Small Scratch Removal
Small Scratch Removal
I'm bored out of my mind today so I figured I would try to repair some "small" scratches on my mum's car. I say "small" because although they were small, they were big eyesores. Alright so process and photos as follows:
Heres the scratches before:

Taped off and ready to go:

The other scratches on the left bumper (sorry a bit out of focus):

The tools used (pads in the back):

The results:


All in all, Cut did the best job, Swirl cleaned up the tiny bit of marring Cut made, and Epic sealed the deal! Looks good to me! Total time: 20 mins and time for Epic to cure.
Heres the scratches before:

Taped off and ready to go:

The other scratches on the left bumper (sorry a bit out of focus):

The tools used (pads in the back):

The results:


All in all, Cut did the best job, Swirl cleaned up the tiny bit of marring Cut made, and Epic sealed the deal! Looks good to me! Total time: 20 mins and time for Epic to cure.
Oh the last pic is to the left of the first pic, not the same place. Differant scratch altogether. Sorry.
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Great job!
I just had similar results yesterday on my mini with scratches like that that I made ..on purpose!
Last week was the first step in my spring detailing...wash and touch-up paint. Tired of the blobs that are left behind from touch-up spots, this year I thought I would try a Meguiars K1000 unigrit sanding block as any attempt on using the PC with polishes in the past failed to reduce those blobs.
I soaked it in water overnight as instructed, added a high concentration of car wash soap to lubricate. It made very quick work of any raised areas. But it did leave scuff marks, small scratches, on the surrounding area, similar to what is pictured above.
I do plan to do a full PC polish in the next week but I didn't want to leave it that way. So I took my SFX Pro Applicator along with a small amount of SFX-1 polish and with 30 seconds of hand scrubbing the scratches were gone. I was very impressed with myself.
It's the first time I used that pad and you can tell just how strong that yellow foam is. I finished with some ScratchX and it looks like I never sanded a thing.
I only wish I took photos.
I just had similar results yesterday on my mini with scratches like that that I made ..on purpose!
Last week was the first step in my spring detailing...wash and touch-up paint. Tired of the blobs that are left behind from touch-up spots, this year I thought I would try a Meguiars K1000 unigrit sanding block as any attempt on using the PC with polishes in the past failed to reduce those blobs.
I soaked it in water overnight as instructed, added a high concentration of car wash soap to lubricate. It made very quick work of any raised areas. But it did leave scuff marks, small scratches, on the surrounding area, similar to what is pictured above.
I do plan to do a full PC polish in the next week but I didn't want to leave it that way. So I took my SFX Pro Applicator along with a small amount of SFX-1 polish and with 30 seconds of hand scrubbing the scratches were gone. I was very impressed with myself.
It's the first time I used that pad and you can tell just how strong that yellow foam is. I finished with some ScratchX and it looks like I never sanded a thing.I only wish I took photos.
I agree that the SFX Pro Applicator is a great pad. The yellow is stout enough for adding mussel to ScratchX or Swirl and the gray side is great for applying wax. Pretty versatile tool for detailing.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
I know I was just teasing. Reminded me of this series of pictures that a participant took of a car sitting in the parking lot of my shop

And it was fixed with just a bit of buffing

re: gel
Keep your eyes peeled on the Vendor Announcements this week.

And it was fixed with just a bit of buffing

re: gel
Keep your eyes peeled on the Vendor Announcements this week.
I will for sure keep my eyes peeled.
Excellent work, Brendan!
I'm glad to see that someone is posting about using the aggressive polishes, like Prima Cut, and the aggressive LC pads, with the PC.
It's an important illustration that the PC and the right tools/products can really do *almost* anything!
It appears that some of the white in the photo was probably some kind of paint transfer, which likely came off fairly easily. (I mention that in case someone sees it and thinks it's a series of scratches through to the primer, which couldn't be fixed like this!)
Granted, if you had to fix that kind of mess all over an entire car, then you'd be doing it for several hours (like 10-20!)... but it would be possible. Still, it's a great example of just how much the PC is capable of.
Thanks for the post! I think the NAM community will benefit from your boredom and lack of fear in trying anything.
-Heather
I'm glad to see that someone is posting about using the aggressive polishes, like Prima Cut, and the aggressive LC pads, with the PC.
It's an important illustration that the PC and the right tools/products can really do *almost* anything!
It appears that some of the white in the photo was probably some kind of paint transfer, which likely came off fairly easily. (I mention that in case someone sees it and thinks it's a series of scratches through to the primer, which couldn't be fixed like this!)
Granted, if you had to fix that kind of mess all over an entire car, then you'd be doing it for several hours (like 10-20!)... but it would be possible. Still, it's a great example of just how much the PC is capable of.
Thanks for the post! I think the NAM community will benefit from your boredom and lack of fear in trying anything.
-Heather

But excellent work!
How Did My Scratch Return
A few weeks ago, I removed a moderately deep belt buckle scratch from my right side mirror housing (I suspect a belt because it's about the right level and I park at a lot with fairly narrow spaces). Anyway, I initially tried Scratch-X without success. I then tried the Quixx kit, which involved first sanding the scratched area with wet 3000 grit supplied sandpaper. I then applied the abrasive polish #1 and rubbed it in, then wiped it off. I examined the area and only a very slight remnant of the scratch remained, which could only be seen upon very close inspection. I didn't want to abrade any more, so I then applied the polish #2, which made a very nice shine. The scratch was virtually invisble. Well, yesterday, the scratch reappeared! WTF???
I doubt it is a new scratch since it is exactly the same as it was in terms of appearance and location. Plus I now park where people are not likely to squeeze between my car and another. I re-did the removal as above, and it is gone again. Can I expect to re-emerge yet again??
I doubt it is a new scratch since it is exactly the same as it was in terms of appearance and location. Plus I now park where people are not likely to squeeze between my car and another. I re-did the removal as above, and it is gone again. Can I expect to re-emerge yet again??
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
I remember reading this. Sounds more like you just hid the scratch and minimizd it and never fully removed it. Deep scratches can't always be repaired 100%. Usually you can just make it look better.
Also if the scratch is deep enough to pick up or hold residue, or dirt, it might make the scratch even more visible.
Although 3000 grit is pretty fine, you probably won't want to sand the same spot again.
Richard
Also if the scratch is deep enough to pick up or hold residue, or dirt, it might make the scratch even more visible.
Although 3000 grit is pretty fine, you probably won't want to sand the same spot again.
Richard
A few weeks ago, I removed a moderately deep belt buckle scratch from my right side mirror housing (I suspect a belt because it's about the right level and I park at a lot with fairly narrow spaces). Anyway, I initially tried Scratch-X without success. I then tried the Quixx kit, which involved first sanding the scratched area with wet 3000 grit supplied sandpaper. I then applied the abrasive polish #1 and rubbed it in, then wiped it off. I examined the area and only a very slight remnant of the scratch remained, which could only be seen upon very close inspection. I didn't want to abrade any more, so I then applied the polish #2, which made a very nice shine. The scratch was virtually invisble. Well, yesterday, the scratch reappeared! WTF???
I doubt it is a new scratch since it is exactly the same as it was in terms of appearance and location. Plus I now park where people are not likely to squeeze between my car and another. I re-did the removal as above, and it is gone again. Can I expect to re-emerge yet again?? 
I doubt it is a new scratch since it is exactly the same as it was in terms of appearance and location. Plus I now park where people are not likely to squeeze between my car and another. I re-did the removal as above, and it is gone again. Can I expect to re-emerge yet again?? 
I remember reading this. Sounds more like you just hid the scratch and minimizd it and never fully removed it. Deep scratches can't always be repaired 100%. Usually you can just make it look better.
Also if the scratch is deep enough to pick up or hold residue, or dirt, it might make the scratch even more visible.
Although 3000 grit is pretty fine, you probably won't want to sand the same spot again.
Richard
Also if the scratch is deep enough to pick up or hold residue, or dirt, it might make the scratch even more visible.
Although 3000 grit is pretty fine, you probably won't want to sand the same spot again.
Richard


