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how to get rid of surface scratches

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Phearson, Mar 4, 2012.

  1. Mar 4, 2012 at 7:36 PM
    #1
    Phearson

    Phearson [OP] Taco or Die

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    Brad
    Gresham OR
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    Everytime I go to the mtn I add another one to the list. There verry minor and I'm sure can be taken off . My Tacoma is black so most anything shows in the sun.

    So what's the best way to get rid of them?
     
  2. Mar 4, 2012 at 7:53 PM
    #2
    lonzorizo

    lonzorizo Well-Known Member

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    Buy a 3m scratch remover kit. Got mine from walmart. Comes with 3000 grit sandpaper, rubbing compound, and polishing compound. And 2 foam attachments for a drill. Most scratches are only clear coat deep...so usually pretty easy to fix. Here's a before and after from my last weekend trip. Still have lot more scratches to do lol.
    IMG_20120227_175437_a28afa6ccec19c1a296e4507bab5958915270f10.jpg
    IMG_20120227_180500_81129f910dfafe0287bd860bd9a0b4cb1e51c23d.jpg
     
  3. Mar 4, 2012 at 8:00 PM
    #3
    TacoMX

    TacoMX TW's Official anti body-lift pundit

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    that looks good.


    And a good 'ole clay bar, buff, and wax works wonders.
     
  4. Mar 4, 2012 at 8:07 PM
    #4
    Tacolover443

    Tacolover443 Well-Known Member

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    X2
     
  5. Mar 4, 2012 at 9:37 PM
    #5
    ffirg

    ffirg Well-Known Member

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    Anchorage, Alaska
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    X3. I bought my truck with tons of scratches on it. I thought I'd have to live with them, but washed, waxed, and used a clay bar on it and it looks amazing. Couldn't even tell it was scratched before. No more custom pinstripes for me. For now, anyway :spy:
     
  6. Mar 4, 2012 at 9:39 PM
    #6
    Madjik_Man

    Madjik_Man The Rembrandt of Rattle Can

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    We call that Colorado Pinstriping

    :)
     
  7. Mar 4, 2012 at 10:12 PM
    #7
    shampoop

    shampoop Well-Known Member

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    #1 thing to know about scratch removal. If you can feel it with your fingernail, you'll never completely get rid of it. You can make it look much much better, but not get rid of it. If your fingernail doesn't catch, you can probably get rid of it. And don't burn though your paint.
     
  8. Mar 4, 2012 at 10:26 PM
    #8
    TacoMX

    TacoMX TW's Official anti body-lift pundit

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    Also, of you're serious about detailing invest in an orbital buffer with a clutch so you don't burn through your clear/paint. Makes life so easy.....
     
  9. Mar 5, 2012 at 8:08 AM
    #9
    Hillingdoner

    Hillingdoner Well-Known Member

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    140 amp Cadillac alternator, Audio system in progress, 4Runner map light mirror conversion, foot well lamp addition, buckets and console from 99 Tacoma regular cab, big three, tint
    I use Adams polishes to fix this sort of damage in combination with some Chemical Guys stuff. Like they say though, if the car needs paint no amount of polish is going to put paint back on it, lol.

    I use the Porter Cable polisher, works well and had excellent results with it. Takes a bit more effort than a straight buffer, but less likely to cause damage to the paint with it. I'm a big supporter of just doing enough to get the paint where I want it rather than blasting it to the max and (with my skills) potentially doing more damage to the paint. You have to decide what you want though. Paint correction or to just hide the scratches.

    Here are some vids (not mine) that are very good in showing paint correction etc. Hope they help.

    http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/machine-polishing/5656.htm

    http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/machine-polishing/4034.htm

    Hope these help and are of interest. Cheers
     
  10. Mar 5, 2012 at 8:34 AM
    #10
    Yamaha Dave

    Yamaha Dave Well-Known Member

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    A clay bar will do absolutely nothing for his scratches. It only removes chemical oxidation, tree sap, paint overspray etc..
     
  11. Mar 5, 2012 at 9:30 AM
    #11
    lossscause

    lossscause Well-Known Member

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    X2
     
  12. Mar 5, 2012 at 11:26 AM
    #12
    Hillingdoner

    Hillingdoner Well-Known Member

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    ^above is correct, clay bar does not remove the scratches, but the clay bar is used in the surface prep before paint correction on a scratch.

    The paint surface may have fall out, rail dust and other surface contaminants on it or imbedded partly in it. A good wash and then claying will make the surface as clean as possible before paint correction is started. Without claying it is possible to pick up some of these surface particles and just be swirling them around on your paint surface while trying to polish out the scratch.
     
  13. Mar 5, 2012 at 11:49 AM
    #13
    Phearson

    Phearson [OP] Taco or Die

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    Thanks guys.

    I have 2 scratches i KNOW i cant get out but im sure i can make them less noticeable. Its all just minor. Ive herd tho with a polisher it ill creat circles? That true?
     
  14. Mar 5, 2012 at 12:08 PM
    #14
    Hillingdoner

    Hillingdoner Well-Known Member

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    Here is where the previously mentioned prep comes in. If you leave contaminants on the paint and try to polish (by hand or by polisher) you can put "circles" in the paint. The circles or swirls are caused by the abrasive contaminants left on the paint being rubbed around on your paint while you are trying to polish out a scratch (or wax your car).

    Get it clean and polish as in the vids I linked and no problems.

    Now that is a polisher, there is the factor of a buffer. For most novice users (and my preference as well) I would not recommend a buffer. A buffer spins on a non orbital axis and as such can transmit/build up too much heat. This is where you get the term "burned the paint". People have taken the paint right off the car with these on corners and panel seams. Often you also get what I call holograms on the pain from improper use of a buffer.

    Not long ago got our Camry back from the "well respected" body shop and once their filler glaze had worn off the holograms started to appear. Had to redo the entire car with the Porter Cable orbital (7424 is that the model no. don't remember now) to polish them out.

    If you have time watch the videos I linked to. You can also look at Junkman2000 on youtube and see other vids of paint correction of various severity. Lots of good tips and explainations.
     

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