Clear Coat Damage

[km5er]

I have some scratches in the clear coat on my hood (silver car). It is noticible because the area where the damage is...is dull looking. Does anyone know of a way to restore or improve the luster in this area (other than painting and re-clearcoating from a body shop)/

Thank!!

[Tom_06]

Originally posted by km5er@Mar 3 2006, 12:15 PM
I have some scratches in the clear coat on my hood (silver car).  It is noticible because the area where the damage is...is dull looking.  Does anyone know of a way to restore or improve the luster in this area (other than painting and re-clearcoating from a body shop)/

Thank!!

[snapback]219694[/snapback]

Try 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. I've used it to polish out a lot of scratches on different cars. See carcareonline.com. Also Griot's garage has pointers on dealing with scratches.

- Tom

[jeromep]

Check with a good detailer. Some of them can remove the appearance of swirl marks and light scratches effectively. A body shop, paint shop is the last place for you to go for what you are describing.

[Schmika]

Windstrings just posted his experience with Zaino products. Go check that out. He had some scratches.

[Godiva]

Try Meguiar's Scratch-X. Use one of their foam applicator pads.

Put an X of the stuff on the pad and go over a small area. Rub hard. It has a diminishing abbrasive so don't worry, you won't hurt it. After a bit you'll feel less resistence. That means the abbrasives are gone and you're done. Wipe it off before it dries! Do it again two or three times if it needs it. Clean area with a spray detailer and a clean cotton or microfiber towel.

If that doesn't help, you may need to move to something more with a Dual Action polisher or you may have to take it to someone to have it professionally done.

[priusenvy]

Originally posted by Tom_06@Mar 3 2006, 09:37 AM
Try 3M Imperial Hand Glaze.  I've used it to polish out a lot of scratches on different cars.  See carcareonline.com.  Also Griot's garage has pointers on dealing with scratches.

[snapback]219712[/snapback]

Truly amazing that you could "polish out" scratches with 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, considering that it contains no polishing compounds, and contains only fillers and oils.

[priusenvy]

Originally posted by km5er@Mar 3 2006, 09:15 AM
I have some scratches in the clear coat on my hood (silver car).  It is noticible because the area where the damage is...is dull looking.  Does anyone know of a way to restore or improve the luster in this area (other than painting and re-clearcoating from a body shop)/

[snapback]219694[/snapback]

Your first mistake was thinking that anyone here has sufficient knowledge and experience to give you any useful advice. The fact is, most of the respondents here are fairly clueless newbies, and you would be well-advised to ignore their advice.

Go to a detailing forum like those on detailcity.com, roadfly.org, or autopia.org and ask your question. You'll get much better advice, advice you can actually use and trust.

Had I read your question on detailcity.com, I would have first asked to see pictures of your hood taken in direct sunlight. Only then could I advise a course of action and product. Most likely it would have involved a polish from Menzerna, either FPII or IP, applied with a Porter Cable DACP. But I'd really want to see a picture at least before giving a recommendation.

[pjconner]

Originally posted by priusenvy@Mar 3 2006, 12:58 PM
Your first mistake was thinking that anyone here has sufficient knowledge and experience to give you any useful advice.  The fact is, most of the respondents here are fairly clueless newbies, and you would be well-advised to ignore their advice.

Go to a detailing forum like those on detailcity.com, roadfly.org, or autopia.org and ask your question.  You'll get much better advice, advice you can actually use and trust.

[snapback]219843[/snapback]

That avatar cat piss in your cheerios this morning? Your comments sound harsh, despite the fact that your advice is sound.

[Tom_06]

Originally posted by priusenvy@Mar 3 2006, 02:52 PM
Truly amazing that you could "polish out" scratches with 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, considering that it contains no polishing compounds, and contains only fillers and oils.

[snapback]219842[/snapback]

Don't know where you got your info, but a glaze is supposed to be a mild polish. Here is the description from car care online:

Product ID: 10101 Category: Pre Wax Cleaners
3M Imperial Hand Glaze - 32 oz Bottle
Description:
The best hand applied, superfine, liquid glaze with high filling characteristics to clean, remove minor swirl marks, polish and renew the "wet look" shine to paint prior to waxing. It removes oxidized pigments, acid rain marks, fine scratches and swirl marks. Apply a small amount to a soft, 100% cotton flannel cloth, foam applicator pad or terry cloth covered foam applicator pad. Work into the paint using moderate pressure in a linear motion, until all that remains is a slight haze, then buff off with a soft, 100% cotton flannel cloth. May be used as a carrier for P21S Multi-Surface Finish Restorer Polish to polish out deeper scratches. Does not contain silicone and is formulated to work on all colors. Use at least twice a year (spring/fall) to refresh the paint and follow immediately with a coat of quality wax. (Our favorite glaze to remove minor swirl marks.)
<end of quoted material>
see: http://www.carcareonline.com/detail....oduct_id=10101

Yes this is a very mild product, but I have found it to be all I need for many dulled paint, minor scratches, etc. Perhaps there is a version other than the "Professional Formula" that is polish free, but the stuff I use definitely polishes out minor scratches.

I recommend it as a starting point before going upscale to clay bar or a rubbing compound. You are very unlikely to damage your clear coat with the 3M unless you use a rag with grit in it or one that is not pure cotton.

It is also great for rubbing off paint left behind from the SUV that sideswiped your bumper in a parking lot. I've had direct experience here on three different cars and 4 hits.

Perhaps you are thinking of Zaino - that contains no abrasives.

- Tom

[SW03ES]

Tom- priusenvy is correct. The Imperial Hand Glaze contains no abrasives and it is impossible to remove any kind of scratching or marring with it. You can fill and hide marks, but they aren't removed and they'll be back in a couple washes once the fillers float away. It does have some solvents, its the solvents that removed the paint transfers you've talked about but no abrasives.

What you'll find is that manufacturers almost always mislabel and incorrectly classify their products. There are products you can use by hand to remove swirls (like Scratch X which can be kind of crude but it does work) but IHG is not one of them.

Some other errors in what you've posted include the clay bar (clay is not used to remove scratches and it will not remove scratches, it is for removing bonded contaminents and overspray), even 100% cotton terry towels can scratch microfiber is your best bet, etc.