invest in a good two head orbital sander/polisher and use some good McQuires #3 fine cut foam pads for lite polishing. If you're not experienced enough, any of these can turn into crap..locate a good detailer in your area, like someone else said, plan to drop 3 to 5 hundred bucks...
ps: only use micro fiber towels one time....they are fairly cheap to purchase in bulk, don't take the risk of washing and trying to dry them correctly, I was told to never ever put them in clothes dryer...wash by hand and hang out to try.
You could of course invest in a good two head orbital sander/polisher and use some good McQuires #3 fine cut foam pads for lite polishing. If you're not experienced enough, any of these can turn into crap..locate a good detailer in your area, like someone else said, plan to drop 3 to 5 hundred bucks...
Last edited by LKicklight; Oct 26, 2009 at 08:37 PM. Reason: none
Pro
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 627
Likes: 20
From: Ann Arbor MI
I'd start with the DA type polisher and foam pads using a polishing compound. Less chance of burn thru.
If that didn't work, I'd move to a circular version.
Wet sanding works great, but there are risks of cutting thru very easy to the basecoat color. If you do that, then a panel repaint is in order.
Just for info, the target film build for a typical vehicle is 1.5 - 2.0 mils of clearcoat paint. Thats roughly 40 - 50 microns or 1.5 - 2.0 thousands of an inch. Thats not much wiggle room for cutting out defects.
Basecoats range from 0.8 - 1.4 mils depending on the color.
If that didn't work, I'd move to a circular version.
Wet sanding works great, but there are risks of cutting thru very easy to the basecoat color. If you do that, then a panel repaint is in order.
Just for info, the target film build for a typical vehicle is 1.5 - 2.0 mils of clearcoat paint. Thats roughly 40 - 50 microns or 1.5 - 2.0 thousands of an inch. Thats not much wiggle room for cutting out defects.
Basecoats range from 0.8 - 1.4 mils depending on the color.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 382
Likes: 1
From: yacolt wa
impossible shine
check your micro fiber towels......asap there are a lot of cheap ones out there. take a blank CD. rub the CD with the towel like you would the car. if it scratches the CD..it will scratch your clear coat.
zaino has the best towels out there in my opinion.
That must be trick photography, it is impossible to have a car that perfect.What is your secret?? LOL
zaino has the best towels out there in my opinion.
That must be trick photography, it is impossible to have a car that perfect.What is your secret?? LOL
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 16,067
Likes: 4,151
From: Bergen county NJ
I think any autopaint shop can detail out your scratches with a high speed polisher and some of their materials..
they will make your car look as good as the gentlemans above...no matter what the damage...
should cost about 50 bucks an hour and they can knock it out in an hour or two...IMO (depending on how many panels are effected..)
Of course get recommendations before you bring your car to any shop..
You'd be totally surprised how much damage they can make brand new again with a high speed polishing machine and some of their products..
Don't repaint the car..
JMO
they will make your car look as good as the gentlemans above...no matter what the damage...
should cost about 50 bucks an hour and they can knock it out in an hour or two...IMO (depending on how many panels are effected..)
Of course get recommendations before you bring your car to any shop..
You'd be totally surprised how much damage they can make brand new again with a high speed polishing machine and some of their products..
Don't repaint the car..
JMO
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh Pa
There are many ways that they could have got there. Car cover, dirty wash mit or chamois, "dusting off the car" , etc. Depending on the the severity of marks you might be able to get away with a good hand glaze. I would recommend the 3M for dark colors followed up with a coat of a softer wax. My suburban is black but due to its size I often run it through the car wash. So about every 4 months I'll use there hand glaze followed with there paste wax with fantastic results.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh Pa
I think any autopaint shop can detail out your scratches with a high speed polisher and some of their materials..
they will make your car look as good as the gentlemans above...no matter what the damage...
should cost about 50 bucks an hour and they can knock it out in an hour or two...IMO (depending on how many panels are effected..)
Of course get recommendations before you bring your car to any shop..
You'd be totally surprised how much damage they can make brand new again with a high speed polishing machine and some of their products..
Don't repaint the car..
JMO
they will make your car look as good as the gentlemans above...no matter what the damage...
should cost about 50 bucks an hour and they can knock it out in an hour or two...IMO (depending on how many panels are effected..)
Of course get recommendations before you bring your car to any shop..
You'd be totally surprised how much damage they can make brand new again with a high speed polishing machine and some of their products..
Don't repaint the car..
JMO
The problem with having a bodyshop detail the car is they all use silicone free, body shop safe products. After the car spends some time in the real world those products dont come out as good as regular detailing supplies
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 1
From: Port Neches Texas
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
You'd be amazed what a good shop can do to fix it. Where are you located?
Nice shine Wolfdog! Mine is just zaino on black too. No trick photography needed. I love black when its clean.
Nice shine Wolfdog! Mine is just zaino on black too. No trick photography needed. I love black when its clean.
