A new way to remove scratches?

**oneill24** · 11-14-2011, 08:46 PM

So yesterday I was at a banquet and got into a discussion about a man interested in detailing vehicles. I have known him for a while and he has a habit of trying to act like he knows everything about anything. I was explaining to him about how you have to polish down the clear coat to remove scratches and he seemed to accept that it was possible to do it that way. After that however, he told me that he worked at a detail shop many years ago and that for heavy scratches he used hydrochloric acid to remove them. His logic behind this was that somehow this acid opens the pores and magically fills them in or something. I tried to be nice about it but somehow i think he knew i was skeptical. So my question is for all the chemists out there; is there any properties of hydrochloric acid that could possibly open the pores of the paint? Or was this person just trying to sound intelligent and made a fool of himself?

**FUNX650** · 11-14-2011, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by oneill24

is there any properties of hydrochloric acid that could possibly open the pores of the paint?

Since hydrochloric acid will open up the "pores" of concrete, I see it having no problem, whatsoever, opening up the "pores" of paint...including the "pores" of a "plastic clear-coat" paint.

How to close-up the paints' now "enlarged pores" from that process might pose a quite spirited debate.

Bob

**Ron Atchison** · 11-14-2011, 09:27 PM

Well not really he said he removed scratches with it. He never said anything about the holes he made lol.

**Kristopher1129** · 11-14-2011, 11:04 PM

I'm no chemist...but I'm gonna call bull, ha.

**JonMiles** · 11-14-2011, 11:39 PM

I'm a chemist...and I'm gonna call bull.

Doesn't he know that hydrochloric acid is highly caustic and will do a lot more than "open the pores"? I see HCl having potential to remove scratches from paint by basically chemical burning the paint level above the scratch. Sure that could work, but the amount of potential damage is way worse than wetsanding and can't be removed readily. HCl is way to reactive to trust on paint.

**FUNX650** · 11-15-2011, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by JonMiles

I'm a chemist...and I'm gonna call bull.

Doesn't he know that hydrochloric acid is highly caustic and will do a lot more than "open the pores"? I see HCl having potential to remove scratches from paint by basically chemical burning the paint level above the scratch. Sure that could work, but the amount of potential damage is way worse than wetsanding and can't be removed readily. HCl is way to reactive to trust on paint.

Hi Jon:

I'm curious about the progress on your new car care product line. What say ye?

Bob

**Italian Iron** · 11-15-2011, 10:56 AM

Vinegar has 4 or 5% acidity and it will do damage if left to sit on paint for an extended length of time..Why would anyone want to handle HCI when there are other products that may do the job without the dangers of acid..

**JonMiles** · 11-15-2011, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by FUNX725

Hi Jon:

I'm curious about the progress on your new car care product line. What say ye?

Bob

I've got a handful of polish formulations put together, but there are a few variables that i'm not 100% happy with as of right now.

I'd like to get my formulations as close to perfect IMO as possible. I have been able to achieve similar results to much of the lines out there right now, but I know if it is going to be profitable my products need to be better than the competition or similar but more cost effective.

**FUNX650** · 11-15-2011, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by JonMiles

I've got a handful of polish formulations put together, but there are a few variables that i'm not 100% happy with as of right now.

I'd like to get my formulations as close to perfect IMO as possible. I have been able to achieve similar results to much of the lines out there right now, but I know if it is going to be profitable my products need to be better than the competition or similar but more cost effective.

Sounds like you're on the right track....I'd be willing to purchase/test your products once you've reached the formulations you desire.

Keep us posted. Thanks!

Bob

**oneill24** · 11-15-2011, 03:53 PM

thanks for the responses guys. I was having a hard time believing him but it seems that from what your all saying that technically it could be possible to use this method however its not good for your car at all.