Medium to Deep Scratches Question

M

melissa

New member
Hi,

I’m planning to get a Porter Cable. I scratched my rear bumper on my Audi A6 and some are deep. Have a couple of questions as I’m new to buffers. I plan on getting the 6” Backing Plate and 6” counterweight. My questions are:

1. Is there a group purchase going on anywhere or where is the best price for the Porter Cable (prefer it comes with 6” flexible backing plate and 6” counterweight).

2. For medium to deep scratches, which pad should I use?

3. Which scratch remover should I use(ie. Poorboy SSR 2.5 or Pinnacle advance swirl remover?) for medium to deep scratch.

4. Is there a certain technique when using on a bumper which is curved off instead of a flat surface

5. With a more aggressive pad, will it create swirl marks?

6. If I have a 6 inch backing plate, do I need to get 6, 6.5 or 7.5 inch pads?

7. Do I need anything else?

Thanks in advance!
Melissa
 
Hi melissa, welcome to Detail City.

If you're looking for a one-stop purchase that will get you everything you need (to start anyway) this kit is a good one to start with. It has the polisher, a couple of different levels of polish, a good sealant, clay, all the pads you need for a while, and a microfiber towel to boot. The only other things you need are soap, wash mitt, and the like.

As for technique, just read up on this forum for a while. BLKyukon had a really good write-up on what you should look for when polishing with a PC (Porter Cable Polisher), it should give you a pretty good background in to the process. As for curved versus flat surfaces, just make sure you don't spray the polish everywhere, it's not a happy thing to clean up after it's dried on plastic. Othere than that you shouldn't have any problems.
 
I agree with the above. THat kit is one of the best, and its a great price. One thing you should know is that a porter cable has its limits and many times cannot remove scratches. With your scratch, Can you feel it with your finger nail when you rain it over top of it? If so, then its to deep, and cannot be remove. If you cant feel your nail catch, there is hope that you can minimize it and perhaps remove it. Do a search and read up on use of the pc. GOod luck and most of all WELCOME TO DC!

PS, make sure to put your location by your name, it helps when answering questions.


Greg
 
Hi melissa, sounds like you may have some deep scratches. Bare in mind if you can feel the scratches with your fingernail, then you're not going to be able to fix them with a PC. This would indicate that the scratch is threw the clearcoat. You'll probably have to see a good bodyshop to get those fixed.
If on the other hand this is something you can do with a PC, then I'd suggest you go with Poorboy SSR 2.5 and then Poorboy SSR 1 to finish up. Then apply glaze and sealant. Good luck and welcome too DC.......Tom
 
Thanks guys! I did run my nails through and I can feel the scratch but my nail didn't catch. The scratches are on the plastic part of the bumper (or is it composite material). There might be hope! :w00t: With all the website's I'd visitied, it looks like the prices are fairly similar from store to store.
 
Thanks for the kit info. I think at this time I'm going to just get the PC with backing plate, counter weight and pads. My b/f already has PB, PS2, and Pinnacle products. Just trying to find any good deals that are going on right now.:yay
 
melissa said:
Thanks for the kit info. I think at this time I'm going to just get the PC with backing plate, counter weight and pads. My b/f already has PB, PS2, and Pinnacle products. Just trying to find any good deals that are going on right now.:yay
Click to expand...
10% off your purchase from PAC,AutoGeek :yes: ..

joe
 
I've had good luck removing or minimizing scuffs from bumpers with a PC.

Here is a friends bumper after something flew up and hit him on the freeway. I was able to remove everything with DACP and a PC, except for the part that were too deep and could feel.

Before

scratch_before.jpg


After PC and DACP with a cutting pad and polishing pad (SSR2.5 will work just as well)

scratch_after.jpg
 
I have some scratchs on my car noticable but not deep enough to feel'em.No matter how long i worked the PBs 2.5 with a PC with a LC orange pad i couldn't remov'em.

I went back and watched a video i think it was made by mgm using PBs SSR 2.5 and a PC on a passenger door of a black car .these scratchs looked to be worse compared to my car @ the end of the video they were gone.

I'm not sure why the process had not worked the same for me dunno maybe not enough experience. If you try this and you have goodluck please post some pics. GoodLuck to You..
 
joe.p said:
I have some scratchs on my car noticable but not deep enough to feel'em.No matter how long i worked the PBs 2.5 with a PC with a LC orange pad i couldn't remov'em.

I went back and watched a video i think it was made by mgm using PBs SSR 2.5 and a PC on a passenger door of a black car .these scratchs looked to be worse compared to my car @ the end of the video they were gone.

I'm not sure why the process had not worked the same for me dunno maybe not enough experience. If you try this and you have goodluck please post some pics. GoodLuck to You..
Click to expand...
Bad marring takes time and a speed of 6 for me. What someone would do in 2 minutes with a rotary takes me 10 minutes with the PC.

Charles
 
Hello

Well, you are also facing another slight problem, and that is that.
When the scratches are in the plastic, of any car, it is more difficult to remove them, especially if, as your car probably is, with a metalic paint.
Reason is that you can never polish as hard or as long on plastic parts, as compared to metal, as you run a higher risk of burning the paint.
Be extra careful, also if the scratches run over a curve or bend.

I am not saying it is impossible, as through time, we have in some cars sucsessfully removed, or at least disguised many scratching on plastic parts.
but it s easier, if the car was to have single layer paint, rather than metallic.

We do a lot of work here with our local and audi dealer, and allthough the paint on a audi many times is of high quality, (very hard too) you must still keep in mind, not to polish for too long, in one place, letting it get too hot.

If you were to use a rotary polisher, this is of the highest importance.
allthough with a orbital, you can work longer, but it will also take a lot longer time. to reach good results.

Many people will say, it is virtually impossible to burn paint with a PC or other orbital, but i have myself, in the beginning days, been too agressive, even with such a machine, and even there, gone through the paint.
But you learn from your mistakes..
 
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