How do get rid of hairline scratches?

[PriusRos]

My friend has a beautiful new IV with solar in blue ribbon metallic. To her horror, she recently discovered several fairly long hairline scratches on her hood. They don't come out with waxing and are deep enough to be felt, although they don't look really deep (i.e., they don't seem like deliberate gouges).

Is there any way she can get rid of them herself without going to a detailer? If not, how she should go about finding a good detailer (Northern Virginia area)?

[Paradox]

If you use a hand polish to round off the edges and fill in the 'crevice' somewhat and then seal with a good wax or Zaino, it may appear less noticeable but you will not get rid of the scratch.

Could it have been caused by a cat(s) jumping onto the hood?

I recommend using polish and seal it up with some zaino or a good wax. This is actually once instance where a wax may be better as it can moisturize the paint after the polishing... I doubt your friend has an orbital on hand so here's some good hand polish (they also make 4 levels of machine polish)

Griot's Garage Fine Hand Polish - Polishes - Polishing - Car Care - Griot's Garage

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Paradox

If you use a hand polish to round off the edges and fill in the 'crevice' somewhat and then seal with a good wax or Zaino, it may appear less noticeable but you will not get rid of the scratch.

Could it have been caused by a cat(s) jumping onto the hood?

I recommend using polish and seal it up with some zaino or a good wax. This is actually once instance where a wax may be better as it can moisturize the paint after the polishing... I doubt your friend has an orbital on hand so here's some good hand polish (they also make 4 levels of machine polish)

Griot's Garage Fine Hand Polish - Polishes - Polishing - Car Care - Griot's Garage

Thanks, Paradox. She does have cats (huge ones) but I doubt very much she'd let them jump on her hood !

Speaking of orbital polishers -- wouldn't it be pretty risky for an amateur to attempt to use one, especially on such as conspicuous area as the hood? What's the lilkelihood of damaging the finish?

[octavia]

I have the same scratches! ( Same color of car too) My car is garaged so if a terrible-mean-awful-cat did it, must have happened at work.

I have noticed the paint on this car shows every thing. I'm mentally preparing for the chips I will most likely find when I wash it again.

[Paradox]

Originally Posted by PriusRos

Thanks, Paradox. She does have cats (huge ones) but I doubt very much she'd let them jump on her hood !

Speaking of orbital polishers -- wouldn't it be pretty risky for an amateur to attempt to use one, especially on such as conspicuous area as the hood? What's the lilkelihood of damaging the finish?

It could have been stray neighborhood cats though, I see them on neighbors cars sometimes and an thankful I use my garage everytime I see that!

With new random orbitals it's hard to do any damage. When used properly, they work wonders and make doing all the work by hand effortless.

Griot's one is a bit more expensive than others you can find but again, they give you a lifetime warranty on it. Watch the video's on the bottom of this page and you'll see how to use it.

Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital - Griot's Garage

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by octavia

I have the same scratches! ( Same color of car too) My car is garaged so if a terrible-mean-awful-cat did it, must have happened at work.

I have noticed the paint on this car shows every thing. I'm mentally preparing for the chips I will most likely find when I wash it again.

Originally Posted by Paradox

It could have been stray neighborhood cats though, I see them on neighbors cars sometimes and an thankful I use my garage everytime I see that!

With new random orbitals it's hard to do any damage. When used properly, they work wonders and make doing all the work by hand effortless.

Griot's one is a bit more expensive than others you can find but again, they give you a lifetime warranty on it. Watch the video's on the bottom of this page and you'll see how to use it.

Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital - Griot's Garage

She keeps the car garaged, too, so no neighborhood wildcats should have been able to get to it. I have a Winter Grey and I think this color would probably show up any imperfections more readily than the more sparkly Blue Ribbon. (WG definitely shows dirt - almost as badly as black.)

Thanks for the info on the orbital. I've been thinking about getting one.

[mgb4tim]

my wife let the dog hang out the window of her black SUV. washed with dawn a couple times, clay barred, and Ziano'd about 9 times over a few days. There was one scratch that was really bad, and I used a black sharpie on it before I started with the clay adn polish. After the Ziano, it looks like it never happened.

[Jim Calvert]

Originally Posted by PriusRos

My friend has a beautiful new IV with solar in blue ribbon metallic. To her horror, she recently discovered several fairly long hairline scratches on her hood. They don't come out with waxing and are deep enough to be felt, although they don't look really deep (i.e., they don't seem like deliberate gouges).

Is there any way she can get rid of them herself without going to a detailer? If not, how she should go about finding a good detailer (Northern Virginia area)?

Usually what happens is that the owner "repair" makes the flaw look worse, especially if the owner has no experience doing such a repair. If that is the case, her best action is to take her vehicle to an honest body repair facility and get an estimate.

If that is not the case, she already knows how to fix it herself.

Jim

[PriusRos]

Originally Posted by Jim Calvert

Usually what happens is that the owner "repair" makes the flaw look worse, especially if the owner has no experience doing such a repair. If that is the case, her best action is to take her vehicle to an honest body repair facility and get an estimate.

If that is not the case, she already knows how to fix it herself.

Jim

I'd agree except that I don't think trying to rub it out with a good hand polish will hurt anything unless it's too abrasive. It might not work, however. Using touch-up paint on the other hand (which she was thinking of doing before the dealer advised her against it) could definitely make it worse....

It's probably best to go to a good detailer, but it can be hard to find someone who knows what they're doing and also it can get pretty expensive to go every time some minor ding or scratch appears on the car.

[r_egan]

You should try Meguiars ScratchX 2.0 (Meguiar's Direct ScratchX® 2.0). My wife's dark gray RX350 had some very noticable scratches that this easily removed. As long as they are not through the clearcoat, this should work.