Calling all detailers

[DEF4Runner]

Shown is a photo of my (dirty) hood complete with scratches, most likely from flying road debris. I've used my cordless drill with the proper pad attached and tried Meguiar's 205/105 in attempt to at least tame these things, but I just can't seem to get these things to disappear, or at least fade. My fingernail isn't necessarily getting stuck in these scratches, but I can feel a faint impression when I gently drag them across them.

Does anyone out there know of a better product I can use or technique to apply, or am I just stuck with them?

 

[woodman60]

I'd start by using a random orbital polisher rather than a cordless drill. Then it's just a matter of using a more aggressive pad or a more aggressive product until you get rid of the scratches.

I like Chemical Guys products myself.

 

[Terminator03]

I would say for scratches that deep, it will require wet sanding, then using you Meguires products to bring the shine back.

 

[SC_4RunnerSC]

I use a Makita buffer with a wool pad. Use rubbing compound for this type of pad-I prefer 3M Rubbing Compound.

Then use a foam pad with 3M polish/swirl remover. This will remove all swirl marks and bring out the serious shine. A general rule of thumb is-if the scratches can be felt by the fingernail, then it can’t be buffed out.

Follow this all up by wax.

I used to work around yachts/higher end boats and this is the process I used. Any questions just ask!

 

[DEF4Runner]

Thanks! I kinda figured it was time to invest in an orbital polisher. Looks like it's time to make the plunge.

 

[kgbagent]

Those scratches look pretty deep. Aside from using a RA polisher with a fairly aggressive pad and compound, you may consider using a GLAZE between the polishing and sealing/waxing stages. Glazes help fill in small scratches and surface imperfections.

 

[Straus7]

Yeah, I'd go random orbital with a meguiars micro fiber cut pad and meguiars 105 compound. Any type of foam polish pad with meguiars 205 polish. Use a glaze before sealant & wax. See how much it lightens the scratch. Like someone else said, you may need to wet sand to really get them out.

 

[ZiaMan]

I think you are going to have a hard time getting them all out. New products are really quite remarkable with the amount of cut/polish they provide but there is only so much you have to work with on factory paint.

I recently took the Autogeek detailer class and they said to try to get the most done with the least aggressive pad and product combo by using test areas - which is what you should do here. You will end up buying a few products and pads and need to experiment.

DA is the way to go - you might want to post on autogeek or autopia forum for recos.

 

[lj4r]

Easiest and cheapest way to attack that paint is to go to a detail shop and let them do their magic. They will be able to get it as good as it is going to get. Should run $50 to $100 for them to work on that area, is that the hood?

If you don't want to do that, you can tackle it yourself. It will cost more, but it will give you a great deal of personal pride and satisfaction!

Go to Harbor Freight, get one of their low priced dual action polishers. With a sale and the regular 25% off coupon you should be able to pick it up for around $45. They have some pads at HF, not great, but they will work fine for what you are doing. Pads will run around $8 each, you want a orange pad, medium cut and a white pad, fine cut.

Get some compounding product and some polishing product. You will also need some wax or sealant.

You can also use an all-in-one product like HD Speed or Black Fire One Step. Both are excellent products that will give you great results.

You will need some towels to wipe things down, Micro-fiber works really well, but bathroom towel and beach towel, sand-free of course, will do the job.

I have several different product lines that I use, Rupes, Optimum, HD and Black Fire. The Mcguires is great too.

Go to Autogeek and check out the videos. You will pick it up pretty fast.

I will warn you, it is a slippery slope. You can easily spend a few hundred dollars really fast.

Good luck, you won't get those scratches all removed, but it will look 100 times better. Good luck. Phil