How to Remove Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

[benzer77]

How to Remove Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?


Hi Guys,

I have 2 cars, one with black ash wood trim, the second one with dark fake wood. Both have some hair line scratches, and I wonder if there is a way to remove or hide these scratches?


Also what do you recommend to clean and maintain Wood trim? polish/wax?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!

 

[Finemess]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

I'd check at your home improvement store for a wood color pen. Should help hide it, not make it go away thou.

 

[reality33]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

If the wood trim is protected with a clear coat, like most are, you can actually treat the trim like it were paint. I would start off with a light polish by hand using something like pinnacles paint work cleansing lotion. If it does not do the trick, step up to a little bit more aggressive cleaner. When its finished, You can put a light coat of carnauba on it to make it look beautiful!

 

[benzer77]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

If the wood trim is protected with a clear coat, like most are, you can actually treat the trim like it were paint. I would start off with a light polish by hand using something like pinnacles paint work cleansing lotion. If it does not do the trick, step up to a little bit more aggressive cleaner. When its finished, You can put a light coat of carnauba on it to make it look beautiful!

Thank you all for the replies, what do you recommend as an aggressive polish? I have Meg scratchX. Thanks again

 

[WestEnd]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

I tried ScratX on my wood with the fine swirls and it didn't do anything to it.

I applied wax and it concealed it a little but I too would sure like to get rid of them.

I thought getting my DA after it would be good but without removing the panels it is pretty difficult to get around all of the buttons, etc on the center dash. I can imagine what a mess M105 would create in there. haha

 

[JC PAINT WORKZ]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

I too have scratches on my Silverado Trim not really scratches just like bunch of swirl type marks on it. I'm thinking about masking off a section and working it and seeing how it goes with a few XMT steps

 

[Kurt_s]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Hey Mike,

This is a bit beyond my experimentation too. My 11 year old bimmer has a few hairline scratches, that I'd love to remove if it was safe and easy.

I've checked with a few other car people and most everyone kind of shakes their heads. Try a carnauba wax was the most common suggestion and one suggested suggested talking to a wood floor specialist.

I was thinking maybe a really fine plastic polish might work depending upon the trim. I'm not sure what is used on the surface of the wood trim so I am hesitant to use more than an interior dressing and call it a day.

Have you found anything that works well and consistently?

 

[ryanbabz71]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

I too have scratches on my Silverado Trim not really scratches just like bunch of swirl type marks on it. I'm thinking about masking off a section and working it and seeing how it goes with a few XMT steps

Let us know how it works out. My wife has the fake wood dash like yours in her Tahoe and it has the same fine scratches. I havent been able to get em out.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

The problem with working small trim pieces like you're talking about is that it's difficult to use a machine to work on these areas and trying to do so by hand requires skill and experience.

If you work by hand, then you need to be able to have enough room to move your hand back and forth with speed in a "polishing" action.

Do you have that kind of room for all the surface area of the trim with the scratches?

Or does the trim start to get around shifters, or blinker switches, or vents, etc.?


If you can use a fast, hand polishing motion, then you need good technique and after teaching people how to hand polish for years at Meguiar's using ScratchX and then after it was introduced, M105 and Ultimate Compound, I found that still... most people don't have the patience, nor skill and ability to,

Working below surface defects out of the coating and do it in such a way they they don't leave any scratches behind at the same time.


So it's kind of complicated to do and even more complicated to type about let alone teach using a keyboard.

Can you post a picture of the trim?

For example, I'm guessing this is decorative trim on your dash? If so, how about a shot of the dash, from back a ways, like the back seat etc...

Another option would be to tape-off and cover up any areas you don't want splatter and then use a tool like the Griot's 3" Mini Polisher to do the work by machine. This tool can remove swirls and scratches, but again it does take good technique because you need to maintain pad rotation and the pad won't rotate very well if you use too much pressure or not enough product.

Ultimate Compound may be required if ScratchX isn't working but just to double check, do you have "new" ScratchX that uses SMAT or the old ScratchX that uses DAT?


I have articles in my article lists on SMAT products if this is a new term to anyone...

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Also, one thing I've found is I'll often run into people trying to focus on little sections of their car like trim pieces wile the entire outside of the car is swirl city... that probably doesn't describe your two cars, but I've always found it interesting that some people will focus on the little picture, that includes really complicated work, while neglecting the big picture... how does the "car" look...


:laughing:

 

[Kurt_s]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Also, one thing I've found is I'll often run into people trying to focus on little sections of their car like trim pieces wile the entire outside of the car is swirl city... that probably doesn't describe your two cars, but I've always found it interesting that some people will focus on the little picture, that includes really complicated work, while neglecting the big picture... how does the "car" look...


:laughing:

You mean we're supposed to see the forest from the trees?

 

[ryanbabz71]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Here is the trim in my Wife's Tahoe

The worst piece is above the glovebox (or at least the sun hits it the best and it is more obvious)

 

[JC PAINT WORKZ]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Here is the trim in my Wife's Tahoe

The worst piece is above the glovebox (or at least the sun hits it the best and it is more obvious)

thats 100% my dash too exactly. not much wood but in the sunlight it looks like doo doo even off the show room floor it was swirl city on it waxing helps a little hide in certain lights but not fixing

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Hey Mike,

I was wondering since you brought up the subject of 'correctly' doing hand polishing...do you think you could add that to your list of videos

I mean when you think about it, EVERY car has some sort of an area (im talking paint now, not wood trim) where a polisher, even a 3" one...wont fit...around windshields and windows..sometiems under spoilers...small areas on bumpers/fenders.

I think showing a good technique on hand polishing would really come in handy since even the pro's have to bust out the oldest tool known to man kind on jobsrops:

 

[BillE]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

FWIW

Wife's car also has the 'wood trim'. One of the pieces had one h of nasty scratch. Played and played some more to remove it, no joy. Couldn't remove them, I think they are super double taped on.

Says to myself, "Self, try the "Dremel." I used M205/M9 at the SLOWEST speed, and GENTLY buffed ALL of that nasty scratch out. Then, again GENTLY went after the rest. These were just 'normal' type scratches.In the end,nice smooooth finish. Applied a small amount of M16.

If anything, they may be too shiny...LOL.

Bill

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Hey Mike,

I was wondering since you brought up the subject of 'correctly' doing hand polishing...do you think you could add that to your list of videos

That's a good idea and it is on the list...


One thing I've been typing a lot this year is how it takes more skill to remove defects by hand than it does to use a tool like the Porter Cable DA Polisher.

For the most part, if you use the right pad and a quality compound or polish you just can't make a mistake with the DA Polishers on the market, if fact it's so easy for just about anyone to get professional results their very first time with zero experience...

Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl!

Proof the Average Guy can get Professional Results their first time Machine Polishing


Not true when it comes to doing the same thing by hand...

So it's on the list...

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Hi Guys,

I have 2 cars, one with black ash wood trim, the second one with dark fake wood. Both have some hair line scratches, and I wonder if there is a way to remove or hide these scratches. Also what do you recommend to clean and maintain Wood trim? polish/wax?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Let us know how it works out. My wife has the fake wood dash like yours in her Tahoe and it has the same fine scratches. I haven't been able to get em out.

Here is the trim in my Wife's Tahoe

The worst piece is above the glovebox (or at least the sun hits it the best and it is more obvious)

Thanks for taking the picture and attaching it... I tool the liberty to download it and then upload it to the AG Gallery so I can insert it for easier viewing and thus easier discussing...

Hi Guys,

I have 2 cars, one with black ash wood trim, the second one with dark fake wood. Both have some hair line scratches, and

benzer77

Does the above picture resemble what you are also working on?

 

[WestEnd]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Mike, here is what I would like to correct. It's burl walnut. Thanks.

 

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

That's a good idea and it is on the list...


One thing I've been typing a lot this year is how it takes more skill to remove defects by hand than it does to use a tool like the Porter Cable DA Polisher.

For the most part, if you use the right pad and a quality compound or polish you just can't make a mistake with the DA Polishers on the market, if fact it's so easy for just about anyone to get professional results their very first time with zero experience...

Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl!

Proof the Average Guy can get Professional Results their first time Machine Polishing


Not true when it comes to doing the same thing by hand...

So it's on the list...

Yup I agree...working by hand is rough stuff especially in tight spaces. I dont think im a master at it by any means but im always trying to learn to get better.

I think multiple example of how you hand work different areas ..like a thin but long area such as the strip along a windshield...or maybe a little wider area like a rear view mirror or door handle area would really help shed some light on something Ive seen very little written about let alone VIDEOS done on, so when you do get around to it I hope I don't miss that you put it up...I'm glad its on the list :dblthumb2:

Mike, here is what I would like to correct. It's burl walnut. Thanks.

The inside of my friends van has real wood in it...its the Sherod Chevy Express....very nice looking but I'd like to polish out the scratches which are lighter than the ones you show, but very similiar. I guess we were lucky because the previous owners really didnt clean it, EVER lol...so they didnt scratch it up too bad.

Id like to hear some ideas on just general maintenence as well. Our old van was a Starcraft edition GMC and the wood in some areas seems to have faded to a much lighter color that what it started out as years ago...thats Az for you I guess.

I dont know if there are any ways to bring the color back or not, but if it's possible to just maintain what's there now as well as ways to remove the scratches, that would be worth hearingrops:

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Hair line scratches on Wood Trim?

Mike, here is what I would like to correct. It's burl walnut. Thanks.

Wow! That' looks pretty bad, like someone has been cleaning it with a wire brush!


Without having the actual vehicle here to work on, here's the skinny on how to approach something like this...

The Burl Walnut obviously has some type of coating over it, so you're not working on Burl Walnut, you're working on the coating. Since it's clear, it's probably some type of urethane. Just a guess but it's highly unlikely they use the type of lacquer paint used in the furniture industry, so it's probably a high tech coating of some type that can withstand the extreme temperature changes cars and trucks are exposed to causing the components and thus the coating to expand and contract.

Regardless of what the coating is...the way you remove swirls and scratches out of any type of coating or material is to abrade the coating in such a way as to level the upper most surface area with the lowest depths of the defects you're trying to remover.

In other words you're trying to level the surface so that it is perfectly flat, not flat as in matte, but flat as in no below surface imperfections.

You have to variables that bring risk to the equation

1. Is the coating polishable?

2. Do you have enough film-build to safely work with without going through the coating.


I don't have the answer to either of the above questions but if I had the car here in front of me I would practice the basics,

1. Evaluate the surface - (you already did this)
2. Choose the right product
3. Use good technique

If you cannot track down exactly what the coating is and my guess is that's a hard question to be able to find someone from the car company that actually has any helpful information, then what you do is approach it like paint and do two things,

1. Use the least aggressive product to get the job done
2. Test your first product of choice on an inconspicuous area and then inspect the results.

If the results look good then continue working the product to the surface of the component.

If the results look bad... you'll be glad you ONLY tested to an inconspicuous area.


As for products, to date when trying to remove scratches out of modern clear coats by hand I've had the best luck using SMAT products, maybe try the new ScratchX wit a clean foam or microfiber applicator pad.

I would definitely be taping off all the surrounding panels and components to avoid getting any product on them and wherever possible I would opt to work by machine.