[crazycanuck]

Two months after taking possession of my jet black e90, my five year old decided to use the hood as a slide and put a nice 12" scratch in it. I took it to a detailer for an estimate and he said it didn't look like it went through the clearcoat completely, but he couldn't just buff it out. He said he would colour sand it, but I've never heard of the term. If anyone knows what he means, could you please elaborate? He's also fixing a door rub that I got this weekend that didn't dent, but jacked up the clearcoat. My poor car is only two months old and it's taken a beating already. I haven't even had a chance to use my new Zaino kit yet. I'd like to clear bra the whole thing!

Thanks in advance,

Crazy Canuck

ps: Also looking for good pediatrition that can fix broken asses!

[picus]

Colorsanding is the wrong term for this, but I know what he means. Here is a quick rundown.

Colorsanding - when you sand a car with a low, then high grit paper, then buff to reduce orange peel. Normally reserved for re-sprays, very expensive, encompasses the entire car.

Wetsanding (what the guy you talked to is actually refering to). Sanding a small area with a high grit paper to remove paint in an effort to level it, then polishing to remove the marks sanding leaves.

Now, here is the thing. *IF* as he said, the scratch isn't through the clear, he really shouldn't have to resort to sandpaper. I can see why he would (speed), but that will be at the expense of clearcoat depth. The only time *I* wetsand, is when a scratch is through the clear and I need to add paint to it. So I will add paint, then sand, then polish... like this:

Scratch: http://****************/pics/s2000040507/a.html

Paint added and sanded: http://****************/pics/s2000040507/b.html

Buffed, gone: http://****************/pics/s2000040507/c.html

My point is, that if the scratch isn't into the basecoat or primer he should really buff it aggressively, then follow with a finishing polish, and see how it looks. Odds are (about 99%) that the scratch will be nothing more than a light indentation in the paint at that point, that can only be seen in very specific light. Most people are happy w/this, odds are you will be too. If at that point you are still not happy I would then sand.

Cliff notes; have him try to buff it out first. If that fails, then sand.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks man! Much appreciated.

He said he could make it look much better, but it isn't instilling confidence in me. I went to his booth at the Denver auto show where he was clearbra-ing a Mustang that was totally kitted out for the track. However, when I went to his shop, it was this tiny garage in the middle of nowhere. I don't want to pre-judge his skills, but I 'm pretty anal about my car and I don't want it totally jacked up. I'll ask him to clarify and see what happens. In the mean time, does anyone know of a good detailer in the Denver area?

[picus]

My shop is my underground garage, it's pretty ghetto but like I always say; is the quality of the person working not the setup. Ask him to see some of his work, if you're satisfied let him work on your car.

For local details try autopia.org in the regional sections.

[ADHD]

Originally Posted by picus

My shop is my underground garage, it's pretty ghetto but like I always say; is the quality of the person working not the setup. Ask him to see some of his work, if you're satisfied let him work on your car.

For local details try autopia.org in the regional sections.

Ive just registrd on autopia theres like NOONE in my area.. I think i need to be the one!!

Thanks for the info on the wetsanding too by the way!
Ive got a nice scratch on my big truck I think ill experiment with!!