Author Topic: small scratches  (Read 5673 times)

Offline jpo

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small scratches
« on: 30 March 2016, 19:53 »
Hi all

Have been referred here by the people at the mark 7 part of this site. Got a few small scratches around the car and looking for a simple way to remove them. Loathe to go to chips away etc as they are fairly small. Its a night blue gti and I'm looking for something very user friendly to use. Thanks in advance.

Offline Booth11

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #1 on: 30 March 2016, 20:47 »
Hi all

Have been referred here by the people at the mark 7 part of this site. Got a few small scratches around the car and looking for a simple way to remove them. Loathe to go to chips away etc as they are fairly small. Its a night blue gti and I'm looking for something very user friendly to use. Thanks in advance.

Are you able to show them in pics which might help?  What type of scratches are you talking - chips or scratches?  Are the very light surface scratches? When you run your fingernail over them do they catch at all.  Whereabouts on the car are they?  If they dot catch on your nail then they are just scratches in the clear coat and will probably polish out with a cutting compound.  Am I right in assuming you don't have a DA machine polisher?  If not they may be able to be polished out by hand.  In which case you'll need a foam pad and some polish.

Sorry for all the questions but it helps to know what exactly you are referring to.  :smiley:
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline jpo

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #2 on: 30 March 2016, 20:57 »
Please don't apologise and thankyou so much for trying to help.

You can't catch your finger nail on them and the surface feels exactly the same. They are just above the drivers side rear wheel. They're are 3 of them and they're about in an inch long. Definitely don't have a DA machine polisher!!! Could you suggest a pad and polish? Am about as good with cars as I am at cooking, so any help is gladly received!

Offline Booth11

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #3 on: 30 March 2016, 22:10 »
Please don't apologise and thankyou so much for trying to help.

You can't catch your finger nail on them and the surface feels exactly the same. They are just above the drivers side rear wheel. They're are 3 of them and they're about in an inch long. Definitely don't have a DA machine polisher!!! Could you suggest a pad and polish? Am about as good with cars as I am at cooking, so any help is gladly received!

In that case they should hand polish out. 

There's a multitude of polishes out there of varying abrasiveness' but I would start with something that's easy to get hold of and is a very well known general polish - Autoglym Super Resin Polish -  widely available at Halfords 

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/autoglym-super-resin-polish-1-litre

You don't need a fancy pad for hand polishing - just a foam applicator. 

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/sponges-brushes-buckets/meguiars-soft-foam-applicator-pads-twin-pack or

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/autoglym-perfect-polish-applicator

Dampen the foam applicator first and apply a blob of the polish then gently go over the scratches one by one using the pad in a circular motion - it may take a few 'passes' to minimise or remove the scratches.  Wipe off the polish residue every now and them with a soft microfibre cloth so you can see your progress then check it with a LED torch (smart phone one will do the job). You need to do it in good light.  After you have finished and hopefully removed the scratches, remove all polish residue and put a layer of a wax or sealant over to protect the paintwork.

Hope this helps.  :smiley:
« Last Edit: 30 March 2016, 22:13 by Booth11 »
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline jpo

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #4 on: 30 March 2016, 23:16 »
What a lovely person you are. Thank-you .

Offline Booth11

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #5 on: 31 March 2016, 08:18 »
 
What a lovely person you are. Thank-you .

You're most welcome. Let us know how you get on.  :smiley:
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline Pinky1959

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #6 on: 31 March 2016, 15:28 »
and when you have done that and removed the scratches, You  stand back and admire the shiny panel you will realise that the whole car requires a polish and then the windows need a good clean , then the wheels , then the inside needs a good hoovering , dash needs cleaned etc etc its well worth it though ........
Good Luck and enjoy it ...

Offline jpo

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #7 on: 31 March 2016, 16:27 »
:-) Cheers mate

Offline Watts

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #8 on: 31 March 2016, 17:46 »
and when you have done that and removed the scratches, You  stand back and admire the shiny panel you will realise that the whole car requires a polish and then the windows need a good clean , then the wheels , then the inside needs a good hoovering , dash needs cleaned etc etc its well worth it though ........
Good Luck and enjoy it ...

And then take some pictures so we can admire your handiwork!

I must sort out a few marks on my alloys...
2019 Oryx White 5dr TCR.

Was - 2015 Tornado Red 3dr GTI PP, manual, Santiagos, Audi short shifter.

Offline Pinky1959

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Re: small scratches
« Reply #9 on: 01 April 2016, 14:43 »
and when you have done that and removed the scratches, You  stand back and admire the shiny panel you will realise that the whole car requires a polish and then the windows need a good clean , then the wheels , then the inside needs a good hoovering , dash needs cleaned etc etc its well worth it though ........
Good Luck and enjoy it ...

Here I go again .....
After all the above you then have , Glaze , Sealant , and wax , then car gets dirty and needs done again
I am not good at cooking either but at least cleaning cars you cant poison anyone ( almost forgot about de iron and de tar before all the above ) Don't be put off by all my ramblings please
www.detailingworld .co.uk       will give you loads of info and lots of reading .