[Rick Lee]

When I was installing the clear bra on my wife's Mini, I used a sponge to clean up some bird $hit and then sprayed alcohol all over the hood to get any residual wax off. Well, I accidentally used the scotchbrote side of the sponge for a few wipes and it scuffed up the paint. The car is sort of an eggshell white and we want to sell it now. That's the only flaw on the car, so I'd like to get it fixed. I have an orbital buffer, but don't know what to use on these scratches. Any ideers?

[Lucky]

RL,

There are all sorts of quality polishes for automotive finishes that should work just fine. I like and use Griot's. They number theirs with 1 being the most aggressive and 4 being for removing the finest of swirl marks. I have 1 through 3, which you are welcome to use. My guess is that a little of #2 followed by #3 to finish it off would make the light scuff marks a scotchbrite pad makes dissappear completely.

3M also makes some great stuff, check here: http://www.superiorcarcare.net/3maut...FTgrOAodiUvBXw

Congrat's on your recent marriage!!!

[Rick Lee]

Thanks. Is Griot's available in stores or from their catalogue only? Also, how to apply this stuff? Use an orbital buffer or elbow grease?

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Thanks. Is Griot's available in stores or from their catalogue only? Also, how to apply this stuff? Use an orbital buffer or elbow grease?

I'm pretty sure Griot's is catalog/online only. An orbital buffer is faster and arguably better -- with Griot's polishes and their foam buffing pads there is an almost zero chance of damaging your paint, even with pretty aggressive use of a power buffer.

[Noah]

RL, any kind of over-the-counter scratch and swirl remover will work. You don't even need to use the orbital buffer. Scotchbrite scratches are very cosmetic and minor, it's not like someone keyed the car. Should take about 45 seconds of work.

[SigmaPi]

RL,

The type of pad you are using as well type of polish can greatly assist. I have some Lake Country pads as well as the necessary polishes without having to invest in a whole set to fix it. I also have a variable speed orbital polisher if you want to use it.

[Noah]

LOL, I love the over-complexity of this thread.

Maybe you should mask off the car and do this in a downdraft paint booth as well?

Jeezus people, we're talking about some tiny scuff marks from a sponge! This requires 1) a piece of rag, 2) a $3 bottle of scratch/swirl remover, 3) about one minute of your time.

[Dave O]

I agree with Noah. You cannot damage your finish any more than the scotch brite pad did by using a fine polishing compound and a clean rag. If you don't like the results then go with the power equipment. BTW, detailers do the areas that a disk won't reach with a rag and compound, not power equipment.

I've gotten a great gloss on a clear coat on small areas with a clean cotton rag and a fine polishing compound from my FLAPS with no problem.

YMMV of course.

[Trak Ratt]

But, butt... power tools boy-o How can you go wrong using power tools? + you might even have to buy power tools, and so then you can have new manly power tools for like ever! And can lend your friends power tools and thereby establish yourself as the go to guy for power tools. Seriously dude, power tools rule Plus the wife will OK buying new power tools since U R fixing her car (might even use this excuse to buy other types of tools too ).

[Potomac-Greg]

Originally Posted by Noah

LOL, I love the over-complexity of this thread.

Maybe you should mask off the car and do this in a downdraft paint booth as well?

Jeezus people, we're talking about some tiny scuff marks from a sponge! This requires 1) a piece of rag, 2) a $3 bottle of scratch/swirl remover, 3) about one minute of your time.

I've found that a scratch/swirl remover will give the appearance of a "fix" by using fillers, but the effect will disappear over a relatively short time. To really make light scratches go away you need to work with a medium cut polish, then finer polish, then wax. Once you have the tools (random orbital polisher), it's actually easy and a little bit fun.

The P/O of my 944 had waxed over some oxydized paint and it looked fine when the wax was fresh; but once washed, the fading was apparent. An hour with the polisher removed the dead paint, and it remains clear 3 months later.