HEAVY Scratches/Swirls, How do I deal with this?

L

LKSi

New member
Joined
Apr 16, 2015
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
My 1995 Audi S6 has, what I believe to be, the worst paint I've ever seen. There is literally one million scratches on the car.

These scratches are mainly on the hood and roof. There are so many scratches that it looks like the hood and roof are very heavily oxidized, and it is! But upon closer inspection, much of the "oxidation" is groups of scratches.

All I had on hand was my Porter Cable 7424, an LC orange pad, and some M105. This got me going a little bit, but not nearly enough to get through all of the scratches.

S6 by zrwired, on Flickr

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

Left side of this photo is after a couple of passes with the orange/105 combo:

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

This section already has a few passes on it:

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

I have some Surbuf pads and more fresh M105 on the way (my current bottle sat over the winter and may have been frozen).

I'm pretty inexperienced, but I figure this is a great practice vehicle since it literally can't get any worse (and it's my own vehicle). I'm hoping someone can tell me if I'm on the right track or if I should get to wet sanding or repainting or what. Thanks in advance guys.
 
I am going to go out on a limb and say that really the only thing that is going to fix that is a new paint job. Those look like some deep scratches and odds are you would be through the clear to remove them.
 
KMG said:
I am going to go out on a limb and say that really the only thing that is going to fix that is a new paint job.

Those look like some deep scratches and odds are you would be through the clear to remove them.
Click to expand...


I agree. I'll climb out on the limb with you.

You are not going to be able to fix these worst horizontal panels.

The scratches look too deep and there's too many of them. Even if you were to wetsand, cut and buff I still don't think you remove even 90% of them and the paint left behind would be so thin that it would fail in the future.


:nomore:
 
It looks to me like tree branches have been blowing across the hood. While I agree with Mike ( He is the Man! ) But.. I also feel nothing ventured nothing gained. I would try using the M105 you have nothing to loose if it really does need repainting. It may look better than you think if you spend enough time on it. You may be able to get it looking good enough to sell or delay painting. Sometimes things look better or worse in pictures. Good luck!
 
Oh crap! Mike and KMG are on a limb! Is there a Lifehammer product that can help?
 
Must be his wash media causing the damage.

large-bed-of-nails-128-pins.jpg
 
KMG said:
I am going to go out on a limb and say that really the only thing that is going to fix that is a new paint job. Those look like some deep scratches and odds are you would be through the clear to remove them.
Click to expand...

Seemingly a lot of people are Plasti Dipping as a cheap solution to "fix" their abused-looking cars.
 
I bought the car this way but I'm assuming one of the previous owners buffed it with a wire wheel. I'm going to try to get it looking as best I can and hold off on painting. The one fortunate part is that I cannot feel any of the scratches with my fingernail. I will start saving for new paint though. :cry:
 
trekkeruss said:
Seemingly a lot of people are Plasti Dipping as a cheap solution to "fix" their abused-looking cars.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna second this. I've seen some amazing results with the right Plastidip combination, especially with the new high-gloss clear finish they have. Clean the paint up as much as you can, and then seal/protect it with a snazzy pearl.

i1cy8j.jpg
 
If there was ever a time in your life you wanted to try wet sanding and/or using a rotary, this is that time. You have a test vehicle that unfortunately you can't do that much more damage to.

I've seen a few write ups about rustoleum paint jobs as well, could be an interesting adventure.
 
That is what my car (2003 chevy monte carlo) looks like.

It was repainted before I bought it (2006). I was told it had four coats of clear on it, but the first application of meguiars cleaner wax determined that was a lie, as my pad pulled up red paint all around the car....

The orange peel was atrocious, so I wet sanded a few panels, and they looked fantastic!

Because I didn't want to take my car through the tunnel wash where I worked, I'd often take it to the coin op. I think it was the pre soak at the coin op that hastened the degradation of my paint. Even sanding barely does anything to it now.

Two things that I tried did a little damage to the oxidation:

1. Flex 3401 with a 90's Meguiars burgundy cutting pad + m105. This was an awesome combination.

2. Porter Cable 7424xp + Blue Rupes microfiber pad + M105. While very effective, it loaded up my pads witg residue almost instantly. One pass side to side, and you had to clean with a towel, and refluff with a pad brush. I destroyed the first pad trying to clean out the caked up paint and spent product with the pad brush. Please note that I was going to town on it though.
 
SirTanon said:
I'm gonna second this. I've seen some amazing results with the right Plastidip combination, especially with the new high-gloss clear finish they have. Clean the paint up as much as you can, and then seal/protect it with a snazzy pearl.

i1cy8j.jpg
Click to expand...
If that is plastidipped I might plastidip my car... wow
 
Those look more like cracks in the finish than they do scratches, and in that case you'll never get rid of them unless you strip and refinish.
 
LKSi said:
My 1995 Audi S6 has, what I believe to be, the worst paint I've ever seen. There is literally one million scratches on the car.

These scratches are mainly on the hood and roof. There are so many scratches that it looks like the hood and roof are very heavily oxidized, and it is! But upon closer inspection, much of the "oxidation" is groups of scratches.

All I had on hand was my Porter Cable 7424, an LC orange pad, and some M105. This got me going a little bit, but not nearly enough to get through all of the scratches.

S6 by zrwired, on Flickr

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

Left side of this photo is after a couple of passes with the orange/105 combo:

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

This section already has a few passes on it:

S6 Paint by zrwired, on Flickr

I have some Surbuf pads and more fresh M105 on the way (my current bottle sat over the winter and may have been frozen).

I'm pretty inexperienced, but I figure this is a great practice vehicle since it literally can't get any worse (and it's my own vehicle). I'm hoping someone can tell me if I'm on the right track or if I should get to wet sanding or repainting or what. Thanks in advance guys.
Click to expand...

Sir, I don't want too be the bearer of bad news but its time for a respectful reality check. You need a darn new paint job. Holy crap! You weren't kidding about the scratches. Looks like someone took a rake to remove snow off the hood. Ha ha. JK.

Seriously sir. You can compound, wet sand and polish till the cows come home. It needs a new paint job that will run minimum of 3k and most likely 6K for a quality paint job.
 
^^ I think we all agree that it needs a paint job to correct it completely.

Still, it can't hurt to do 'something' to it to improve its appearance in the meantime. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top