I noticed after washing my car today, I have a very, very light scratch on my rear bumper, by the trunk. I tried using Scratch X on it, but it didn't do anything, still visible, Any other suggestions would be appreciated. It's extremely light, probably most people wouldn't even notice it, and you can't feel it at all, to me it looked more like a "smudge" mark, but I tried alcohol first, and it didn't fo anything. Thanks!

 

When you say you used scratch-x what was your application method? You need to rub it in with quite a bit of "passion" and possibly do it 3-4 times in the same area, but it should work by hand.

 

Tom,

A few years back I came out of a shopping center to find that some idiot must have put either a bag or a box on the hood of my car. It left 3 to 5 12" long scuff/scratches, some more noticeable than others.

I picked up a can of medium and fine polishing compound, and went to work.

I did it by hand, and redlude 97 is correct, for it to effectively break down and remove the scratch, you really have to work it in by hand. I then worked my way down to the fine after almost all of the scratches were removed. Then I gave it a couple coats of polish/wax, and topped it off with my usual Klasse AIO/SG and P21S.

It took some time and muscle, but its good as new, maybe even a little better.

Good luck

 

Well, I didn't rub really with a passion, I'll try it again, I tried twice, I wasn't rubbing too hard, I thought you needed to be careful on clearcoat.

Oh, see, I didn't think you could use a polishing compound on clearcoat. I would think the fine would work for this, it looks like someone carrying something, say a purse, brushed against the top of the bumper, it was raining yesterday, and I was in a few parking lots, so that's what I'm guessing, someone in a hurry to get out of the rain. Can you give me a product name? I have a couple other minor scratch makrs I need to attend to as well, black car of course you notice each one........

 

I believe I used 3M products.....make sure you buy the one for "hand" use. Unless you plan on using a buffer........

I think Autogeek has them on their site.....

Good luck

 

Oh, yeah, 3M has some pretty good products. I used their medium cleaner wax to remove some scratches in the clear bra on my '05. Thanks.

 

No, you want to rub as hard as you possibly can until the product turns clear, then reapply more and repeat. If your hand isn't cramping and your arms/shoulders aren't burning, then you aren't doing it right. This is where a good polisher comes in handy.

 

Oh, okay, it's kind of hard to rub terribly hard in this area, it's the "flat" spot at the top of the bumper, right below the deck lid, not able to get the full power of my hand in there. I'll try though!

 

Pick up one of these polishing handles if you plan on attacking scratches by hand, allows for much more pressure to be applied and less hand strain
http://danase.com/lacomahapadk.html

 

Thanks, I'll get one of those!

 

Well, I was able to get this scratch pretty much gone today, I used a 3M Rubbing Compound that says Clearcoat Safe, (I wanted to buy their newer one, Perfect It II, but nowhere on the container does it say clearcoat safe) followed by 3M One Step Cleaner Wax, Medium, then a final coat of AutoGlym. I can barely see a tiny bit of the scratch now, and really have to look for it, must have been deeper there. This is the first time I used AutoGlym, it was recommended to me for a black car, looks good on the bumper, I'll do the whole car next time I wash it, and we have a nice day, or two in a row. Let's see, my experience is sometimes on a scratch, it looks goo righ after you do it, then a few days later, you notice it again, LOL.

 

If tha scratch comes back after a few days, then the product you are using has fillers that mask it temperarily, not the best way to approach the problem

 

Yeah, I know, for sure, a filler is a bandaid. I'm thinking with the compound though, it is pretty much gone. I haven't used that on a scratch since before I had clearcoats, always worked then.