Bonnet scratch help

[Webby the Bear]

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?

[Webby the Bear]

Ps any further tips grateful. Note tho that I don't have anymore products. Just some car shampoo and the t cut wifeys got.

[Nick W]

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.

[zirk]

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.

[Webby the Bear]

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?

[Nick W]

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.

[Webby the Bear]

Thanks mate. They're bang in the middle!

So very small amounts

[BazaJT]

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?

[Webby the Bear]

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?

[Webby the Bear]

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 

[Nick W]

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.

[baggers]

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. 

[V8S]

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.

[Webby the Bear]

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 

[YZ250]

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. 

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.