removing scratches -cant do by hand?

[carcareGAL]

I've gone about as far as I think I can go with a some deeper scratches. Have used all 3 products(scratchx, 2, ult. compound). Doing all this by hand. I was googling, and found a video, that stated you could get the deeper scratches out by a buffer. It was only a small couple of scratches and I guess I am very hesitant to get out the buffer my oldest bought me to work with on such a small area. I would prefer doing it by hand. I need some advice. Some of the scratches I just can't seem to get out. I am not talking about the ones from keys. I have those on each vehicle it seems, and I know I am not experienced enough to tackle those. I just want the scratches gone. Need help again, please.

[Murr1525]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

Some pics may help.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

If you only have a orbital buffer, they usually are not powerful enough to remove defects. Generally considered a wax spreader.

What type of applicator are you using? If foam, you might want to try a terrycloth towel. It has more "bite to it". More aggressive.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

How deep are these scratches? Can you feel them at all with your fingernail? If so, they may be too deep to safely remove them. You can minimize their appearance but full removal often means to remove so much paint that you run into problems down the road.

[carcareGAL]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

I have all sorts of scratches, dents, you name it! working on 4 vehicles here. oldest vehicle, I actually wet-sanded down an area, then put primer, paint, then clear on it. turned out pretty good. was very, very worried about doing it. did this only in one area, as I flubbed up the previous area I did. these two vehicles are newer, so I am not really wanting to wet-sand them down. I have no idea how much damage I could do. and one vehicle is mine!!!
The scratches are not the ones I refer to as 'done with keys', like what you mention -you can feel them with your fingernail. Those I have tried painting with toothpick and made it worse, so am just living with them for now. I need more experience before I try fixing those. These scratches are I guess are inbetween the easy ones, I have gotten rid of , and the deep key-scratched you mention. I seem to work and work and don't get anywheres. Thats kinda why I wrote about a light. I thought I had some removed, then moved the car into the sun and oh, boy, nope.
This video I watched that I had found, seem to imply working with a wool pad? and a polisher and I believe a compound, got the two scratches out. they used a buffer machine. I still want to work by hand. May take me longer, but thats ok.

[carcareGAL]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

update: 3 sets of scratches I decided to work on this am.
these were on the door that I did the other day without much success.
scratches:
#1:: 1/2 inch very small - removed almost all of it as of this am. used ult. compound mainly and a lot of elbow grease I can still see it, but I know its there, so I am going to leave it.
#2:: actually these are like 5 small scratches next to each other, once again not long, maybe 1/2 inch...still working on them, the ult. compound seems to be working, just need to do it more.
#3:: 1 inch long. this one I got a tad upset with, so got out the stuff I started using a few months back. it is a diff brand and its aggressive. Must say, I had better results with it, but it did leave scratches. At least its less noticeable, but its still there. I was able to remove all the scratches from the other product I used, using your 3 products I mentioned in my original post. I'm thinking I would like a stronger meguiar's product than ult. compound.
or I may try wet-sanding it....
Just wanted to let everyone know, that the products do work, just the person (me) needs to be more experienced and a tad more elbow grease. The area is looking really good compared to the one its next to! Yea!!!

[New2Detail]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

I had some pretty bad looking scratches in the clear of my Corvettes roof - friend borrowed it and rubbed it against the front windshield putting it back on!

Ultimate Compound by hand did the trick with just light pressure.

My guess is they wernt as bad as they looked, either way I was happy with the results.

[Murr1525]

Re: removing scratches -cant do by hand?

#1:: 1/2 inch very small - removed almost all of it as of this am. used ult. compound mainly and a lot of elbow grease I can still see it, but I know its there, so I am going to leave it.

Sounds good.

#2:: actually these are like 5 small scratches next to each other, once again not long, maybe 1/2 inch...still working on them, the ult. compound seems to be working, just need to do it more.

You were applying with a smooth foam applicator? You may try some terry cloth for more bit, then follow up with the foam.

#3:: 1 inch long. this one I got a tad upset with, so got out the stuff I started using a few months back. it is a diff brand and its aggressive. Must say, I had better results with it, but it did leave scratches. At least its less noticeable, but its still there. I was able to remove all the scratches from the other product I used, using your 3 products I mentioned in my original post. I'm thinking I would like a stronger meguiar's product than ult. compound.
or I may try wet-sanding it....

Cant let the average person get too carried away and mess up their car.