advice repairing deeper scratches?

[87 Monte SS]

Hello all:

I need help with a couple scratches that are driving me nuts - like the way little imperfections in your paint usually do.... :mad:

I have a couple deeper ones in my paint that lighter compounding won`t touch (so far I have used some SMR`s and a PC w/ a white polishing pad). They do not go through to the metal or even the primer (one of them is on the side of the plastic taillight housing). I have a single stage black enamel paint. I am wondering if I should use a harsher compound/pad combo and try to buff it out with my PC, or if wet sanding these areas first with 1500 or 2000 grit paper will level / knock down the edges of the scratch enough to compound it in an effort to get it out, or at least make it much less noticeable? Is there any difference in which approach I use, or is there an advantage of one over the other?

ANY recommendations or advice from anyone experienced with this procedure?

Thanks alot!

Brian

[Beemerboy]

If you have single stage paint I would think that compounds would be my choice. It really depends on how deep it is. I try the least aggresive first and work my way around that, to see how it reacts.

[87 Monte SS]

Well, I have used Menzerna Intensive Polish on it (comparable to Megs #9) but barely made a dent in it, so obviously its deeper than any other scratch on the car (very few of them to begin with, but still...). Sooo, I guess the next step I will try is the Hi-Temps light cut compound that Anthony hooked me up with. If that doesn`t hit it, then I don`t know what to do...maybe Hi-Temps Medium Cut (Anthony, what do you think?).

Does anyone think that wet sanding will allow me to better focus and intensify the effort to knock down the scratch and not the surrounding area? Or is it a bad idea from the get-go...? :confused:

[Koop]

wet sanding can be a very effective tool but it sill goes in line with start with the weakest product first. This should be the last thing to try.

[EBPcivicsi]

How about meguiars dacp, always works for me.