Hi all

I have a small 1" scratch on my door. It looks like a clearcoat (fingernail doesn't catch) scratch.

I am a lazy guy with no access to buffers / orbitals. I also don't have a clearcoat pen.

What is the best way to treat this scratch with normal car car stuff (wax / polish / whatever)?

Thanks in advance

 

Two weekends ago I ran into Home Depot for something. I was in there for maybe 3 minutes tops. I come out and see a white Escalade parked faily close next to me. I didn't think too much of it. After Home Depot went to get all the salt washed off my car and them headed home. Get some stuff from the trunk and I see three scrap marks and a small dent in my door with white paint residue. I was fuming... Anyway, I did a little digging and I found that Quixx Paint Scratch Remover works the best (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product) for people. I'll haven't had the chance to fix the damage yet but I'll report back when I do. It's a pretty simple process; clean the damaged area, apply the scratch remover, then apply the polish and you are done.

 

Good stuff, let me know how it works out.

I did some web research and I can't get my head around wetsanding the clearcoat / paint off my car. It just sounds like a bad idea

 

I'll let you know as soon as I do it. Like you I didn't want to mess around and just wanted a quick and simple solution. I'd love to try this product but it seems too good to be true...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk9Pcjgb1z8

 

If you have no idea what you're doing, take it to a professional detailer.

Wet sanding, etc., is hardly something a "lazy guy" should be attempting.

 

Stay away from the Fix It Pen that I linked to before. I found a review for it online and it doesn't look like it does the job. Yes; it was too good to be true...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVBgDk4Opig

 

word but a professional detailer for a 1" scratch? Seems like overkill

 

meguiars scratch x

 

+1 Works well if it isn't a really deep scratch.

 

I wouldn't take it for just that one scratch. I get my car regularly detailed and I've had it taken care of in the same session.

 

x2

Scratch-x followed up with swirl-x, then finished up with your favorite wax.

 

For lazy guy body shop will just repaint the panel. Don't ask how I know.

 

How did Quixx work out for you?

 

isnt scratch x for dulled plastics ?
becareful with some of that scratch removal stuff, it can end up hazing the clear coat.

 

Is it deep? Maybe wax may do.

 

I haven't had a chance to apply it yet. The weather has been so bad that I have yet to find a day when my car would stay dry and salt free. I was planning to do it this weekend but we have another storm rolling in. Perhaps the first or second weekend of March ? Either way I'll let you know when I patch her scar up.

 

OK, GL

 

This is really not that difficult. Get a sheet of 2000 grit wet paper and wet sand the area in a 45 degree direction of the scratch using light pressure work a little at a time and dry the area apply even pressure with your 3 small fingers do NOT use 1 finger or it will gouge. When the scratch is gone use some hand rubbing compound and rub out the area until the scratches are gone. Work the rubbing compound until it starts to dry up as the grit breaks down so the scratches won't get to deep. Then use a polishing compound I use 3m and polish the area almost like with the rubbing compound to get out the scratches from the compound. The wax the area. If you can access a buffer instead of rubbing compound use Meguiars #3 and buff the area until the scratches are gone then polish.

 

Today was a beautiful day and I got my car washed and with no inclement weather in sight I decided to get rid of the scrapes my car suffered because of a negligent Escalade driver. When I noticed the scratches a few weeks ago I went and did a little research regarding paint repair/scratch removal kits and found that Quixx Paint Scratch Remover was the best for the job. I'm pretty useless when it comes to fixing cars; the most daring thing I've done to a car is change its tire once when I got a flat and I've never done anything that involved a cars paintwork besides washing the car. I felt totally at ease using Quixx. I've attached a few pictures to this post that show what I used, how the scratch looked before and what the scratch looked like after the use of Quixx.

When you open the box that Quixx comes with you will find a pamplet that contain instructions on how to use the product, two small cotton cloths that are the size but a little bit thicker than fabric softener sheets you put in the dryer, 4 pieces of 3000 grain sand paper (very fine), 1 tube of Quixx scratch remover and 1 tube of Quixx polish. The tubes are labeled 1 - Repair and 2 - Polish so you know which one to apply just by looking at the tubes without reading the label. As you can tell from the picture I also got a three pack of microfiber towels just in case.

The removal of the scratches took a total of maybe 5 minutes. I had a small bowl of water with me that I used one of my purchased microfiber towels to wet one end of it and clean the scratches of any dust/dirt/grime that might still be on it. I used the other, dry, end of the microfiber towel to dry the wet scratch off when I was satisfied with the cleanness level. Next I put a nickel sized wad of scratch repair paste (tube #1) onto the Quixx provided cotton towel and started applying it to the scratched area. I did clockwise rotations while applying pressure and to my amazement the scratches got smaller and smaller with each pass that I did. When the entire scratch was gone I was left with a dull, scratch free surface. I cracked open the polish (tube #2) and again put a nickel sized wad of polish on the other Quixx provided cotton towel and started working on the area that I put the scratch remover on. I used the same method, clockwise rotations with pressure for about a minute until all the polish resolved and I was left with a shinny scratch free surface.

I'm a born skeptic and while I did believe this product would work I was not 100% convinced. Now I'm a 100% convert. Quixx is awesome ! Its a life saver for people like me and it definitely gets two thumbs up; highly recommended !

 

Guys DONOT use sand paper to remove the scratch. It DULLS your paint and to keep it shiny you have to keep up with the wax everytime. The clear coat keeps the paint looking shiny so when you sand it and remove it it brings the dulness of your paint. NoT A GOOD IDEA!!! DONT DO IT. instead there is soemthing i have tried and it works GREAT. not trying to advertise but it works. its called scratch remover GS27. its made in France and works really well.

http://www.amazon.com/GS27-US150208-.../dp/B0007N5848

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/gs27.htm

 

I didn't use sand paper. According to the Quixx pamphlet you are only supposed to use sand paper if you see the primer or the metal under the primer of your scratch.

Plus someone like me who doesn't know much about paint jobs taking sandpaper to a Mercedes would just not end well

 

ScratchX 2.0 the newest ScartchX product is for paint. Plastx is for plastics. ScratchX will not haze your paint when used by following the directions. It is made to break down and leave a shiny surface. It is not very aggressive so it may take multiple applications.

For those using sandpaper. Just remember that it is removing the scratch by removing the surrounding paint...be gentle. Clearcoats and for that matter your basecoat are not thick. If by being heavy handed you remove your clearcoat the only repair is a repaint.

 

LaicepsYdobon,

Thanks so much for the great post ! I noticed a nice new scratch on the hood of my car in the garage last night and it's been bothering me ever since. Did some web research today and found out about Quixx. I was hesitant, but I did a search here on the forum and read your post and figured I would give it a shot. Went and picked up the Quixx at Walmart and I just got done doing the repair. What amazing results ! I honestly cannot even tell where the scratch was now. Thanks for the review, you gave me the courage to fix it myself...

Nick

 

3m rubbing compound on a microfiber rag is what I use for normal scratches.