Scratch removal or respray?.
Discussion
Unfortunately some utter cock keyed my car today, looking for some advice on my options to get it sorted.
The scratch seems to be past the clear coat and into the paint rather than through the primer and paint.
I've cleaned it out and used various products (auto glym paint renovator etc) but obviously the scratch is still apparent, is there a company (in swansea) that can sort this scratch out or am I looking at a respray?.
Pics below.
Any help appreciated, thanks.
The scratch seems to be past the clear coat and into the paint rather than through the primer and paint.
I've cleaned it out and used various products (auto glym paint renovator etc) but obviously the scratch is still apparent, is there a company (in swansea) that can sort this scratch out or am I looking at a respray?.
Pics below.
Any help appreciated, thanks.
DHE said:
Can you feel the scratch with your fingernail? If so, its probably going to need a respray. A machine polish may reduce, rather than remove the scratch. Which part of Swansea are you in?
I can feel it with my nail but the paint renovator has a mild abrassive which reduce it slightly, I was hoping it could be touched up and covered with a lacquer coat/spray?.I live by clydach.
A machine polish will reduce it further, but from what you have said, it is too deep to remove it. I was working on a Fiesta ST the other day with a similar scratch and machine polishing did make a difference but its going to need paint to sort that one properly. Its probably worth speaking to a few SMART repair companies to see if it is something they could do before going to a bodyshop.
DHE said:
A machine polish will reduce it further, but from what you have said, it is too deep to remove it. I was working on a Fiesta ST the other day with a similar scratch and machine polishing did make a difference but its going to need paint to sort that one properly. Its probably worth speaking to a few SMART repair companies to see if it is something they could do before going to a bodyshop.
Ok DHE thanks for the advice 
As DHE says, if your fingernail still picks up on it there is very little you (or a professional with a machine polisher) will be able to do - the only way to repair it 100% is to respray the panel (and possibly blend into the wings, depending on the bodyshop)
I would advise against a SMART repair, it's a very visible area and will probably be visible again after 6 months to a year where the lacquer blend is.
I would advise against a SMART repair, it's a very visible area and will probably be visible again after 6 months to a year where the lacquer blend is.
I had a 3 to 4 inch scratch which you could feel with your finger nail and was also through the finished paint to the white beneath. I had an expert in this work look at it and now it's only slightly visible if you look hard. I was very surprised because the white undercoat was clear. It really does depend on who you ask and how good they are. A much larger scratch may not be so easy to repair though and as mentioned above, whole panels may need to be resprayed.
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