Can this be removed without repainting? (PIC inside)

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Do you have a picture that is zoomed in on the defect? Does the defect look like a mass of baby snow flakes with marks at right angles to one another?

If it is etching and you are attempting to remove it or at least reduce it by hand, then continue with the ScratchX. Meguiar's #83 is stronger but on black or a dark color, I would not use it without a buffer, either a Dual Action Polisher (G100) or a rotary polisher. The #84 is a rotary only product, and unless, you have a lot of experience with a rotary, do to try to learn on a black car!!

If you can feel the marks, then it may be too deep to remove.

Follow the advice on how to use ScratchX properly from this thread:

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

And..please post back about my question above.

Tim

[96Lude]

Hi Tim,

I tried to take a picture that was more zoomed in to the defect, unfortunately the camera I am using is fairly old. Here it is:



It does look like baby snow flakes to me, exactly like you described. I have a PC 7424 DA Polisher that I can use.

But I can confirm that I do feel the marks with my nail which doesn't seem like a good thing.

[sneek]

like the meguiars training video says some defects you can not be removed, but they can be reduced to a point where they are less visable

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by 96Lude
Hi Tim,

I tried to take a picture that was more zoomed in to the defect, unfortunately the camera I am using is fairly old. Here it is:



It does look like baby snow flakes to me, exactly like you described. I have a PC 7424 DA Polisher that I can use.

But I can confirm that I do feel the marks with my nail which doesn't seem like a good thing.

Your comments to my question leads me to believe that what you are seeing is indeed the beginning of clear coat failure. Again, I would need to see it up close, but if it does look like snow flakes with marks at right angles, then it is most likely the case. It may also be egg damage where the egg's shell has cracked the paint as they often do when it hits the paint. Either way, no one's product will remove the damage nor reduce it as it is in the clear coat and not merely on it or slightly into it. Sorry.

Tim

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by sneek
like the meguiars training video says some defects you can not be removed, but they can be reduced to a point where they are less visable

This is true of certain deep scratches. Essentially, by polishing a deep scratch, you may not remove it, but it can look better as the edge of the scratch is rounded or somewhat leveled with the rest of the surrounding paint. But there is a point, or if a scratch is simply too deep, that no one's products can repair it and a repaint must be completed.

Tim

[96Lude]

I guess it will need to be repainted then. This is actually on my dad's car, and he's not a car freak like me. He takes good care of his car mechanically, but he's not a car fanatic. I don't think he will mind keeping it the way it is, it doesn't bother him.

I am glad that at least I have a clear answer as to what will need to be done if need be. I have actually learned a lot from this and I will keep browsing the forum on a regular basis to learn even more.

Thanks for all your help, you guys rock!