So I have some 'minor' scratches not so deep but long enough to really give me the s%#ts SO, apparently cut + polish is out of the question and that would have been the easiest fix.

What are my options?! I have a little can o' touch up paint but the last time I tried something like that it made it look even worse although I spent absolutely ages on it.

And what polish / wax / wash can I SAFELY use with extreme ease on such a finish the classy metallic black with clear coat so I don't mess things up?

I know there are threads about 'use this wax etc' but most have 'NOT IF YOU HAVE A CLEAR COAT THOUGH' and don't say what you CAN use on a clear coat.

So rather then screw something incredibly expensive up I thought I'd just ask.

Cheers

-Dave

TUFFTR has alot of car care products in his garage. Id get in touch with him and see what he says. He's a bit of a whiz at keeping cars looking like new :D

Cut&polish isn't necessarily out of the question. If it's only the clear coat that's scratched, and the scratch is light enough, a careful cut&polish could take it back far enough to remove the scratch.

The obvious thing to remember is that it is cutting away the paint, so you run the risk of cutting through the clear and into the metallic. But minor abrasions can be done with minimal impact to the thickness of the clear coat, if care is taken.

A cut and polish should be fine.....just not that $7 kitten cut and polish crap....

as said before if its only in the clearcoat, some medium cut swirl remover should get it out, if not over a few passes, or if its actually into the paint, use the touch up paint, wait till it drys and then sand it down with Wet 2000....and swirls you put in it just use some scratch x to get them out....

got a picture of it at all?

I'm camera-less at the moment, I'm going to try the touch-up paint then sand it back idea since its through the clear coat for sure, but they're really 'minimal' scratches which is annoying.

I'll see how I go I've picked up some 'non fluff leaving' paint brushes from the art store down the road so I'll let you know. If I can find a camera I'll take some pics and hopefully not have screwed up my paint :D


Thanks ya'll

-Dave

While on the topic, once I get it scratchless then what? I'm guessing some sort of classy wax or similar whats a safe wash + wax/polish that is highly recommended I'm not in the market for crappy stuff but the budget is a little tight right now.

-Dave

Grab some meg's paint cleaner (bout $18), go over your car with that.
Then get some Meg's Deep crystal Polish (bout $18) and go over your whole car with that (work it in nicely)
You can use a simple turtle wax over the top for your finishing coat (Bout $15ish)

apply all of this with some hand applicators (like $4 for 2...comes in packs of 2)
and this will get your car looking very shiney and smooth.

also, get some scratch x for when you sand back the paint you paint on (reason you are finely sanding it back is to make it level with the rest of the paint)

and to apply the paint to your car just use something like a brush you get from a touch up can..there like 2mm in diameter:)

So spend a good $60ish on the car care and your car should come up sweet.
i used this stuff on my teachers BA XR6 (electric blue i think it is) and you should of seen how the results came out...absolutly terrific for only a hand detail.

Help, I think I made it worse!

hehehe, so I was carefully following instructions, gently dabbed the touch up paint on, let it dry, applied the sandpaper then the scratch X

And achieved very little.

Infact now the extra paint stands out.

WHICH leads me to think.. maybe I got the wrong colour touch up paint.

The marker plate says I have "AY" and the interior is "A5" ... SO WHAT FREAKING COLOUR IS MY CAR?!

The registration says 'black', the guy that sold it to me said it was black, the guy at a mistubishi place who wanted to charge me 80 dollars for a new door seal also said it was black...

?!?!?!!?!?



-Dave

Also I managed to pick up a Meguiars gift box with 'Scratch X, Gold class car wash, gold class wax and some foam interior detailing spray stuff' for 40 bucks :D bargain.

']A cut and polish should be fine.....just not that $7 kitten cut and polish crap....?
I wouldn't use that kitten stuff... I tried some on my car before SCS last year and well.... it brang it up really crap in the sun now my car's paint has a "white" affect in it... used to have a nice blue look in it in the sun before... doesn't any more :(

Not planning on using that sort of stuff, but what colour is AY?!?!?! I've no idea where to find out since mitsu told me it was just metallic black :/

-Dave

hey man i have the AY color as well on my KR the name of the color is Straco Grey Pearl (or something very similar) its not black so much as a charcoal/grey color

cant help to much with the rest sorry

Go to Autobarn and look in the book under Mitsubishi, AY should come up with a name for the paint.

P.s Touch up paint is frekin evil, don't bother... infact you would be supprised how little a good panelbeater would ask for the repair, i got qouted $90 to remove 3 dents and some touchups!

Strato Grey Pearl!

What a freaking weird name, but yeah thats what it is. Picked up the right colour did the touch ups and can't even tell :D

Just a question though, that means there is no clear coat then doesnt it? So I could have infact avoided this whole issue by simply cut + polishing?!

-Dave

dude ive got the exact same paint and i had damage, 2 big patches like a $20 note and i just prepped it,sprayed the strato grey pressure pack stuff and then sprayed some pressure pack clear coat over, gave it a polish and you cant even tell the difference in the finish

With the touch ups you dont need to apply clear coat cause its such a tiny area.

Im pretty sure your car does have a clear coat.

Im very glad it all worked out for you:D!