[moore_716]

If anyone read my thread "assbackwards in a ditch" you know why I'm writing this. Upon closer inspection I see the passenger side of the bed has scuffs from branches all the way down it. I didn't see them at first, but in the sunlight the truckbed looks dull. How do I get these out? Will rubbing compound work? If so, what step is next to bring back the shine. Would I simply be better off having someone buff the struck out? I would like to do it myself but I don't have a buffer. I know better than to use an angle grinder because the rpm's are to high. I've seen the polishers at Walmart, but I'm not sure if they do anything besides polish.?.?
Mike

 

[dakota_vc]

here is a little trick you can try for about $10. get some 3m brand hand glaze from a auto paint store and some nice terrycloth towels. some times they can take it out, also there is a scratch remover made by 3m that is good

 

[Ace]

3m is a very good product, doing it by hand is gonna be hard i would imagine. if you dont want to spend the money to buy a porter cable or rotary u might just want to let somone do it for you.

anyways back to the question, i wouldnt use rubbing compound, that shit is strong. most of the glazes and polishes u will find on the shelf of autozone are non abrasive, which means they wont help all that much especially if u have serious problems. u can go to www.autogeek.net and get some poorboys 2.5 polish, that should work well, and again, idk how good by hand, but its probley worth a shot.

 

[Bad_banana]

You'd benefit the most from having the whole truck buffed. Spend the 100 bucks and get the whole truck buffed and a zaino finish. You'll fall in love with the outcome and will definatly consider it one of your best investments. Also, make sure first that the scratches arn't to deep. Run your fingernail along the scrape, if the nail falls into the scrape then you've got something to worry about, if the nail grazes over the scratch then you don't have much to worry about. Also, a darker color paint is easier to work with buff wise, a lot more can be done to a dark color than say a lighter color. Just find a good detail shop and you'll be set.

 

[bakerlaw67]

I had some fine "Arizona Pinstripe" all over the sides of my wife's Expedition after driving down a trail that was a bit too narrow (by about a 3 feet - I can still hear the sound of branches squeaking as they scratched along). I went to an auto paint store for Presta brand cutting creme. I picked up some light and some "ultra" (I think). Using my Porter Cable orbital sander and a foam pad I buffed it back to perfect (almost). Just be sure to wax right after because that stuff cuts right down to finish.

I had no experience whatsoever, and I just looked online for instructions on equipment and products. A sample link It was easy as pie. Just start out on a slow speed to avoid swirls and burning the paint.

If you can find somebody to do it cheap, it might be worth it, especially if you can watch and learn how to do it.

 

[Bad_banana]

If you are going to do it yourself, just make sure your bonnet is clean and that you are using the right compound. All you have to remeber is that you are masaging your scratch. Treat the truck as if it were human. Apply little pressure and let the pad/compound do the work, don't press your buffer against the truck as hard as you can, or you will burn the paint/clear, and really fuck more shit up than you started with.

heres a lil trick to see if your whole truck is worthy of a buff. Go find some plastic( Such as the kind off of a cigarette pack) and insert your fingers into the opening, then rub it along your paint. Feel smooth? I doubt it. When you buff your truck, you are working on eliminating all of the bumps you feel. Buff IT!!!! :mullet:

 

[Starscream]

If your gonna buy a buffer, If I was you buy one like this:

Doesn't have to be a DeWalt just like that style cause you get a better handle on it IMO. Also another thing you may want to look at is adujustable speeds cause factory clear is pretty thin and is easy to burn threw if you don't know what your doing so use a slow speed, like 3 or 4 if you get that DeWalt, other brands I have no idea. Just use good judgment.

 

[Bad_banana]

Looks like my truck! nice color you got there dj. :mullet:

 

[WicKed R/T]

If anyone read my thread "assbackwards in a ditch" you know why I'm writing this. Upon closer inspection I see the passenger side of the bed has scuffs from branches all the way down it. I didn't see them at first, but in the sunlight the truckbed looks dull. How do I get these out? Will rubbing compound work? If so, what step is next to bring back the shine. Would I simply be better off having someone buff the struck out? I would like to do it myself but I don't have a buffer. I know better than to use an angle grinder because the rpm's are to high. I've seen the polishers at Walmart, but I'm not sure if they do anything besides polish.?.?
Mike

Check out autopia-carcare.com. Best detailing site I've found

 

[RAM7880]

in order to get most scratches out you need to buff it with a machine(not a orbital).You want to use a angle style with a variable speed.for the pad ,use a 3M foam waffle style pad(Perfect it plus) with 3M Finnese-it II(white).You can also us 3M micro finishing compound first if the scratches are deep then use the Finnesse-it(do the whole truck) and finish it off with a hand glaze.If you have a 2 stage paint job (basecoat or color and a clearcoat) and the scratch is down to color your out of luck but if the scatches have a dull white look to them you should be able to get them out. All that said,for the one time cost of material and equipment I would bring it to a bodyshop and have them buff out the scratches and get it detailed.