Removal of light scuff mark

[Blueline]

Got my black vehicle back from the dealer after having a minor repair. It now has a light scuff mark on the front fender, where it appears the tech's clothes rubbed the clear coat. It is not scratched, I cannot feel it with my finger nail, it is just like a scuff blemish about the size of a half dollar bill. Doing a detail this weekend..clay, ColorX and my favorite .... Megs #16.

Will ColorX take out this blemish, or do you think the Scratch X should be used? I have used Scratch X and I think it is too agressive for this, and frankly I would rather not use it. It is just too darn hard to take off. (My tube says let it dry, which I now have read on this forum, is a no no)
Thanks for your help. Sorry no picture. Just here at the office and this question came to mind.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Removal of light scuff mark

The original ScratchX formula was not intended to ever dry before removal, nor was it a particularly aggressive product. ScratchX is a very safe option for light to moderate (usually with multiple applications) defect removal.

In fact, I would say ScratchX is the perfect product for the job. Rub with some passion with a clean foam applicator, and before the product fully dries, but after it begins to slightly haze- wipe it away with a clean microfiber.

ScratchX should be a breeze to remove, and a pleasure to work with for a job like this- clearly the issue you faced in the past was allowing the product to dry, when it never should have.

[Jossy92]

Re: Removal of light scuff mark

before the product fully dries, but after it begins to slightly haze- wipe it away with a clean microfiber.

Thanks for the tip on using Scratch X. Maybe this is beyond a newbies "eye", but..

If slight hazing is the first indication that the product is beginning to dry, but you want to work it a little more, is there another indicator to look for that you would not want to go beyond?

In other words, is "beginning to dry" a line or a range. Not trying to rush, just speed things up without unwarranted risks.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removal of light scuff mark

If slight hazing is the first indication that the product is beginning to dry, but you want to work it a little more, is there another indicator to look for that you would not want to go beyond?

In other words, is "beginning to dry" a line or a range. Not trying to rush, just speed things up without unwarranted risks.

Is it really warm or hot where you're doing your work?


If you're using ScratchX to remove swirls, applying a teaspoon to a tablespoon of product to a foam applicator pad is enough product to work a foot square area for at least a minute before you would normally run into a problem with the product drying and dissipating to the paint where its a problem. Then right after you finished working the product then you would wipe the residue right off.

The idea is to always have a wet or liquid film on the surface, when the surface goes dry that means you're loosing lubrication and the more your rub the great the risk of marring the surface. It's not real complicated, just use an ample amount of product for the size of the area you're going to work.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Removal of light scuff mark

Will ColorX take out this blemish, or do you think the Scratch X should be used? I have used Scratch X and I think it is too aggressive for this, and frankly I would rather not use it.

It is just too darn hard to take off. (My tube says let it dry, which I now have read on this forum, is a no no)

Thanks for your help. Sorry no picture. Just here at the office and this question came to mind.

Try the ColorX and let's hope it works. If it doesn't then maybe invest in a new tube of ScratchX 2.0 and just apply this product gently for more gentle cleaning. The new SMAT products are very versatile in that you can control how aggressive they are by how long you work them, how hard or gentle you work them and your choice of application material.

You're tube of ScratchX is at least 3, 4, maybe 5 years old if it still states to let the product dry in the directions and it is actually a very gentle paint cleaner as compared to the new 2.0 version.

[Jossy92]

Re: Removal of light scuff mark

Is it really warm or hot where you're doing your work?

I am in SOCAL, near Irvine. It was in the low 70's when I tried it.

I tend to learn by making mistakes and when I first tried Scratch X, wasn't sure when to quit and while working with too much passion went beyond "almost dry" because I was working by feel.

What happened was my fault, not the product. I think I was going by "feel" but using too much pressure to detect the first signs of a drag. Just learning, Good experience. Thanks to Megs.