TouringFan

Well, I finally got a touch up stick from mercedes benz and was going around touching up spots when my friend and I thought it might be a good idea to try a sharpie on some of the thin scratches.

We tried it on a little one and were pleasantly suprised to see it disappear before our eyes. I went back to touching up a larger spot on the bumper and when I looked up my friend had a concerned look...

Well it turns out that while Sharpies may look ok on a small dot type spot, they most CERTAINLY do not look good on long scratches. It is mismatched and looks far worse than the scratch did before.

Sooo.... Is there any way to take off a sharpie mark without hurting the paint underneath? - If I need to i'll cover it with the paint stick, just worried that it wont come out smooth.


Don't let friends touch (up) your car....

Brunelleschi

Lesson well learned...I have no idea. I would call a body shop and ask their advice

BoSoxFan

I don't know if it will work or not but try some paint thinner (mineral spirits). It will definitely not affect the clear coat and should not affect the underlying paint if the clear coat has been scratched off. I use it to remove excess touchup paint. You may want to mark something you don't care about with the sharpie and then see if the paint thinner removes it.

TouringFan

How do guys feel about rubbing alcohol? I hear this can remove sharpie ink fairly easily.

I've also been told that eventually it rubs off after a couple months, though I hate to drive around with it.

RJC

Try a cleaner wax first, Meguires make a good one for this. If that doesn't work, then dip a Q tip in rubbing alcohol and squeeze out the excess with your fingers, then rub it lightly only over the area effected, apply a couple of coats of wax to protect the area after the proper touch up method is completed/dried.

jonw440

I think "Prep Sol" may work, or assitone(Try both of these on the UNDERSIDE of the bumper first!!!!!! Be very careful as it may attack the plastic.
If all else fails go to a body shop.

BoSoxFan

I seem to recall reading that acetone will remove clear coat. I don't know about Prep Sol.

jonw440

You are right!!
DON'T use acetone. it is to strong.
A polish "Should" work.

BoSoxFan

Is there such a thing as "assitone?" I assumed that it was a misspelling of acetone. The single reference on Google and Yahoo led to a trade lead which had expired.

TOGWT

~One mans opinion / observations~

Use water/distilled white vinegar or a 5:1 Isopropyl Alcohol solution (adjust ratio as required) or try equal parts distilled white vinegar, Isopropyl Alcohol and distilled water

I would avoid Acetone on plastic at best it will mar it or worse soften and distort it

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ Jon

TouringFan

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll take a stab at it this afternoon and let ya know how it comes out.