Buffing out touch up paint marks
 

There are some small scratches on the side of my car. I got the factory silver paint & applied it, followed by a layer of clear coat. Today I sanded the area down with 2000 grit sandpaper (dry) and now it just looks like it did before, but with minor sandpaper scratch marks around the touch up paint.

Anyone know how to finish the job and smooth out the surface & color?

Maybe apply a heat gun to the touch up and let cool sit for awhile then polish compound and buffing wheel, seal with wax?

I touched up my lower rear fender and used heat gun to harden the paint then polished it. It came out pretty well considering.

My 2 cents,

Jim

I don't have access to a heat gun

Sand with 2000 wet, not dry. Maybe even try 2500 or 3000. Polish with a course and then fine POLISH, not a wax or sealer. The polish is an abrasive, but finer than the paper. If you use a machine it will be much faster and likely give you better results.

A heat gun would just be used to more quickly dry and harden the paint. Leave it in the sun or garage for a couple days to fully cure if you're unsure if it is.

You might have been able to just do the wet sand and polish from the beginning instead of painting. It depends on of the scratches were through the clear or not. There's loads of information on the web about wet sanding/polishing and color sanding. Good luck.

Good info syzygy

FYI,

Dry sanding leaves marks.

Wet sanding (with proper abrasives) polishes. You need to wet sand to get it smooth.

Soak your paper in water for at least 15 minutes to get it saturated. keep it wet when you work. When it starts to get dry, wet it again.

$12.99 or got a blow dryer for your hair?

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_5669.jpg

You probable could rent one from your local tool shed.

I've already sanded it down with dry 2000 grit sandpaper, and the mark is already left.. any further advice for removing those sandpaper marks and paint marks underneath?

Try using it wet followed by polishing compound then wax.

Will do. I've tried sanding with wet 2000 grit (but i keep hitting peripheral spots around the touch up paint by accident - ahhh!) and applied the polishing compound. Will try with wax tomorrow. Btw the car has a clear coat on top of the silver paint.

You need to reapply the clear.

Go to a local autobody supply shop and buy a can of prepsol. This is a cleaner that will remove all the oils , dirt, etc. No - don't try and cheap your way out by trying to use some substitute cleaner. Autobody prep solvent is designed to remove the bad stuff on a painted surface - but leave the paint or clear uneffected. Now apply your clear. Let the clear dry a few days - WET SAND with your 2000 til smooth - polish to a shine.

Next time - it may be wise to ask your questions before you start a job !