Removing scuffs from clear coat.

[VSUScotty]

Et everyone, new here. Hope you guys can give me some good news.

I recently bought my wife a used 2012 CR-V. It's black, "crystal black pearl" to be exact, so black with some metallic shimmer.

With it being used I don't expect it to be perfect, but after I walked it the first time a few days ago I noticed the good has what looks like basketball or volleyball prints on three places of the hood. It's a rounded scuff mark with separations where the lines on the ball would be. These are not scuffs on top, these are actually scratches in the clear coat itself.

Thought I could easily handle myself. I had some product lying around. I washed it well, clayed the good, the went with some Meg ultimate compound by hand using a yellow foam applicator. Much to my dismay the marks did not disappear. They did seem a little better but they are not gone.

I will try to get some pictures this weekend. It's not easy to photograph, but apparent to Ge naked eye when the car is clean and in the sun.

I have given some thought to maybe using the same Compound but with a microfiber applicator, but I would rather have the marks there than run through the clear coat.

Any thoughts on next steps?

 

[wdmaccord]

You won't go through the clear with UC on a MF hand applicator.

 

[VSUScotty]

I guess I should have asked, is UC with MF pad the next step in the progression to try to take these marks out?

What are recommendations from everyone?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thought I could easily handle myself. I had some product lying around. I washed it well, clayed the good, the went with some Meg ultimate compound by hand using a yellow foam applicator.

Much to my dismay the marks did not disappear. They did seem a little better but they are not gone.

Most people I've met in life that try to work by hand apply their compound or polish like they were putting skin lotion on their face, that is the are very gentle and soft as they smoosh the product around on the paint.

That's not how you do it....

Not saying that's how you did it just saying I've taught a LOT of people how to work by hand and I always here the same comment from the people watching me break a sweat and it goes like this,

"That's now how I was doing it"


And that's why they were not removing any swirls or scratches. Moder clearcoat paints are HARD. And in order to remove scratches you have to remove paint. IN order to remove paint you have to push down hard and move your hand at the speed of light.

Like this,

How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand

​

Also, use a microfiber or cotton applicator pad for the first application. The FIBERS will increase the cut of the compound.

The fibers MIGHT leave behind marring, or light scratches. So re-apply the same product by hand using foam and the foam plus the compound will remove the scratches inflicted by the fibers.

It's a process....

Or get a machine, see this article, this was the first time Mitch ever used a machine and he's coming to Autogeek to get his first machine as he's never going back to working by hand....

From working by hand to working by machine - You can do it.

:dblthumb2:

 

[VSUScotty]

Thanks! I was bearing down pretty good but more speed and microfiber might be the trick.

Do you recommend a circular motion or back and forth motion with the compound?