any way to remove this big scratch?

[petermk]

Hi everyone!

I've been following this forum for quite some time and finally have a rather unfortunate reason to post....

So, I have a black Acura MDX that I bought in July. As this was my first black car, I didn't know that going to a regular car wash was a bad idea. I started noticing many swirls, which prompted me to start looking for solutions online. I mastered ONR wash, bought a PC (haven't tried it yet) and was going to try to remove swirls myself next week (have the whole week off work). But today I noticed a rather big scratch on my right rear door. I can slightly feel it with my fingers, so my question is whether this thing can be removed at all.

Thanks in advance

http://www.quasar1.com/mdx/1.jpg

http://www.quasar1.com/mdx/2.jpg

[ScubaCougr]

It's down to the primer, so buffing is a no-go.
Try filling it with Dr Colorchip.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/30379-dr-colorchip-before-during-after.html

[Midnight1700]

Looking at all the other scratches in the area, it looks like someone opened their car door and hit yours. What a Bummer! But, I do agree with ScubaCougr! If a scrath is so deep that it has removed all the color, all the buffing in the world will not magically fill in the missing paint. Dr. Colorchip is a great product and works very well. You will need to build up the surface with the paint, let cure for at least 24 hours, out of the rain. To make the repair as invisable as possible, wet sanding and polishing will be required. Good Luck!

[petermk]

It's down to the primer, so buffing is a no-go.
Try filling it with Dr Colorchip.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/30379-dr-colorchip-before-during-after.html

Is it? It looks much whiter in the pics than it really is (due to the flash probably). At first the scratch was rather white, but then when I ran my finger over it, it got darker.

[Niele]

Hard to tell from the photo, but is it just paint transfer? If so, then you should be able to buff it out.

When you run your fingernail over it, does your fingernail sink into the scratch?

[petermk]

Hard to tell from the photo, but is it just paint transfer? If so, then you should be able to buff it out.

When you run your fingernail over it, does your fingernail sink into the scratch?

Yes, I can feel it with my fingernail.

[petermk]

one more up close if this helps

http://www.quasar1.com/mdx/3.jpg

[ANeat]

Try a little rubbing coumpound on a soft cloth by hand and see if it seems to help.

I was wondering if it was paint transfer as well

[04Si]

Tough for us to tell on the picture. drag your fingernail across the scratch perpendicular to the scratch direction. if your nail is catching in the scratch then i dont think you will be buffing as it is down to primer, in which case the advise above to use something like a Dr color chip is your cheapest option. There are operations out there like mobile dent repair that now do these kind of paint repairs. I have seen good ones and bad ones. Ask around for a referral if you go this route.

[petermk]

Tough for us to tell on the picture. drag your fingernail across the scratch perpendicular to the scratch direction. if your nail is catching in the scratch then i dont think you will be buffing as it is down to primer, in which case the advise above to use something like a Dr color chip is your cheapest option. There are operations out there like mobile dent repair that now do these kind of paint repairs. I have seen good ones and bad ones. Ask around for a referral if you go this route.

Thanks. Yes, my nail does feel the scratch, just barely but still...

I'll try P21S Paintwork Cleanser and maybe M205 first just to make sure that it's not a paint transfer

[Niele]

Tough for us to tell on the picture. drag your fingernail across the scratch perpendicular to the scratch direction...
Yes, and pay attention to WHAT you feel, NOT just that you feel something. If your fingernail drops down into the scratch, then it is below the surface level of the clear and you would need to remove surrounding clear coat to buff it off. If it is too deep, then you cannot buff it off. In fact, if it is so deep that it goes into the base coat or primer coat, then you need to fill it.

However, if your fingernail detects that the scratch feels like a bump that is raised above the clear coat, then it is most likely paint transfer. If it is paint transfer, then you can remove it from the surface. See this link for more info on removing paint transfer: How To Remove Paint Transfer (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/28170-how-remove-paint-transfer.html)


Try a little rubbing coumpound on a soft cloth by hand and see if it seems to help.
Agreed -- the picture is inconclusive, so you need to collect more data by performing a simple test. Try compounding a small section of the scratch, by hand, to test to see if it removes any of the scratch.

[ryanbabz71]

My brothers metallic blue malibu had a similar indication on the front bumper. I used some poorboys SSR 2.5 on it and it took it right off. Whats the harm in trying to remove it? Worst case is it is down to the primer and you need to touch it up

[Fly bye]

Yes, my nail does feel the scratch, just barely but still...

I'll try P21S Paintwork Cleanser and maybe M205 first





If you can feel the scratch with your fingernail, then paintwork cleaner and 205 will do nothing. This is a canadate for wet sanding.

I think the best case scenario, would be not to wetsand, unless you have a paint thickness gauge, and are talented at wetsanding, but instead, buff the area with a compound, and then call it the day. You prolly will not be able to remove the entire scratch, but it will look better.

Trying to remove the entire scratch may leave the area very, very thin, and you don't want that.

[bill57]

Clean the scratch and area immediately surrounding the scratch, and wipe with alcohol. Then, carefully "fill" the scratch with paint. If not with the product mentioned above, then with DupliColor "scratch fix". Carefully apply in layers, letting each coat to dry. When you finally can feel a "bump" when you run your finger over the filled scratch, polish the area. Start with a fine cutting polish and work down.

[Fly bye]

Touch up paint will work, but will need to be wetsanded prior to buffing,