Help With Scratches on Honda

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lilaznfoo7

New member
I've got a 2006 Honda Civic Si and I've created more scratches while trying to repair then original scratches. I'm obviously a newbie at wet-sanding and mistakingly used too harsh of a sand paper.. :aww:



I've tried going over the scratches with 2000grit and then tried to polish it out using a yellow pad via UDM w/ Sonus SFX-1 to no avail.



319437358.jpg


You can see the lighter scratches from my wet-sand attempt in the background of the more apparent scratches. The vertical marks are from me using too harsh of a paper and the diagonal scratches are the original scratches.



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Here are some more of those 2000 grit wet-sanding marks to the left of the above picture.



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I need help with this one also... :cry:
 
I thought the sfx1 would've worked cause the honda paint is soft. Maybe step up to some menzerna sip on an orange pad. A lot of people on here use it and they like it, but I personally haven't used it and have never had to remove 2000 grit marks.
 
Are those towels touching the ground? What speed with the UDM? How slow were the passes? After 2000 grit, lightly go over with 3000?
 
Jscort98- I used SFX-1 and a yellow CCS pad, isn't that combo more abrasive than the orange pad w/ SIP? I've got IP, will that possibly work?



docrice- yes, they're one the ground. speed 6 w/ UDM going fairly slow w/ some added pressure. i haven't seen 3000 grit anywhere locally at the auto stores. i'm assuming i'd have to purchase it online?



Thanks for the input guys.
 
YIKES, those "2000 grit scratches" are a *LOT* coarser than 2000 grit scratches oughta be. Ditch that paper immediately (gee, is it 3M by any chance?). Those random individual deep scratches are *NOT* what's supposed to happen when you wetsand; you should have a perfectly uniform light hazing.



My suggestion:



Get some Meguiar's/Nikken brand Unigrit 2500 or 3000 grit paper (note I can pretty safely guess that you didn't use that brand ;) ) and go over the area again *VERY* gently, keeping the paper flat against your flexible sanding block the whole time (and *do* use the block and make sure it comforms to the panel contour perfectly). Just do it until the current marring is *almost* gone, not until it *is* competely gone. Use plenty of soapy water and inspect after every 4-6 or *maybe* 6-8 movements of the paper across the area.



Then go over it with either a 3.5" LC PFW pad (best) or a 4" orange foam pad (distant second-best) using a pretty aggressive product (I'd use 1Z Intensive, never tried that SFX 1). Then follow up with a milder, medium-strength polish.



The two deepest diagonal scratches might be something you oughta live with if you value the paint's longterm durability. I wouldn't shoot for perfection, just "much better".



Note I wouldn't be using a yellow foam pad for any of this work.



I sure wouldn't try a lot of aggressive approaches that *might* work...you don't want to take off any more clear than you have to.
 
Yes, I used 3M paper.



Where can I get a hold of the Unigrit paper locally? Is there any way I could possibly spray paint over the scratches w/ matched color & clear coat to fill it and then go over the steps again? and why shouldn't I use a yellow pad?



Thanks for the input accumulator!
 
lilaznfoo7 said:
Yes, I used 3M paper...
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Heh heh, I just *knew* it about the 3M paper ;) I hear they have some newer stuff out that's better, but I just stick with the Meguiar's/Nikken and Mirka stuff.



Where can I get a hold of the Unigrit paper locally?
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Try local autobody/paint supply places for the Unigrit (check the yellow pages).





Is there any way I could possibly spray paint over the scratches w/ matched color & clear coat to fill it and then go over the steps again?
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You *might* do OK to put a little clear on the worst scratches, but don't try it until you get the issue a lot better (get rid of those sandpaper marks). I don't think I'd bother, to be honest. I'd diminish the marring and live with what's left (probably the two middle diagonal ones). Seriously, once you get it sorted out better and live with it for a month or two, I think you'll be satisfied (note that I'm one very particular SOB and I live with marring on all my vehicles).



and why shouldn't I use a yellow pad?
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Yellow pads are, *IMO* now obsolete. You can do better correction with PFW, you can do equal correction with a few more passes using orange foam, and both are less likely to mess up the surface being worked.



This is a case where, hard as it might be, I think you oughta a) hold off until you get the right stuff, b) settle for "much better" instead of "nearly perfect".
 
wow thank you for the responses accumulator.. what is this PFW?



I guess i'll get a hold of some unigrit then go over it with some orange foam.
 
Ah I almost made an exact same post as yours. I am not sure how your 2000grit left those marks; my 2000 left pretty uniform marks which I was able to get out with SSR 2.5 and an orange pad. I used 3M (no Unigrit to my avail).



Did you constantly wet the area with a soap and water mixture and let your paper soak for about 12 hours in it? Did you also use a sanding block? Here is how mine turned out:



IMGP2656%20(Medium).JPG




No scratches from the wetsand viewable just the damn swirling still present; haha. Honda paint as well.



Good luck and I am sure Accumulator advice probably will work best.
 
Asad_A203 said:
.. my 2000 left pretty uniform marks ...[even though].. I used 3M....
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Wonder if it was the newer version of 3M's paper (or maybe just a good batch of the old stuff) :think:



When I first used the 3M 2K back in the early '90s (on a pearl black Benz no less) it worked fine..but when I tried (a differenet batch of) it again years later it was just *awful*.
 
SuperBee364 said:
My Target carries Unigrit, surprisingly. You should also be able to find it at most auto body supply stores.
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Is that the same Target you will solemnly vow not to return to since it was the site of the "artistry" on your Bee? :nana: P.S. I am NOT down-playing your misfortune... I pity de fool if you catch him!
 
LoL, yup, the very same Target. :) Although they no longer have unigrit. And they also no longer have anymore of their cheap vroom drying towels. I bought the last ones.
 
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