Reply With QuoteYou may be able to use a clay bar on them, but realy depends on how deep the scratches are into the paint. You may have to use touch up paint to fill in the voids left by the key.
Sorry to here some bozo keyed your car......
A question for the paint experts
Well I came home after several errands today and found that someone had Keyed my car.
Passenger front quarter panel on the top portion, scratch is 12-16 inches long.
I have some Maguires scratch remover but its for buffing scratches, is there anything I can use to take out a deep scratch? I have heard of people using some sort of Bar..but I dont know anything about it.
Thanks.
You think when I add the Supercharger I can catch a break?
99 Miata Black
You may be able to use a clay bar on them, but realy depends on how deep the scratches are into the paint. You may have to use touch up paint to fill in the voids left by the key.
Sorry to here some bozo keyed your car......
I've never done it, but I thought clay bar'ing is used for cleaning impurities 'imbedded' in the paint and/or clear coat. Don't think it will really help a key job. (Sorry to hear that BTW Billy)Originally Posted by POS Racing
My '92 had a large paint chip missing on the nose when I bought it. I used touch-up paint and applied several thin layers. Let them dry and wet-sand in between coats (to remove the brush strokes) until it is 'built-up' enough. Turned out good IMHO.
You may be correct, I know it will remove mild imperfections.
How bad is it Billy?
So what do you purpose Onething?Funny how you can learn from reading
Actually it will lessen the key marks since it does pull the metal that may be in the scratch out of the paint as well as the dislodged paint, but you are correct the scratch will remain. If the scratch isn't all the way to the metal you may be able to make it less noticeable.
The Google ad for this message said GS-27 Sratch Remover. I have used a product like it on other kinds of scratches. Worked ok on lighter color paint.
Sad to hear about the problem. One of the reasons I got rid of the Corvette is it happens to a lot of them.
GS-27
edit.... details
GS 27 Scratch Remover is a unique formulation designed to remove surface scratches on automobiles, appliances with enamel finishes, and laminated wood. This revolutionary car polish wipes out surface scratches on any color paint, on any automobile. Watch as the scratches magically disappear! GS 27 also removes rust on chrome and restores silver, brass, and gold to its original luster.
A surface scratch is determined by passing over it with your fingernail and feeling no obstruction. Otherwise you have a deep scratch and GS27? Scratch Remover will only improve the appearance of that scratch. Use on all vehicle paints, chrome, boats, appliances, laminated wood, fibreglass, and much more.
INSTRUCTIONS
Apply GS27? Scratch Remover onto a clean cotton cloth. Gently rub in a circular motion onto the selected surface. Remove excess before it dries. You may then wax that spot for a guaranteed shine.
Had it happen to my '74 Vette just after I got it, they scratched it all the way into the gel coat.
Sorry to hear about some jackass key-ing your car...
It always pisses me off when people mess with my vehicles. I'd prefer they mess with me... I can defend myself, my car can't.
Thanks for the empathy guys, I have never done this to anyone's car, but some people I guess see you with something nice and want to ruin it for you.
I always hate to hear when this happens to someone as well.
I have done some checking and looks like I might be able to compound it out but its all the way down to the primer so I think I will try the touch up paint and see how that works then wax over it after removing the brush marks with a fine grit sand paper as suggested...thanks for the help.
I have thought several times today what I would have done if I had caught them in the act, I guess it could be worse I could be in jail for assault...lol
I will let you guys know how it turns out.
99 Miata Black
What we need is some kind of mild electric shock alarm system whenever somthing metal touches the body of the car. (sorry Corvette guys my plan doens't cover you)You know just enought to paralyze for a few min.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague longing for something salty" - Peter Egan
Wet sanding will fix the problem. That's the only thing that will work. A 2000 grit paper will probably do the job or a 1500 grit if you're brave. Just be careful to not go through the clear coat.
If wet sanding alone doesn't do it, then you go back and start filling in the scratch with touch up paint and evening it out with the wet sanding. Use as little paint as possible b/c it you spend a lot of time evening out the paint you'll go through the clear around the scratch.
After you're done sanding you'll have to use a buffer (not an orbital) and a rubbing compound of some type (like 3M perfect-it) to shine up the clear coat. It's a scary procedure that I won't do unless I've got somebody around that really knows what they're doing.
Good luck! People who key cars (especially for no apparent reason) are the lowest of the low.
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
Better solution - a perimeter alarm coupled to a BLaster - an anti-carjacking flamethrower.What we need is some kind of mild electric shock alarm system whenever somthing metal touches the body of the car. (sorry Corvette guys my plan doens't cover you)
Too bad it's illegal in the US.
Billy, I'd skip the GS-27 (lugnutjon tried some once, and I laughed at the results for days), and skip the clay bar. A clay bar is for pulling impurities out of paint, not for covering up scratches.
You can use polishing compound to take out light scratches, but deeper scratches are probably going to require Sammm's paint lightly/wet sand/repeat until done technique.
Sorry to hear about the damage - some people just suck.
Iain
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
That sounds like a plan, I guess it can't look much worse as long as I dont make the spot bigger...now hopefully the guy who painted the car matched the Factory Silver.
I guess I could spot test it on a piece that is out of sight first.
Thanks again for the very helpful instructions.
99 Miata Black
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