paint repair

[SideshowBob]

I recently brushed a wall as I was backing up my MM and it left about a 6 inch streak of white paint on my rear door. No dent or other damage, it looks like it should "buff out". Anyone have suggestions for cleaning off this paint?

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

It would have to be a really minor scrape to not touch into the base below (if it did go through the clear it will have to be touched up and the panel re-cleared).

Have a body shop look at it and buff it w/ a rotary buffer to see if the paint is superficial. Tip the detailer $20. If there is base coat damage you'll be in a lot more for the repair. Hope for the best.

If you use a hand-applied scratch remover it will probably not be aggressive enough to level the scratch.

[Local Boy]

You can do it yourself...I did...and it came off beautifully...Start with the least agressive cutting agent (Meguiar's scratch removal) and work your up until its removed...For mine, I had to actually use 3M Clear coat safe "Fine Cut" compound...worked it in by hand...until the scuff was gone...and buffed out the haze with a glaze...then polisher...then waxed...Looks brand new!

Good Luck...

ALOHA

[SideshowBob]

Well, I bought some Kit Scratch Out at Wally World (they didn't have McGuires) and it took the paint smear right off in less than 5 minutes. You have to look for it to see where the mark was, the regular parking lot nicks are more apparent.

Can clear coat be "rubbed out" like single step paint of old, or do you have to re-clear it after buffing out the scratches and nicks?

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

You sure can buff clear, that's how detailers make a living. You won't be able to do it by hand like rubbing out lacquer (factory clear is very very hard! If you use a harsh enough abrasive to take out a deeper scratch by hand, it will be too harsh to leave a shine and will haze the paint to some degree. The kit, Meguire's scratch X, etc hand polishes are so mild that using them by hand will not harm the gloss, but they won't take out much in the way of surface defects either.) but w/ a rotary buffer you sure can level the clear to reduce/remove some scratches and bring the gloss back up.