How to Buff Out a Paint Scratch

Keeping your car in top aesthetic shape may not be essential in keeping it operable, but it's still a worthwhile endeavor. One of the easiest ways to tarnish a car's appearance is with a scratch or scuff. Such imperfections will immediately attract the eye of anyone looking at a car. While deep gouges in a car's paint will require a more comprehensive job, small scuffs or scratches can be repaired by buffing your car.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water
• Soap
• 2000-grit sandpaper
• Rubbing compound
• Buffing compound
• Powered buffer

1. Wash your car's entire exterior with a mixture of soap and water.

2. Examine the car carefully and note the locations of any scratches, scuffs, or dull areas of paint.

3. Sand the area around any minor flaws in the paint with the 2000-grit sandpaper. Your car may look worse after this step, so do not be alarmed if this appears to be the case.

4. Apply rubbing compound to the area around any flaws. Gently spread the compound using the buffer with no power.

5. Turn the buffer on at its lowest setting and pass it over the flawed area, slowly building up speed until the buffer is on its high setting. This slow build will help minimize the amount of compound flung loose with the buffer. The rubbing compound will have the effect of dulling the paint around the scratch, a process that will take two or three minutes of buffing.

6. Apply buffing compound to the area around any flaws. Gently spread the compound using the buffer with no power.

7. Turn the buffer on at its lowest setting and begin to pass it over the flawed area, slowly building up speed to a high setting. The buffing compound should make your paint job shiny and remove the appearance of the scratch.

8. Prepare another mixture of soap and water, then wash the car again.

References

• BodyShopZone.com

Who Can Help Sponsored