How to Buff Out a Surface Scratch From a Car Without Harming the Paint

A buffing wheel helps remove scratches.

Surface scratches on the paint of a car can easily occur. Simply brushing up against your car with a zippered jacket can cause a surface scratch in the paint. However, these light scratches can be fixed without hiring a professional. As long as you're careful, you should have no problem buffing out the scratch without causing further damage to the paint. If the scratch is deeper, you should have a professional body shop repair the scratch to guarantee a good result.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Water
• Soft cloths
• Towels
• Wet-dry sandpaper, 3000-grit
• Dish soap
• Buffing compound
• Power buffer or hand buffing cloth
• Car polish

Instructions

1. Wash the panel of the car that is scratched with soap and hot water. Get it very clean, then dry it off with a soft, lint-free towel.

2. Carefully sand down the scratch using 3000-grit wet-dry sandpaper. Dampen the sandpaper in a bowl of water that has two drops of dish soap in it. You can buy this sandpaper from an automotive store, or you can buy a scratch repair kit that includes the paper in it. Sand until the scratch fades away.

3. Dry the surface of the car again. Apply buffing compound to the scratch on the car according to the manufacturers directions.

4. Carefully buff the compound using a variable-speed electric buffing wheel. Vary your motion between vertical and horizontal. Work on one part of the scratch until the sanding marks and compound you applied are gone and you see a shiny surface, then move on to the next portion. Keep the buffer in motion the entire time to prevent paint damage.

5. Continue buffing until you remove all sanding marks and scratches, and until all signs of the buffing compound are gone. If you're patient and the scratch is small, you can also buff out a scratch by hand.

6. Polish the scratch and the surrounding area with a polishing compound according to its directions. Polish until the swirl marks from the buffer have faded. Apply a wax or paint protector to the area to keep the repair job in good condition.

References

• Body Shop Zone: Removing Scratches in Auto Body Finish
• Guide to Detailing: How-To Remove Clearcoat Scratches
• Popular Mechanics: How to Repair Your Car Scratch
• Cars Direct: How to Buff Out Minor Car Scratches: Beginners Guide
• Tony Bandalos's Learn Auto Body and Paint: HD: How to Fix a Scratch on a Car - Buffing Out Scratches!
• Autotopia: How to Polish Your Car

Resources

• DC Car Care: Waxing Before Polishing
• Jet Black Car: How to Remove Swirls From Paint
• Auto Zone: Body Care