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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 16:32:27

Title: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 16:32:27
I went to my mums after work the other day moaning that I had to park under the trees and there were clearly bald eagles in the area judging by the size of the bird shite on my bonnet.

Anyway due to living arrangements at the moment wifey picked me up in her car and I left eeyore (the omega) on me ma's drive.

Went to pick it up day later and bless her she'd got the bird shite off. But used something like a fekking Brillo pad as I now have two horrible light scratched areas on my bonnet. I was upset. But not with her as she was just trying to help.

However now I gotta do summat about it. Spoke to head mechanic, he looked at it and he said it that should polish out.

Now bear with me as I know fek all about body work.

Wifey has got me a bottle of t cut. Original.

Do I simply apply small amount, rub in and then wash off?
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 16:34:08
Ps any further tips grateful. Note tho that I don't have anymore products. Just some car shampoo and the t cut wifeys got.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Nick W on 04 June 2016, 16:38:16


However now I gotta do summat about it. Spoke to head mechanic, he looked at it and he said it that should polish out.

Now bear with me as I know fek all about body work.

Wifey has got me a bottle of t cut. Original.

Do I simply apply small amount, rub in and then wash off?


Yes.
Then you go and buy some G3, which actually works. Use a damp cloth with a small circular motion until you feel it stop cutting. You'll probably need to do the entire panel. Polish will be needed: it doesn't matter what sort.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: zirk on 04 June 2016, 16:42:04
Could work, but be carefull with T Cut or any Rubbing Compound as it will remove layers of paint, try it with a bit of luck she may have just damaged the Lacquer and wash off then a good polish, see how you go otherwise could be a Pro Spray Paint Wash over or if its matalic the whole bonnet might need a respray.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 16:43:57
Cheers nick.

So for now I only have the t cut....

Can follow what you say using t cut I.e. Damp cloth, small amount, rub in til it goes smooth, wash off?
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Nick W on 04 June 2016, 17:03:10
Cheers nick.

So for now I only have the t cut....

Can follow what you say using t cut I.e. Damp cloth, small amount, rub in til it goes smooth, wash off?


Yes, but don't scrimp on the T-cut, or you'll just create even more scratches. Be careful if you're working near edges or panel lines, as the paint is thinner there.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 17:15:56
Thanks mate. They're bang in the middle!

So very small amounts
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: BazaJT on 04 June 2016, 17:58:11
I think you may find it harder work with T-cut than if you begged/borrowed/stole some G3.Asit's in the middle of the bonnet you might want to try things out on something else such as a piece of scrap steel-painted obviously.Do you have anything suitable knocking about at work or home?
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 20:11:55
Ok lads, so used the t cut this evening. It's still there but definitely better. Is it worth another application tomorrow or is it a 1 time deal and that's the best it's gonna get? Or do I just repeat until totally gone?
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 04 June 2016, 20:17:22
Ok lads, so used the t cut this evening. It's still there but definitely better. Is it worth another application tomorrow or is it a 1 time deal and that's the best it's gonna get? Or do I just repeat until totally gone?

Pps, how firmly do you run this in? I was going super soft due to all the caution you guys mentioned. On the chips away site it says to rub firmly  :-\
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Nick W on 04 June 2016, 20:49:11
Ok lads, so used the t cut this evening. It's still there but definitely better. Is it worth another application tomorrow or is it a 1 time deal and that's the best it's gonna get? Or do I just repeat until totally gone?


Give it another go. The paint would have to be really thin for one application of T-cut to polish through as it isn't particularly aggressive. T-cutting a car is hard work. Compounding (by hand) is easier but not by much.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: baggers on 04 June 2016, 23:13:59
Ok lads, so used the t cut this evening. It's still there but definitely better. Is it worth another application tomorrow or is it a 1 time deal and that's the best it's gonna get? Or do I just repeat until totally gone?

Pps, how firmly do you run this in? I was going super soft due to all the caution you guys mentioned. On the chips away site it says to rub firmly  :-\

Be firm with forward and back motion, keep watching especially edges.  And DON'T let it dry take it off straight away. 
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: V8S on 04 June 2016, 23:50:20
Light scratches and swirls will be in the clear coat above the paint layer. Both clear coat and paint aren't actually that thick.

In order to take out scratches that haven't made it down to the paint, you have to take off clear coat material to close to the lowest point of the scratch.

If it's a deep scratch, possibly down to the paint, it may be better to use a sealer to try to reduce the appearance of the scratch rather than digging down as you'll leave the clear coat very thin in that area.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 June 2016, 10:02:57
Guys thanks for all the tips. Much appreciated!!!! Will post up some before and after pics today. Hopefully the after pics won't be with a giant patch of primer  :D
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: YZ250 on 05 June 2016, 10:30:02
Light scratches and swirls will be in the clear coat above the paint layer. Both clear coat and paint aren't actually that thick.

In order to take out scratches that haven't made it down to the paint, you have to take off clear coat material to close to the lowest point of the scratch.

If it's a deep scratch, possibly down to the paint, it may be better to use a sealer to try to reduce the appearance of the scratch rather than digging down as you'll leave the clear coat very thin in that area.

Agreed, I wouldn't use T-Cut in this day and age.  :o

A bit extreme as you wouldn't justify the expense but you need to machine polish with something like Achilles Prep, which removes/reduces swirls but contains a polymer filler, and then finish off with Menzerna or equivalent finishing polish. You can do it by hand but you don't gain the heat or depth. I have all of the detailing gear in my garage as my son did finished vehicle dent repair/paint rectification as his full time job until recently. Shame you don't live a bit closer as you could have used his gear.

Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: V8S on 05 June 2016, 15:44:32
I'm seriously thinking of getting a DAS6 dual action polisher soon to do the TVR which is covered in light swirls. It's a really good beginner to intermediate polisher and you can buy kits with pads and polish for about 140 quid.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: biggriffin on 05 June 2016, 16:37:28
Are you sure, the gel-coat hasn't cracked, on your tvr
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 June 2016, 18:45:15
Right then lads. It's worked!!!!

Very pleased that when I went back over it with the t-cut and actually pressed firmly it got rid of all of them.

Thanks to all for the advice.  :y :y :y
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: Webby the Bear on 05 June 2016, 18:46:38
Ps I have pics but phones just died. I'll post up tomorrow  :y

Only thing now is I want to go over everything cos it did such a good job  ::)
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: V8S on 06 June 2016, 12:32:31
Are you sure, the gel-coat hasn't cracked, on your tvr

No, the swirls are definitely in the clear coat.

I do have a small star crack in one of the doors, and some scratches which I've partly Chipex-ed.
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: BazaJT on 06 June 2016, 18:34:10
If you're going to do the whole lot Webby I'd strongly suggest you beg/borrow/steal a buffing machine and get some better compound than T-cut.Doing it all by hand will be serious grief!
Title: Re: Bonnet scratch help
Post by: V8S on 06 June 2016, 23:34:20
Are you sure, the gel-coat hasn't cracked, on your tvr

No, the swirls are definitely in the clear coat.

I do have a small star crack in one of the doors, and some scratches which I've partly Chipex-ed.

Chipexed some more this evening. I can never get the technique right. The second stage blending consistently pulls the paint out of the chip. Gah!