Damn Hurricane scratched my car

[FranksPlace2]

I was tring to squeeze all that stuff from my back yard into the garage to keep it from blowing away; Isidore arrives tonight. Unfortunately the wheelbarrow got too close and I got a 5 inch scratch right above the driver's side door handle. I can feel the paint is gone so its not just a mark.

Does that stuff that rubs out scratches work? What should I do?

Thanks

Frank

[Superman]

Works sometimes. Worth a try. Works better on opaque paint than on metallic.

[carnut169]

High speed buffer might take it out. General rule is that if it does not stop your fingernail it can be buffed out. If you can get your fingernail to "feel" it, it won't come all the way out. Too bad its above the door handle. Real visable place.

[Eric Coffey]

As mentioned above, if it is deep enough to catch a fingernail, than you are probably SOL (paint shop time). However, I have successfully removed a few scratches that I thought were too deep using the following "all-by-hand" method:

First clean/degrease the area, then wet-sand with 1500 grit paper using a soft foam block. This does take a bit of courage and finesse, but it is not hard. You will immediately see the paint turn very dull and "primer-like". Don't panic though. Just go slow/easy, and use plenty of water. Periodically "squeegee" the area to view your progress. Once you think you got as much of the scratch out as possible, switch to 2000 grit wet paper. Then, follow up with 3M "Perfect-It II" rubbing compound (#39002). Next, use 3M "Perfect-It" swirl mark remover (#39009 for dark paint, or #39109 for light paint). If it looks good, then the last step is to apply a coat of your favorite wax. Also, depending on the severity of the scratch, you may be able to start with 2000 grit. Even if you can't get the scratch completely out, it should at least look better than before.

DISCLAIMER: I am no expert, but this is what has worked for me. Results may vary with different paint type, color, condition, etc. It is a fairly safe and easy process, but use it at your own risk!

[Don Plumley]

Ouch!

I'm assuming your scratch is too deep to be buffed out.

Before you succumb to painting, it might be worth trying to fill the scratch with touchup paint, then level and polish out.

At Car Care Specialties there is a good article on how to fill rock chips. I used a lazy man's version of their instructions to fill some rock chips on my car and it's difficult to find them now.

First, I'd recommend having a paint shop mix up your touchup paint - especially if you have a clear coat. I found a local high end auto paint shop that made up a factory two part (paint and hardener), base and clear match for my car. Some folks on the board have talked about PaintScratch.

Next, follow the general directions on the Car Care list. Basically, you want the paint to fill the scratch and go slightly higher than the level of your paint. This takes patience and lots of coats to do right. (If you have a clear coat, you want the clear to be higher.)

Then follow Eric's instructions using a 1500 (I think you can start with 2000) sanding block - use LOTS of soapy water. This is the inhale deeply part of the journey. Once it is level, polish away.

I think this method is at least worth a try - it's a lot cheaper than a respray and you can always go to the paint shop later.

Good Luck!

[carnut169]

Excellent advice above. One more thing I wanted to mention is that a touch-up or fill-in means that when you sell it the buyer might not think the car was hit on the door. A body shop may want to pain the whole door and blend the front fender/ rear quarter. Sometimes an unrepaired scratch is better than a side being painted.

[Sarah]

Sorry to hear about your car. We have two slightly visible scratch lines on our driver side door. It looks like the previous owner tried to do something about them.

Hey....on another OT note - Do you or anybody know how long Hurricane season lasts? I'm going to St. Thomas in December with one of my sisters and just wondering if the Hurricanes will be long gone by that time.

[johnco]

Hurricane season last from June to late November but typically we get them around August and September. we only had from 6 inches to 23 inches of rain from where I live to some parts of New Olreans in 2 days. Isador was just a rainstorm.

[Sarah]

johnco - Thank you!! My husband and I were in Charleston, SC a few Octobers ago and due to a hurricane we had to drive to Atlanta, GA just to get a flight home. Anyway...in MN we pretty much know when the sun, tornadoes, & snow seasons will be here...but a hurricane is a category I don't know much about. Thanks

[FranksPlace2]

In recognition of my (lack of ) skills with sandpaper, I took the cowards path. I bought a bottle of Mothers Scratch Remover. The first step "rub on, wipe off" is easy. The problem is the "repeat as necessary" step.

I spent about 3 hours rubbing it out. First the black mark down the middle disappered, and then the scratch got smaller and smaller. I quit when it became barely noticeble. The casual observer would not notice it.

Another huricane is coming now (Lilly). The wheelbarrow is staying out side!

Frank

[Ted Stringer]

Look out, you have another one comming, projected to hit Thursday or Friday. It also looks like a catagory 3 hurricane, serious storm. For the uninitiated, that means that it is packing upwards of 120 mph winds sustained for at least one minute, gusts faster.

[johnco]

Andrew had speeds of 220mph. I stood outside till daylight watching the store across from my house blow away piece by piece. this one may not be as bad but it's gonna be one hell of a ride. for some twisted reason I like hurricanes. just not the destruction and the days without electricity and water. we lost an airplane, a sailboat, and several roofs off of some properties. My mother's house had a oak tree 70ft tall, 12 ft dia fall on the roof. Major damage. so where do I hide the Porsche? nowhere is safe over here. I might have some used parts for sale next week.

[FranksPlace2]

Johnco,

Where are you?

I am in Metairie, predicted to be on the east side of the hurricane, the wet side.

I tried to park at the EJ hospital last week but the cops were there. I understand the car dealers put their cars in the downtown garages. The airport would be ok too, maybe with a little better security.

Remember that the force varies as the square of the velocity, so 200mph wind has 4 times the force of a 100 mph wind.

I am online looking for a hoteol in Montgomery.

[johnco]

I live about 80 miles west of New Orleans. I've only left for hurricanes once in the 60's and we ended up driving into the thing instead of away. I prefer to ride them out. My family has many properties, so I usually ride around checking things out during the last of the winds, dodging downed lines and trees. and checking friend's homes and places. I might have to go to Metairie tomorrow to board up some windows for a coworker of
my girlfriend. she's a midwesterner and it's her first hurricane. she has no clue of what she's in for and she's freaking out.

[Bill Douglas]

Frank, why don't you get one of those big felt tip pens (I don't know what you US guys call them - you know the sort that you used to write on the sides of trains with when you were a kid), and write on the car "I survived Isidore" with an arrow pointing at the scratch.

[FranksPlace2]

You guys in New Zeland have funny names for everything. Here we call them "big felt tip pens."

Actually it would not be proper to do that on a P car for a plain Tropical Storm. It would only be proper for a Cat 4 or 5 Hurricane. You know "Excellence is Expected."

Frank