the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

[drnrg]

hi all, I've got these 2 very very minor scratches in my sealant, very smooth to touch, definitely not deep (I would say they haven't even gotten into the clear coat). Just an annoying white line you can see in the correct light. I managed to get them when I picked up a particle on my drying towel, what is the best product to remove them? I think it would need the weakest possible abrasive, maybe speed detailer? scratchx is too strong imho pictures below

[Sydster]

Re: the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

It just looks like streaks to me You can try speed detailer, if it wont work just apply a little bit of sealant in the scratched area and see what happens. But I would go for re applying the sealant in the small area. Let us know what happens.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

If that's a scratch in your paint sealant, in other words, the coat of wax on your car, then simply applying some more wax or paint sealant to the area should replace the missing coating.

Highly doubt that's the problem.

More likely is the scratch is in your clear coat finish. If applying some wax doesn't make the scratch go away, then you'll need to use a paint cleaner to remove the paint surrounding the scratch to level the surface and then re-apply your choice of wax or paint sealant.

Here's an article we wrote that talks about this,

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...


In order to remove a scratch out of anything, metal, plastic glass, paint, etc. You must remove material around the scratch until the surface is level or equal to the lowest depths of the scratch or scratches.

The below diagram if for paint, the the same thing applies to just about an surface material or coating.



In essences, you don't really remove a scratch, you remove material around a scratch.

Then the big question is, is the material or coating workable, as in can you abrade small particles of it and leave behind an original looking surface. For example, some things you can abrade, (remove the scratch), but you can never completely remove all of your abrading marks, thus you can't really fix the problem, all you can do is exchange one set of scratches of a different set of scratches.

The next questions is, how thick is the surface material you're working on or the coating. You are limited to what you can do by the thickness of these to things, (surface coating or surface material), and whether or not this surface is workable.

Sometimes you don't know what you can so until you try. It's always a good idea to test your choice of products, applicator materials and application process, (By hand or by machine), to an inconspicuous area. If you cannot make a small area look good with your product, applicator and process, you will not be able to make the entire surface look good. It's always a good idea to test first and error on the side of caution, versus make a mistake you cannot undo.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

I've come across this sort of thing on many occasions and I tend to refer to them more as "scuff marks" than "scratches", but that's just me. When these "scuffs" are as wide as the ones you show, yet you can't even feel them, I find they come out very easily with a little ScratchX, depending of course on how hard the paint is. But a QD spray won't do a darn thing for them unless it's something sitting on top of the paint.

[drnrg]

Re: the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

since I've got some sealant I'll try that first, if it doesn't work then its time for some scratch-x
is the regular procedure: wash, clay, wash, sealant?
or can i just wash, sealant?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

Wash and then "Inspect"


Your inspection will tell you what to do next, in your case if you feel bonded contaminants, then clay the paint, if you don't then go right to trying to replace the missing sealant with fresh sealant.

Best guess is that when you apply your choice of sealant it will tend to mask or diminish the appearance of the scratch or scuff in your car's paint which can lead you to think you've fixed the true problem. So look carefully after applying your sealant and make sure the problem was missing sealant and not a scratch in the paint which will be temporarily masked.


Our bet is that it is actually a scuff or scratch in the paint, not sealant that has been removed, looking like a scratch or scuff.

[drnrg]

Re: the most minor scratch (is it even a scratch!?)

I'll be picking up some scratchx this afternoon just incase i need it, hopefully i wont but if i do at least i know it'll work

Wash and then "Inspect"


Your inspection will tell you what to do next, in your case if you feel bonded contaminants, then clay the paint, if you don't then go right to trying to replace the missing sealant with fresh sealant.

Best guess is that when you apply your choice of sealant it will tend to mask or diminish the appearance of the scratch or scuff in your car's paint which can lead you to think you've fixed the true problem. So look carefully after applying your sealant and make sure the problem was missing sealant and not a scratch in the paint which will be temporarily masked.


Our bet is that it is actually a scuff or scratch in the paint, not sealant that has been removed, looking like a scratch or scuff.