MajorH Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 I know its difficult to say from a photo but my wifes car was keyed by some fiddler last night, was wondering if there was a general rule of thumb for these kind of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorH Posted November 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 When I said fiddler I meant Winker bloody swear filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RReflections Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 If you can feel the scratch with your finger nail then it'll need paint to remove totally, if it can't be felt then it should polish out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorH Posted November 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 Paint it is then, thanks for the advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 Major, you may be surprised at how much you can cover with polishing, even when you can feel it with your fingernail. Yes, it's a general rule of thumb that a fingernail catching a scratch means it can't be polished 'out' but you can drastically reduce the visible signs of the scratch. I've just spend the day on a Passat with a huge scratch down the door and rear panel, and although there were deep enough to feel with a fingernail, and I couldn't get rid of them, now, under a normal light source, you can't see them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Major, you may be surprised at how much you can cover with polishing, even when you can feel it with your fingernail. Yes, it's a general rule of thumb that a fingernail catching a scratch means it can't be polished 'out' but you can drastically reduce the visible signs of the scratch. I've just spend the day on a Passat with a huge scratch down the door and rear panel, and although there were deep enough to feel with a fingernail, and I couldn't get rid of them, now, under a normal light source, you can't see them. [/ QUOTE ] I agree completly, i have polished scratches on cars that have been very very deep. Any they are not gone but you would have to be at the right angle at the right light to notice them and cost me a lot less to sort then paying insurance or straight for a repaint. Also, cheap repaints are never much good IMHO. They are either orange peel galore (not much clarity) or swirled up by poor buffer monkeys. Try and contact a local detailer who will give you a quote. I cant see if you wanted to just get one panel buffed and apply your own wax i cant see costing more the say £70?! Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted November 4, 2007 Report Share Posted November 4, 2007 *Points to banner* Or £50, in fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssFour Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I agree with the above. I recently removed a scratch which I thought was too deep. Initially used some wet & dry, 2500 grit, lightly. Then polished it up to finish of the job. The scratch is barely visible now unless you get close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorH Posted November 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 Guess it won't harm to try a polish before going down the paint route then, thanks for the advice Dr Dodo pm sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RReflections Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 And how much paint is left on the panel after machining away a scratch that can be felt? Certainly not enough to survive another machine polish, or at least not if the car's not had paintwork prior. If you want to machine paint till its close to death I just hope you have good insurance, cause you'll soon be needing it. But then again its only my opinion and 15 years in the paint trade behind me prior to detailing, so what do I know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted November 5, 2007 Report Share Posted November 5, 2007 I don't disagree with you at all! I would, though, never go down so low as to put it close to death, hence why I said you can't get rid of a deep scratch, more just make it less visible. The Passat I did was a megs cutting pad and IP 3.02. Only two passes were done, and PTG readings were still healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorH Posted November 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 The car is only six months old, regarding insurance it's a £500 excess so I'd be paying anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsmith Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 If its going to cost you £500 excess then isnt it worth the risk? Even if you end up having to go down the paint route afterwards, due to polishing it too far, you have at least tried to save yourself £450!?! How about going half way and getting the scratch polished to a realistic level and seeing how you feel about it? Weigh up the £500 excess cost along with any other horror stories you may experience whilst the work is being done!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Just for reference, my offer was to polish to a realistic level. Also, worth noting, I am fully insured! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsmith Posted November 6, 2007 Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Sorry Doc, was not inferring that you would take it too far but more linking to what else had been suggested above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorH Posted November 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2007 Got the PM Doc, just have to figure out my time back in Blighty now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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