This guide is a super quick overview of what a scratch is, how to determine what type of scratch you have and how to correct it. There are tons of great indepth articles and videos else where on this blog that will give you the exact details.
So just what the heck IS a scratch anyway?
Cars built after about 1990 have what is known as a “2 stage” paint finish. This means there is a base color and a top “clear coat”. (primer under the base color)
The top “clear coat” is different than the base color coat, and is much harder. Manufacturers came up with this to make automobile finishes more durable than old fashion single stage lacquer which required constant attention to keep looking nice.
Scratches show up white and stand out because the scratch is in the clear coat…even if it touches the base color.
A scratched in the clear coat reflects light which is the main reason it shows up so bad. Its similar to facets in a diamond reflecting light.
Good news…80 – 90% of car scratches are in the clear coat layer only.
In most cases clear coat scratches can be removed permanently
and quickly with the correct technique.
Here is a pretty good way to quickly decide how to deal with a scratch:
- Pull your fingernail across the scratch… can’t feel it? It can be removed.
- Can you barely feel it? It can be borderline and with a simple technique can be completely removed.
- You can definitely feel it (or obvious scrape , chip etc) Touch up paint will be necessary.
For the 80 -90% of clear coat scratches that you cannot feel with your fingernail you can remove the scratch with the correct technique and polish alone.
In general these are the steps for professional looking scratch removal for a typical clear coat scratch.
- Clean the area and inspect
- Remove Scratch (Polish)
- Enhance the luster of the paint (Glaze)
- Seal the restored paint (professional polymer paint sealant)
For some (not all!) borderline clear coat scratches you may need to wet sand ,
Heavy fingernail and loose keychain scratches
since polish alone will not completely remove the scratch. Wet sanding your brand new car can be pretty scary… however this is where The Ultimate Car Scratch Remover systems leaves every other product in the dust.
The Ultimate Car Scratch Remover System has a patented sponge with replaceable 3000 grit latex “paper” that is so gentle professionals use it on fresh 24hr old clear coats to remove imperfections. So you can imagine how gentle and effective is.
In general these are the steps for professional looking scratch removal for a borderline clear coat scratch
- Inspect
- Wet Sand ( Safe-T-Sand patented 3000 grit sponge from the Ultimate Car Scratch Remover)
- Polish paint finish (polish)
- Enhance luster (glaze)
- Seal the repaired paint finish ( professional polymer paint sealant)
For the 10% of scratches that require touch up paint don’t worry. You can get really awesome
Do car paint touch ups like a Pro
results at home with the correct technique…that is so easy it will amaze you.
One of the biggest “secrets” to doing professional looking touch up paint repairs is to “surgically” apply touch up paint. It takes VERY little touch up paint to do a repair correctly. This is one case where more is NOT better! Check out the link below to great videos on how to correctly apply touch up paint
In general these are the steps for a professional looking touch up paint repair.
(there a several optional steps available– see more great videos and tips here)
- Inspect
- Polish area
- Apply touch up paint (leave it, level it with solvent , level it by wet sanding)
- Polish (again) if necessary (remove any dulling during touch up paint process)
- Enhance luster (glaze)
- Seal the repaired paint finish ( professional polymer paint sealant)
The Ultimate Car Paint Repair Bundle
Remove Spiders on Dark Color Cars
One other type of scratch is commonly called a “spider” scratch, cobwebs or swirls. This is the type of scratch that shows up on bright days, especially on your hood or trunk and looks like thousands of fine cobwebs.
This type of defect (scratch) comes from neglecting a paint finish, automatic car washes, improper car washing technique etc. While at first glance it appears to be a “minor” type of scratch and you cannot feel it with you fingernail…it requires a very different technique to completely restore the paint finish.
Auto Scratches Spider Eliminator System
