Scratch remover/Polish...what really happens?

[Egoolps]

Can someone explain this as a "science" for lack of a better word?



So you have scratches on your car...and you use the scratch remover. How does it actually remove the scratches? Obviously you can't wipe off a scratch. Does it basically "dig" underneath the scratch (removing a layer of the car) to remove the scratch?



As for polishing...which I've heard people say it "fills in" the paint. Does it actually fill the scratches?

 

[trippinbillies4]

Scratch remover tends to be an extra heavy polish. Scratches that are through the clear coat cannot typically be removed by polishing or scratch removers. Polishing wears away at the clear coat till the scratch is evened out and is no longer deeper than the surrounding paint. Imagine scratching a 2x4 with a knife then sanding the wood until you have removed enough wood to not see the scratch anymore. Same principle.



Using a glaze can help mask scratches, but it will not repair them.

 

[Eliot Ness]

Starting on page 22 of the following DA guide it illustrates what you're asking better than trying to describe it here in a post:



http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/images/misc/dapolishing.pdf

As for polishing...which I've heard people say it "fills in" the paint. Does it actually fill the scratches?

Page 27 of the above guide also shows how fillers work. If you're even considering using a DA polisher someday you should read through this guide.

 

[mborner]

Imagine scratching a 2x4 with a knife then sanding the wood until you have removed enough wood to not see the scratch anymore. Same principle.

Excellent example!