My grandson took a rock to the front of our Clarity. I feel a ridge on the line when I run my fingernail over it. Any suggestions? I'm figuring on asking my repair shop for recommendations for body shops and see if I need to get one that does Teslas. I don't know how much a body shop will have to do to fix it.
Dealing with paint scratch
- Thread starter Danks
- Start date
- Replies 9
- Views 2K
Cash Traylor
Well-Known Member
You might try a polishing wax or micro rubbing compound. Hard to tell how deep they are from the photo.
1 Meguiar's G17216 Ultimate Compound.
2 Turtle Wax 50734 Complete Compound.
3 Quixx 00070-Us Paint Scratch Remover Kit.
4 3m 39071 Scratch Removal System.
5 Formula 1 Scratch Out.
6 3m 39044 Scratch Remover.
7 Chemical Guys Com_129_16 Scratch & Swirl Remover.
I use this for most of my minor paint blemishes: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/flyerspeedwax.php
and Magic clay.
I am sure there are some body paint guys that will have more tricks of the trade. There are micromesh products that work wonders but are expensive.
Good luck,
Cash
1 Meguiar's G17216 Ultimate Compound.
2 Turtle Wax 50734 Complete Compound.
3 Quixx 00070-Us Paint Scratch Remover Kit.
4 3m 39071 Scratch Removal System.
5 Formula 1 Scratch Out.
6 3m 39044 Scratch Remover.
7 Chemical Guys Com_129_16 Scratch & Swirl Remover.
I use this for most of my minor paint blemishes: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/flyerspeedwax.php
and Magic clay.
I am sure there are some body paint guys that will have more tricks of the trade. There are micromesh products that work wonders but are expensive.
Good luck,
Cash
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KentuckyKen
Well-Known Member
Hopefully, @craze1cars will chime in since he has extensive experience in insurance repairs. I’m going to guess that he will say any competent body shop can fix this using matching paint for the whole panel (looks like hood and that if you don’t have a lot of fading/oxidation on the surrounding panels, you won’t be able to tell the difference. You don’t necessarily have to go to a Tesla shop IMHO.
If it’s just in the clear coat, you may be able to effect a good enough DIY repair with Cash’s helpful post.
But the real news I’m hanging on for is what happened to the grandchild? How long was the time-out, corporal punishment, restrictions on BigWheel driving, having to wash the wheels all Summer, sent to boarding school, made to enlist in the Marines????
Finish the story for those of us stuck at home. Is he still alive, has he been forgiven, has he seen the error of his ways? This is like a “who done it“ with the last chapter ripped out. I gotta know what to do; pray for him, bail him out of jail, call Child Protective Services, send sympathy card since I can’t attend the funeral?????
If it’s just in the clear coat, you may be able to effect a good enough DIY repair with Cash’s helpful post.
But the real news I’m hanging on for is what happened to the grandchild? How long was the time-out, corporal punishment, restrictions on BigWheel driving, having to wash the wheels all Summer, sent to boarding school, made to enlist in the Marines????
Finish the story for those of us stuck at home. Is he still alive, has he been forgiven, has he seen the error of his ways? This is like a “who done it“ with the last chapter ripped out. I gotta know what to do; pray for him, bail him out of jail, call Child Protective Services, send sympathy card since I can’t attend the funeral?????
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I was at home. Grandma was at their place watching his two sisters (7 & 4). When he was discovered with an assault weapon assaulting our Clarity he was disarmed and sternly told NO!! NO!! NO!! I think that was about all that happened to him. As sternly as I dared, I told Grandma (my wife) that when she is watching the grandkids her first, second, and third priorities are to watch the grandson (2). The two girls have an idea what not to do. He doesn't yet.
Robert_Alabama
Well-Known Member
I've had pretty good luck with Maguiar's Scratch X 2.0, patience (multiple applications), and elbow grease. If you can remove it with the scratch remover, a good followup coat of wax can help with any residual swirl marks.
Thanks. I watched their video on Youtube. Makes sense to try the reasonable low cost option first and see what I get.
craze1cars
Well-Known Member
3m is my preferred product family. Impossible to assess from photos. Depends how deep it is. If in clear only, then possible wet sand, compound, polish, and finishing compound is the proper 4 step process. 3m makes a “perfect it”
Kit that does it all for $200ish for the product, and you’ll have no experience doing it so high probability swirl marks and errors.
Or just take it to a shop and ask them to wetsand and buff for you for about the same price by someone who does it every day.
If it’s thru the clear and into the base you’ll need to refinish it. But I suspect it likely can be wet sanded and polished by someone who knows what they’re doing.
but really it all depends how picky you are and how deep it is. If my car I’d ignore and move on, but I don’t get too worked up about minor flaws.
Kit that does it all for $200ish for the product, and you’ll have no experience doing it so high probability swirl marks and errors.
Or just take it to a shop and ask them to wetsand and buff for you for about the same price by someone who does it every day.
If it’s thru the clear and into the base you’ll need to refinish it. But I suspect it likely can be wet sanded and polished by someone who knows what they’re doing.
but really it all depends how picky you are and how deep it is. If my car I’d ignore and move on, but I don’t get too worked up about minor flaws.
David Towle
Well-Known Member
My son when he was 5 decided an oriental rug was a big paint by numbers and used 6 markers on it for about an hour before we found him. Luckily and amazingly 91% rubbing alcohol got almost all of it out.
