Paint scratches may be an inevitable part of car ownership. Whether due to improper cleaning or other drivers coming into contact with your vehicle, they are things you do not want to have in your car. In this article, we'll learn how to remove scratches from car paint, but first, we need to understand how cars are painted.
Hyundai cars come in three grades of paint. The first layer is a primer layer, which is sprayed onto the sheet metal. Spray a color coat on the primer, which is the layer that gives the car its color. On top of this layer is a clear coating. This is the thickest layer on the car. It is a hard, transparent layer that provides UV protection for colored coatings and provides shine to the car.
The paint is very thin. Typical depths of composite layers are between 100 and 200 microns. That's between a tenth and a fifth of a millimeter, so there's not a lot of room to work with.
If paint scratches are to be properly removed, they must be in a clear coat. If the scratch is deeper, you won't be able to sand it out.
A good but imperfect way to tell if a scratch can be erased is to run your finger across the scratch. If you feel a scratch on your finger, it's probably too deep to polish completely, but it can still be improved.
Another way you can tell is by spraying water on the panel. If the scratch temporarily disappears, it is most likely a clear coating scratch that can be removed. If the scratch does appear in the paint, it requires the body shop's attention to make it perfect again. However, some scratches like this can be minimized.
Clean and prepare surfaces
It is important to work on a completely clean surface before attempting to remove any scratches.
First, thoroughly clean and dry the vehicle using safe cleaning methods.
Next, three stages of decontamination are performed. Starting with tar removal, the next step is iron dust removal and finally polishing the area you will be polishing with a clay rod.
Performing these important steps at the beginning ensures that you don't trap the gravel in the polishing pad, which can be ground into paint.
Next tape any areas you don't want to polish, including rubber seals, plastic trim, and doorknobs.
Paint depth meter
If you want to improve your machine polishing game, a very useful tool is a paint depth meter. This gives you an idea of how much paint is between the surface and the metal. While only the most expensive gauges will tell you the thickness of each layer, you can easily find out how much varnish you need to use. Most meters will give you measurements in microns, which is one thousandth of a millimeter.
First, make sure the surface is clean and free of any wax or sealant. Take some measurements on each panel and note these. You can then average each panel. Then measure the paint on the threshold. The manufacturer will use minimal varnish here as it will not be exposed to the same conditions as the rest of the car.
The threshold value was taken out of the panel average to estimate how much "extra" varnish there was. Assume that panels average 130 microns and threshold readings average 90 microns. This will indicate that you have about 40 microns of clear coating available.
This is not a foolproof method, but can be a good indication of the paint level on the car. If these numbers are very close, it is best not to machine polish to avoid burning through the clear coating.
I don't think a depth meter is a must, but it's certainly a handy tool that will let you rest easy while polishing paint.
How to remove scratches from car paint by hand
Hand polishing will be the choice most people use to remove paint scratches. This is the least radical option, but with the right product can still produce acceptable results. It only works on very fine scratches on small areas. For deeper scratches, a machine polisher may be required.
You need a polish. This will be a liquid containing an abrasive that will slowly remove a small amount of the clear coating. You will also need some kind of polishing medium, such as a foam polishing pad.
Apply a small amount of product to the mat and use moderate pressure to polish the surface in overlapping motions. Polish until the compound begins to clear. Stop and use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe excess from the surface. You may need to repeat this process several times before you notice any noticeable improvement.
After the scratch has disappeared, apply finishing polish to the area you are working on, which will improve the gloss of the paint.
How to remove scratches from car paint by machine polisher
Machine polishing is a more effective way to remove scratches. Machine polishers usually come in two different forms; Spin or double action. Rotary polishers rotate on one shaft to cut faster. The disadvantage of these machines is that they are not suitable for beginners because they can penetrate varnish if not used properly. More on the rotary polisher.
Another type of polisher is a double acting polisher. These rotate in a figure of eight motion. Heat does not build up as quickly as spin, making it suitable for beginners and professionals. More on the double action polisher.
Use a rotary polisher
When using a rotary polisher, select a polishing pad and cutting fluid.