Scratches
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2006
Posts: 330
From: PHX
How deep is it?
Run your finger nail across it, if it catches, you`ll need to seek out the body shop.
If this is not the case, then you could polish the site, then wax. If you have a machine, then it will help to removve those scratches. By hand, willnot do too much. There are scratch removers, never tried them.
I use my polisher to apply the polish and wax, then buuf it out. This works for me, and it is not a trade secret. If too much labor for ya, then contact a local person who does auto detail. They may not charge toomuch to do the site. But for a couple hundred $$, they usually do the whole car.
Run your finger nail across it, if it catches, you`ll need to seek out the body shop.
If this is not the case, then you could polish the site, then wax. If you have a machine, then it will help to removve those scratches. By hand, willnot do too much. There are scratch removers, never tried them.
I use my polisher to apply the polish and wax, then buuf it out. This works for me, and it is not a trade secret. If too much labor for ya, then contact a local person who does auto detail. They may not charge toomuch to do the site. But for a couple hundred $$, they usually do the whole car.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-05-2006
Posts: 330
From: PHX
Originally Posted by scaleguy
Scratches, well the tiny ones , just a bit of light rubbing compound or a cleaning wax, heavier stuff may require a buffer and rubbing compound...I tend to be old school in my approach.
Traditional Rubbing compound will ruin the clear coat. But they do make a compound specififcally for clear coats.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2006
Posts: 5,065
From: Arvada CO
I noticed a couple small surface scratches on mine and used a rubbing compound Henry had sitting around the house. Just dabbed a little on and lightly rubbed on it until it disappeared. Check with your local auto parts store to see what they have available. 
Senior Member
Joined: 12-28-2005
Posts: 2,531
From: Worcester County, MA
I would ask a body guy what to do. You don't want to wreck the clear coat, and the new paints seem to be..................."softer", less durable. In the same vein, what about all those little chips on the hood? Mine is starting to look like a beginner case of acne. Not sure if I want a bra or not.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-20-2006
Posts: 289
From: MI.
Originally Posted by scaleguy
rubbing compound.
Before retiring from GM we used 3M Finesse-It II Finishing Material in the paint repair shop, if the scratch is through the clear coat it won't help.
New Member
Joined: 07-27-2006
Posts: 22
From: San Diego
As far as deep scratches go on clearcoat, like the guys said, you need a compound just for clearcoat. The compounds we used to use on color coats are way too course for clearcoat. One of the best kept detailer secrets is the clay bar. You can pick up a clay bar and the special lubricant to go with it at your local auto body supply. You can remove swirl marks, oxidation, even overspray with one of these clay bars. Do not swirl the clay bar and keep it wet with the lubricant. It should be used in a back and forth motion lengthwise on the car AFTER you have thoroughly scrubbed the car of as much grit as possible. Make sure you wax with a top notch wax immediately after (use Zymol or something of equal quality). If you have teflon or anything like that on your paint, this will completely remove it. If you want your car to sparkle, this is the way...