removing scratch from new HD

lazer · January 31, 2005

I didn't see the broken tree branch sticking out into the road. I scraped it with my new red HD. While it is not a jump out at you scratch, it is still noticible to me. It starts at the back of the door and is hit and miss all the way to the back of the truck. I tried some polishing compound and regular wax and it made it look better. But I still see it. Anything else to try, without actually taking the paint off and making things look worse.?

dannyukonxl · January 31, 2005

is it sheetmetal deep or just light on top, if so try 1 polishing or 2 buffing a lot, if it doesnt work then your dealer has this paint touch up stuff in a bottle with a brush, i have some pretty bad deep scratches and use that for them and works good, its still noticable though

jeffbf89 · January 31, 2005

I ran into a lawn mower with mine and I used buffing compound. It took awhile then I waxed it. It was noticable only if the light was right. If you do use the touch up paint, you can use the buffing compound on it once it is dry to help blend it. this will help smooth it since it will no doubt be thicker than the factory paint. Hope you get it worked out, nothing like having your pride and joy scared for life.

skey · February 1, 2005

for what it worth you can try and do it youself but just a little to much rubbing with the wrong stuff and you will be thru the clear coat & into the base coat ... BAD PIZZA... i could try and explain to you what to do but just like any profesion it takes years to know just how far is far enough!!! any repuatable body shop will rub that scratch for you for under 100.00. will it come out i can't tell you, but if its not thru the base coat someone that knows what to do can probly get 80% of it out without wiping out the paint so you have to paint the whole panel, or worse yet driving it around with a glob of touch up paint down the side !! good luck, i work my truck but can't drive a scratched up truck makes me nuts my wife says i'm anal.. guess so !! skey p.s. the body shop guy should be able to give you a really good idea if any or all of the scratch will come out if he can't... find another shop... skey

Mighty HD · February 1, 2005

Use a paint cleaner then a polish---it will get it out I promise.

It worked on mine when it had 400 miles on it---i was stupid enough to take it to the woods. Thank God all the scratches buffed out

lazer · February 1, 2005

Thank You for all your replies. I've been working on the scratch with some polishing compound and I've got it looking pretty good. The scratch is so tiny but it does appear to have penetrated the clear and red coat iin places. But than again I'm looking at my door sills where the wife gets in the truck and they are all scratched up even with tube steps. I guess having a new truck and keeping it looking new will always be a challenge. And I do use it for work in the summer time.

woodpecker · February 1, 2005

wet sand. very lightly....buffing compound , then a polish, then a wax. good to go.

TimTim · February 1, 2005

I didn't see the broken tree branch sticking out into the road. I scraped it with my new red HD. While it is not a jump out at you scratch, it is still noticible to me. It starts at the back of the door and is hit and miss all the way to the back of the truck. I tried some polishing compound and regular wax and it made it look better. But I still see it. Anything else to try, without actually taking the paint off and making things look worse.?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Use touch up as last resort. If the scuff is that small the "glob" of paint

will stand out more than the scratch.

If you are doing this by hand rub in the direction of the scratch, this will

"shine" down in the scratch and make it less visible. Don't use anything to

aggressive as this will reduce the amount of clearcoat and scratch the surrounding clear. Clearcoat that is to thin can lead to failure in the future.

As for wet sanding, if you choose that route I'd use 3000 grit. Then polish.

Your best bet is to stop by a reputable body shop and have someone look at it.

They can tell you if it can be buffed out.

Hope this helps