how do you remove these scratches?

pzero7

New member
Joined
Dec 25, 2010
Messages
58
Reaction score
0
Hey Mike/AG/everyone,

Hope everyone's doing well. I have a question about removing some scratches on my 370z. please have a look at the picture i uploaded. it may be too small to see but all i want to know is if it is possible to remove scratches on that panel. I am quite clueless as to how do you attempt to remove those scratches. they were on there since i bought the car. don't know how a new car like that got scratched up like that. any help would be great. the material is kinda like plastic. is there a way of removing those scratches as opposed to buying a replacement panel?

thanks.

Andy.
 
sorry, the arrow that i included is barely visible. basically it's pointing to the panel between the big and tiny window. thanks!
 
You'll definitely need a closer picture for us to give any real advice. That being said, if you have no experience removing scratches...I would stay away from attempting. Especially with that car! If they're not too deep a professional should be able to get them out pretty easily.

The scratches being on a plastic panel...does kind of play a factor. It can still be done though. That is assuming they aren't too deep. But again, in that picture I can't even see them. Good luck!
 
sorry guys, let me go get a closer picture. my bad.....
 
Here are some close ups. a little better but still pretty poor quality. sorry. any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.
thanks everyone.
 
The scratches are almost swirl like but more visible and i would definitely say deeper. it still feels smooth when you run your fingers over it so i am guessing it's not too deep.

You'll definitely need a closer picture for us to give any real advice. That being said, if you have no experience removing scratches...I would stay away from attempting. Especially with that car! If they're not too deep a professional should be able to get them out pretty easily.

The scratches being on a plastic panel...does kind of play a factor. It can still be done though. That is assuming they aren't too deep. But again, in that picture I can't even see them. Good luck!
 
It definitely looks like something that can be removed to me. The only problem is...it looks like its in a tough spot.

I would wet sand the area with 2000 grit till its all one blotch of unified scratches. Try an air drill with a 3" pad with some compound. Then follow up with a lighter compound. Swirl remover, and a polish. That should take care of it. Easier said than done though, ha.

But, like I said before...without experience, I would advise you to not try. You could easily cause more damage. Plus if you don't have the tools...you'll pay more in tools than what a professional would charge anyways. Hope this helps!! Good luck!

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
If you'll post where you are located maybe there is a more experienced member here near you that you could hook up with for some help trying to polish them out. If you are going to try to do the repair yourself it wouldn't hurt to try something like Ultimate compound with a headlight repair kit and a drill. I would suggest trying the UC before breaking out the 2000 grit.
 
Are those on the plastic door frame? If so, Megs 105 or UC will take care of those
 
It definitely looks like something that can be removed to me. The only problem is...it looks like its in a tough spot.

I would wet sand the area with 2000 grit till its all one blotch of unified scratches. Try an air drill with a 3" pad with some compound. Then follow up with a lighter compound. Swirl remover, and a polish. That should take care of it. Easier said than done though, ha.

But, like I said before...without experience, I would advise you to not try. You could easily cause more damage. Plus if you don't have the tools...you'll pay more in tools than what a professional would charge anyways. Hope this helps!! Good luck!

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

why would you wetsand that ? those will come out really easily IME with some Megs UC, 105, and likely even 205.

I also disagree that its a tough spot., there are no close edges or trim thats in the risk of being buffed up on and damaged. the spot is wide open and clear and actually stepped up like a platue away from the rest of the surrounding panels. I think the opposite. IME that spot is wide open and should be a snap to work on. Just tape off the surrounding rubber seals and go at it with a 4" pad.

Sorry if i'm calling your advice into question but i just dislike fear mongering posts like this. and over complicating things. this area should be a easy 1 step with UC or 205 on a Nissan. Not a 5!!! step process that includes wetsanding and leaving off at 2000 grit, which for sure would make removing 2000 grit marks a serious task.
 
Are those on the plastic door frame? If so, Megs 105 or UC will take care of those

paint or plastic, that is great advice, and those products should work well on either material. :iagree::dblthumb2:
 
why would you wetsand that ? those will come out really easily IME with some Megs UC, 105, and likely even 205.

I also disagree that its a tough spot., there are no close edges or trim thats in the risk of being buffed up on and damaged. the spot is wide open and clear and actually stepped up like a platue away from the rest of the surrounding panels. I think the opposite. IME that spot is wide open and should be a snap to work on. Just tape off the surrounding rubber seals and go at it with a 4" pad.

Sorry if i'm calling your advice into question but i just dislike fear mongering posts like this. and over complicating things. this area should be a easy 1 step with UC or 205 on a Nissan. Not a 5!!! step process that includes wetsanding and leaving off at 2000 grit, which for sure would make removing 2000 grit marks a serious task.

If you're comfortable with your products and technique. 2000 grit scratches are a peace of cake to get rid of. If they scare you, and make you scramble with different compounds, and pads...then that's all the more reason to take it to a professional. I thought he mentioned that he tried compound already.

I didn't leave off with 2000 grit scratches either...I don't know where you got that. Why would I do that? You make my advice sound like this big drawn out thing. This should take no more than 10 minutes at the very most. Multiple steps are necessary for a better finish. If you just blast it with a heavy compound and think your done...it's gonna have swirls. It will just be a fine group of swirled scratches. You have to work in levels for a better result. Everyone has their own way I guess.
 
If you're comfortable with your products and technique. 2000 grit scratches are a peace of cake to get rid of. If they scare you, and make you scramble with different compounds, and pads...then that's all the more reason to take it to a professional. I thought he mentioned that he tried compound already.

I didn't leave off with 2000 grit scratches either...I don't know where you got that. Why would I do that? You make my advice sound like this big drawn out thing. This should take no more than 10 minutes at the very most. Multiple steps are necessary for a better finish. If you just blast it with a heavy compound and think your done...it's gonna have swirls. It will just be a fine group of swirled scratches. You have to work in levels for a better result. Everyone has their own way I guess.

Indeed , everyone has there own way, I agree.

IME, M205 will remove this in one easy step, and leave a perfect finish.

First attempts should always be to KISS. (keep it simple , you know what) :)
 
Indeed , everyone has there own way, I agree.

IME, M205 will remove this in one easy step, and leave a perfect finish.

First attempts should always be to KISS. (keep it simple , you know what) :)

I hear ya. I agree. Always start simple. I just thought he said he tried to compound. I thought he was looking for the next step. Oh well!! lol
 
OP...Those are the clearest thumbnail shots I've ever seen. What camera do you use?

I've seen that damage before. Do you wear a ring on your left hand/fingers? That plastic is very forgiving to scratches. Try the 205 that has been suggested then when that doesn't work go to UC or 105

Good Luck

Flash
 
This looks exactly like what I had on the b pillar of my GTI. The plastic is very soft so it didn't take much for me to correct with a very mild polish and soft pad (I used Griot's Machine Polish 4 with a 4" crimson hydro tech pad). I wouldn't try it by hand since it is so easy to put scratches in it.
 
thanks for your input. i'll probably leave it to the pros unless if it can be removed by a swirl remover ;)

It definitely looks like something that can be removed to me. The only problem is...it looks like its in a tough spot.

I would wet sand the area with 2000 grit till its all one blotch of unified scratches. Try an air drill with a 3" pad with some compound. Then follow up with a lighter compound. Swirl remover, and a polish. That should take care of it. Easier said than done though, ha.

But, like I said before...without experience, I would advise you to not try. You could easily cause more damage. Plus if you don't have the tools...you'll pay more in tools than what a professional would charge anyways. Hope this helps!! Good luck!

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
you're not being sarcastic are you about the clarity of the pictures?? lol. i thought they were quite poor. it's an old 7.1 mega pixel cannon powershot G6 that my brother left for me.i wear on both hands. 1 on the left and 2 on the right.

OP...Those are the clearest thumbnail shots I've ever seen. What camera do you use?

I've seen that damage before. Do you wear a ring on your left hand/fingers? That plastic is very forgiving to scratches. Try the 205 that has been suggested then when that doesn't work go to UC or 105

Good Luck

Flash
 
Back
Top