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Maybe, maybe not!
Similarly, it can be hard to say whether the PPF will conceal it or make it more obvious; it doesn't always work out the way one might expect.
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- Thread starter spw303
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Maybe, maybe not!
Similarly, it can be hard to say whether the PPF will conceal it or make it more obvious; it doesn't always work out the way one might expect.
So I took some better pics of my scratch after using Meguiars Compound and Polish. It is definitely less noticeable. But looking at this thing up close makes me wonder if I should still try and put some clear in it. I know these are very closeup pictures and it makes it look a whole lot worse.
Is it too late still to add some clear?
Take a look.
Is it too late still to add some clear?
Take a look.
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spw303- That's a tough call. Here's the issue- let's say you put some clear on (only the worse portion of) the damage. And let's say you use a tiny artist's brush (size 00000/ "five- oh") so you have the highest possible degree of control over the touching up. No matter how careful you are you'll still get 1) some touchup clear on the paint surrounding the damage, and 2) a bit of "raised blob of touchup paint" effect on the scratch itself. These issues will almost certainly be severe enough that, from how I'm reading you, you'll want to rectify things. The safest way to do that will be to level/remove excess of the touchup clear with Langka's Blob Eliminator (no, we're gonna even *discuss* wetsanding unless you force me to 
) and using that might result in a little bit of marring, which means more correction which means more thinning of the surrounding clear. It might also result in removing all the touchup paint and forcing you to start over (less serious but still frustrating).
Oh man...it's just so hard for me to flip the coin on this one. I myself would just let it go, at least for the time being. As in, live with it for a while and see what you think over a period of time. Right now the whole incident is still fresh in your mind and thus the inclination is to fix it if it's at all possible. IME that inclination can sometimes fade over time (or it can grow stronger). Further attempts to fix things might indeed make them better, but might make them worse. And there's the whole issue of the time/effort/money you'd have to invest just to roll the dice.
So I'd wax/seal/LSP the area and live with it until springtime and see what you're inclined to do then.
) and using that might result in a little bit of marring, which means more correction which means more thinning of the surrounding clear. It might also result in removing all the touchup paint and forcing you to start over (less serious but still frustrating).Oh man...it's just so hard for me to flip the coin on this one. I myself would just let it go, at least for the time being. As in, live with it for a while and see what you think over a period of time. Right now the whole incident is still fresh in your mind and thus the inclination is to fix it if it's at all possible. IME that inclination can sometimes fade over time (or it can grow stronger). Further attempts to fix things might indeed make them better, but might make them worse. And there's the whole issue of the time/effort/money you'd have to invest just to roll the dice.
So I'd wax/seal/LSP the area and live with it until springtime and see what you're inclined to do then.
I'll probably make it worse. I have tried touch up paint in the past and I do not have a very steady hand. I've tried the "blob eliminator" you mentioned and it did remove the touch-up paint. I would end up having to do it 5 times before I would think it was OK. In fact years ago I spent every night for two weeks filling a little chip on the hood of an Audi. The idea was to try and get the chip level then use the "blob eliminator". It removed two weeks of paint in 10 seconds. LOL So that was a waste of time.
I offered a friend a ride the other night. I asked him too have a look at the damage after describing it to him. He laughed out loud at me and said he couldn't really find it until I told him the general vicinity where too look. He said he wouldn't do anything. In fact he was kinda picking on me about it throughout our drive. I felt like maybe I have OCD. I think its a bigger deal in my own mind.
Anger, Denial, Acceptance
I offered a friend a ride the other night. I asked him too have a look at the damage after describing it to him. He laughed out loud at me and said he couldn't really find it until I told him the general vicinity where too look. He said he wouldn't do anything. In fact he was kinda picking on me about it throughout our drive. I felt like maybe I have OCD. I think its a bigger deal in my own mind.
Anger, Denial, Acceptance
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spw303- I'm glad you asked your friend for his opinion. While I'm generally all about how only [the actual subject]'s opinion matters, it can be good to get a reality-check perspective from a regular person after spending time discussing this stuff here at Autopia! As I often say (yes, heretically ): Beware the Curse of Autopia, where you start to think that only perfection is acceptable.
And yeah, BTDT with regard to the Lankga. In that sense, it *is* good stuff for removing previous-owner/unacceptable touchups. It can take a bit of practice to use it correctly all right!
Heh heh, at least your past experience has taught you that you *can* tackle it yourself with minimal worries of the downside. Something to keep in mind while you live with it.
): Beware the Curse of Autopia, where you start to think that only perfection is acceptable.And yeah, BTDT with regard to the Lankga. In that sense, it *is* good stuff for removing previous-owner/unacceptable touchups. It can take a bit of practice to use it correctly all right!
Heh heh, at least your past experience has taught you that you *can* tackle it yourself with minimal worries of the downside. Something to keep in mind while you live with it.