Any Advice Paint Work----scratch

[Gary09]

Hi all, just got back from tenerife a week ago or so and the day before i went sum little horrible ******* has decided to put a 14inch key mark on the drivers side back panel of my car, the scratch isnt really deep i would say that it has just taken off the top coat, altough there is a little bit that i think is a little deeper! anyways, am just wondering if anyone has had a scratch any used any sort off scratch removal kits, or anything like t-cut of something of that sort to remove the scratch! cheers! Gary.

[sel]

scratch x by maguiers may help???

most people on here say avoid t-cut?

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by sel (original)

scratch x by maguiers may help???

most people on here say avoid t-cut?

you beat me to it, if this can't get it out then its a case of a company like Chips-away

[Roofas]

Don't bother with t-cut as it's a very crude product that will leave more scratches than it takes out (it's abit like liquid sandpaper) If the scratch can be felt with your fingernail than you probably won't be able to do much yourself - best call one of tthe scratch repair experts like chipsaway or the like. Don't worry, I had some c*nt throw a temp road sign at my Mini - luckily not too much damage.

[Root Ginger]

If your finger nail catches on the scratch then you will need to take it to a bodyshop, do not use chipsaway or the like. The results are rarely good and they can never achieve the finish a bodyshop can. If not you should be able to get it polished out. Megs Scratch X will work by hand but will take a long time. Best to get it done with a machine, preferably a random orbit polisher, or someone who is experienced using a rotary polisher.

If I was near I would do it for you.

[Root Ginger]

Oh and the reason to not use T-Cut is that the abrasives in it do not break down as it is used. This results in leaving the area covered in fine scratches. Modern polishes have abrasives that break down and get smaller and smaller as you work them (Scratch X does this). This is the equivalent of starting with a course sandpaper and getting finer and finer as you keep using it to achieve a smooth finish. You must made sure that you keep working the polish until it is fully broken down to achieve this finish. Most polishes are fully broken down when they appear to go clear and kind of disappear as you polish.

[burns863]

Quote:

If your finger nail catches on the scratch then you will need to take it to a bodyshop, do not use chipsaway or the like. The results are rarely good and they can never achieve the finish a bodyshop can. If not you should be able to get it polished out. Megs Scratch X will work by hand but will take a long time. Best to get it done with a machine, preferably a random orbit polisher, or someone who is experienced using a rotary polisher.

If I was near I would do it for you.

Textbook answer!

And as above..... t-cut NOO GOOOOO

[Dealmaker]

I had a similar thing happen to me a couple of months back from a child's bike, i took it to a bodyshop who sanded the scratch down, carefully touched in and laquered, and polished back up, the charge was much less than repainting (door and rear panel) and kept my original paint, avoiding matching issues on my BRG car. If you have a friend in a bodyshop that might be willing to help, i would suggest that.

There was also a company reviewed in Autocar a few weeks back, I can't remember the name, but they use chemicals to 'melt' the paint, and repair the scratch that way, aparantly it's one bloke's invention, and he is the one who runs the company, sounds like a pretty cool idea anyway, and the results are supposed to be indistinguishable from a respray (apart from the colour all matches)

Hope this helps

[Gary09]

cheers for the advice folks, much appreiciated.......