Need help with scratches!!!!!

[Marky82]

One of my friends has a 2002 Cougar and while she was parked in her school parking lot someone hit her car (hit and run). I took some pictures of the damage...there are alot of little scratches. They don't feel to deep...definately not through the paint...maybe some are through the clearcoat. You can just about feel them when you run your fingertips over them. Here are some pics
http://community.webshots.com/album/76835261BRluIb

What is the best way to go about removing these? I was thinking rubbing compound followed by swirl mark remover. They don't seem deep enough for touch up paint. Does anyone have any suggestions? Also..if I used the rubbing compound should I use a buffer? I have a cheap orbital sears buffer with a wool bonnet on now. How would I go about using the buffer? Just apply the compound by cloth to the scratches, letting it haze then putting the buffer to it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Mark

[geisencam]

I would first start out with a good wax job to that area. My friend got hit by a truck and left marks like these and he was able to get it off with wax, if that doesn't work then you could use a compound, make sure you don't rup to hard because sometimes it might put small scraps in the paint.

[Ted]

I would try rubbing compound on them. I'd recommend 3M brand. I wouldn't use a cheap buffer on it, it'll probably do more harm then good. I don't think the compound will get that top black one out too good. The bottom ones it might help. You could wetsand it with some fine sand paper, 1000-1500grit, and then try buffing it. First things first, if you don't have too much experience with it, i'd just get an autobody shop to do it for you. They'd probably charge you for something like that for under 100bucks. For anything else I don't know what to tell you. I'd only use the wax for after you use the compound on it. If all else fails. Touchup paint looks better then a black mark, am i right? My basketball court fell on my car last year during a storm and put a scratch down one side of the car, it looks like it barely went through but I couldn't get it out with compound. I went around with the white scratch forever. But I finally got smart and figured that red touchup looks better then a white scratch. I'm happy I did it now, you can't even tell it was there. Good luck man, any other questions just ask me, I work at an auto body shop and do this every day.

Ted

[ June 13, 2003: Message edited by: Ted ]</p>

[fbird]

if its just the clear coat, then use nail polish remover, sure its not good for the paint, but it will get the scratch out

[UNFNick2k]

mother's makes a pretty good scratch remover, got a few scratches out of my paint last weekend with it. it's in a black toothpaste looking tube.

[Ted]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>if its just the clear coat, then use nail polish remover, sure its not good for the paint, but it will get the scratch out<hr></blockquote>

I don't think that would be a good idea. If there was just paint on there it might take it off. But if you want to get the scratches out. Do like I said.

[fbird]

yeah thats what i mean, sorry i didn't mean scratches that stripped the paint on the car

[Domestic Violence]

go to the dealership, or find the exact duplicolor, color match touch up paint. pour a little bit on a rag and rub the rag over the scratches. wipe fast or it'll dry up on the panel you're wiping. if it does dry, get some 2000 grit and wetsand it until the excess paint is gone.

after wetsanding it, or if you were able to wipe it without getting paint anywhere else, buff it with a medium coarse rubbing compound.