I've been hiding something from all of you...

dumpstersex · 03-31-2009, 01:58 AM

So I just passed the 1 year mark of owning my xb. I had cake and ice cream. But i've never posted pics of my box on here because i'm embarassed. See, long before I owned it, someone got really artistic and drew some tribal crap on the hood and hatch, with a paint pen. The kind you use to do touch ups with. I've asked lots of people how to fix it and they all tell me to go to a body shop. I don't have that kind of cash. If I did, I would paint the thing primer black and turbo the cube. So one night i got drunk and decided I would take off the drawing with a sponge and some, "bug and tar remover". I removed some of the paint, but I made little scratches in the clear coat and there's still a bunch of paint pen left. I know it can be done. I keep looking at stuff to buy. Microfiber pads, rubbing compound and polishers. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to screw up the paint job. But a flat black xb would be kinda cool. Anybody got helpful advice? If you want to make fun of me, that's cool too. I get it all day.

Thanks ahead of time.

seppuku27 · 03-31-2009, 10:04 AM

Try a really agressive clay bar, if its not clear coated. If that doesn't work you are going to have to get more aggressive with polish or rubbing compound. As long as the scrtaches aren't deep you can polish them out. Look at Meguairs ScratchX 2.0 and see if that helps if it does not go to a professional.

surfcitylocal · 03-31-2009, 10:30 AM

If it's been on there a while you may have no choice but to take it to a body shop. Since you've got nothing to lose you can try some rubbing or polishing compound. I've had great results from this product. They offer both medium and heavy. I'd start with the medium and see how it does.

Lt4mula · 05-01-2009, 06:16 PM

I take out most of scratches with 3M medium grit rubbing compound and a $25 orbiter. The orbiter takes forever but at least you know you wont go too fast. You can try to find a buffer, but I think they are a little spendy

Also, make sure any compound you use states "Clear Coat Safe"

seppuku27 · 05-01-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lt4mula

I take out most of scratches with 3M medium grit rubbing compound and a $25 orbiter. The orbiter takes forever but at least you know you wont go too fast. You can try to find a buffer, but I think they are a little spendy

Also, make sure any compound you use states "Clear Coat Safe"

They are all Clear Coat safe but will take off clear coat. If you do what he says you will have crazy swirls and holograms. Let a pro do it if you don't konw what to do.

dumpstersex · 06-19-2009, 09:08 PM

I picked up some turtle wax compound, the rubbing and polishing. I got one of those ice pads and a micro-fiber pad for my polisher. Now if it will just stop raining. Thanks for all your help guys.

confuzedbox · 06-20-2009, 11:06 AM

go to a bodyshop and talk to one of there painters and ask how much would they woulld charge to sand and polish out the clear...thats how u can get out the scratches out of the clear.he might only charge u only 100 to 150 to fix it back to normal.they will lightly watersand it with 2000 or 3000 grit sand paper,polish it out with some compound(porfessional grade compound)and then final glaze it to seal the clear in.i work for a bodyshop and i do this all day long...it is time consuming to do this and u have to becareful cause ur using a high speed buffer..hope this helps u out.u dont need to repaint ur car cause of this.

seppuku27 · 06-20-2009, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by confuzedbox

go to a bodyshop and talk to one of there painters and ask how much would they woulld charge to sand and polish out the clear...thats how u can get out the scratches out of the clear.he might only charge u only 100 to 150 to fix it back to normal.they will lightly watersand it with 2000 or 3000 grit sand paper,polish it out with some compound(porfessional grade compound)and then final glaze it to seal the clear in.i work for a bodyshop and i do this all day long...it is time consuming to do this and u have to becareful cause ur using a high speed buffer..hope this helps u out.u dont need to repaint ur car cause of this.

A glaze doesn't seal anything in all it does is temperately fill in very light scratches (micro marring) and add a little pop to your finish.

No one really uses compounds anymore. With the new M105 and M205 you can pretty much cut through anything with the right pads and a DA buffer. A little more time consuming than using a rotary buffer but alot easier for most people to handle and achieve better results.

If the scratch is too deap the only way hes going to get it out is to have it repainted. If they repaint it make sure they clear all the way upto the top or else in a few years your clear will be chipping and it will look even worse than it did.