Scratch Help!!!

Ok...let's try this again...

Scratch is deep...finger nail does go "in" on the bright white one. Lots of other minor scratches.

Suggestions? Go directly to body shop? Try a scratch remover product?

Admin - does this post need to be moved? I'm not 100% sure if this is the right area.

I think a fair majority could probably be buffed out with a good polisher and polish; however, the ones you can feel with your fingernail will most likely need wet sanded to completely remove.

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navyjoe11 said:

I think a fair majority could probably be buffed out with a good polisher and polish; however, the ones you can feel with your fingernail will most likely need wet sanded to completely remove.

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Recommendation on a good polish? I don't have a polisher on hand but could look to borrow or rent one b

I personally use wolfgang total swirl remover, but have never tried it on deeper scratches you may need a more abrasive compound with a microfiber pad. For a polisher Porter Cable 7424 XP , a flex or really any DA orbital is what you want avoid any direct drive polishers. Head over to the geek and you'll find all the information you could need

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What happened?

I'd have a professional detailer look at it first before the bodyshop.

What he said for sure

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joeygster said:

What happened?

I'd have a professional detailer look at it first before the bodyshop.

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Well...I was washing out two deer with a hose in January. I had the hose stretch up and across the panel and there must have been dirt and debris on the hose scratching it.

My previous truck didn't flare out like this ram does and didn't think anything of it until the next day I saw it in the light! Wow I was disappointed and mad at myself.


Btw- how do I find a professional detailer? Will they have the paint availability of the maximum steel?

Just google one have them do an evaluation and they will determine whether they can fill and blend the scratches if needed. Any reputable one will know how to order the appropriate touch up or give you info to order it

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It's a truck just leave it alone lol.


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d250 said:

It's a truck just leave it alone lol.


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Normally I would, but I just got the truck last August and plan on keeping it for 10-15 years.

I was told the deeper scratches could lead to rust...not sure, but I know rust has been an issue in the past (plus I live in the NE near a coast - lots of salty roads and salty air.

The smaller scratches are most likely correctable, but that top one looks like it's through the clear and into the paint. You can wet sand it to blend it some, but all you're going to end up doing is thinning the clear coat around the scratch. Polishing just takes thin layers of clear coat off giving it a smooth appearance. If the scratch is through that and into the paint, only a good touch up or respray will fix it.

If you do not have a DA and the compounds and polishes needed and do not want to attempt it yourself, I would put up a "looking for professional detailer" post on autogeek.net for someone in your area.
I had a issue similar to yours thanks to the good intentions of my grandson. I read all I could on autogeek.net and then put up a post for help. I got lots of responses! I then bought what I needed and I practiced on the hoopty my wife drives before working on my truck. I did not wet sand and was able to make it look 100% better. It cost me about $325.00 for the DA and products. But be careful. Now I'm addicted to detailing and I keep on buying new stuff!!! Good luck!

If you try to correct it yourself please remember always try the LEAST abrasive solution first. Sorta like there is no sense in using 80 grit sand paper if 600 will do the job. If you are having doubts about doing the work yourself, I'd go to a professional detailer and let them do it if they can or let them recommend a good body shop.
Jay

had a similar issue on my buddy's dark blue metallic prius. His car got keyed... deeply in some places. He did a pretty crappy job at plastering it with touchup paint... made my job harder. I had a 3000 grit sanding block that I used (wet) to gently level the paint from excess buildup of touchup paint. He was pretty horrified when he saw it after I sanded it. I then used a DA & Meguiars 105 with a cutting pad, then 205 with a polishing pad (tho I thought of using the rotary with a wool pad). The deep scratches almost completely disappeared. He was pretty impressed. If you're not comfortable wet sanding & then polishing, take it to a professional detailer. You don't want to wet sand any more than you absolutely have to. For one thing, the sanded areas will be glass-smooth, & contrast oddly with the orange peel of the surrounding areas. For a daily driver, orange peel is your friend. Trying to maintain a leveled & polished daily driver is an exercise in futility... especially on darker colors!

For the one that your finger nail catches in you can lessen it with wet sanding but you won't be able to remove it completely. The others look (to me) deep as well. Are they? If so you may need to sand them too. Check out this link about using a machine to remove swirl marks and you would use the same methods to remove your 3000 grit sanding marks. Hope this helps you!
How To Remove Swirl Marks - The Adam's Detailing Library - Adams Forums