Etch-a-Sketch

[FN Phat]

My wife drives a black F-150 supercrew. It isn't the nicest truck around but it is the nicest vehicle I have ever owned. I like my truck. A lot. Evidently, so does my son. He practiced making his "O"s on the side of my wife's truck with a rock...

The tailgate:


The driver's side front door/fender:


The passenger's side bed:


The passenger's side rear door:



Does anyone have experience in buffing out scratches from a vehicle? Specifically a black vehicle. I know there are synthetic wax products made for black paint. Has anyone used these?

TIA

[Donuthole]

My wife drives a black F-150 supercrew. It isn't the nicest truck around but it is the nicest vehicle I have ever owned. I like my truck. A lot. Evidently, so does my son. He practiced making his "O"s on the side of my wife's truck with a rock...

The tailgate:


The driver's side front door/fender:

Does anyone have experience in buffing out scratches from a vehicle? Specifically a black vehicle. I know there are synthetic wax products made for black paint. Has anyone used these?

TIA

Wow. De ja vu. One of my dad's favorite stories to tell is about how he had just returned from the auto body shop with a fresh paint job on his black 1980 Cutlass Supreme. He went out to mow the lawn, and came back to find me sitting on the hood with a rock drawing squigglies all over the hood. The paint was still soft enough that the scratched went all the way to the metal, so the story goes. I was 3 at the time, I believe.

I won't say what he did next, because I know my dad regrets it, though he and my mom can look back and laugh about it now. (And no, it did not involve physical abuse of any kind). But let's just say I, like George Banks, come from a long line of over reactors.

Fortunately, the auto shop was understanding, and touched up the hood for a nominal fee.

[FN Phat]

My boy is 3 as well. I saw the tail end of his artwork and explained why he don't do that and how it is not acceptable. It was merely a flesh wound in comparison to the rest of the truck. I didn't see the rest until today. It was a good thing that I didn't see his complete portfolio of work yesterday. It was also a good thing that the kiddies and the wifey were out of earshot.

My FIL just pulled into the driveway and he knows how much I love that truck. He also knows how to pull on a thread to make the whole sweater unravel.

[Surfah]

Ouch.

[mtnbiker]

I guess it's time to try the Billy Mays scratch pen. http://www.asseenontvguys.com/simoni...t-pro-pen.aspx Might be worth a shot...

[kccougar]

I've bought one new car in my life, and I took very good care of it. I remember the time we were up at our cabin, and I went outside to find my 3 year old hucking rocks at the car. For fun. I am still very proud of myself for gently letting him know that we don't throw rocks at cars.

For the scratches, I would start with a good swirl and scratch remover. I use P21s products. That might be enough to mask the scratches, but if they are deep, you're going to have to use a buffer. Make sure you use an orbital buffer because it is VERY easy to burn more swirls into the paint using a standard buffer, especially with black paint.

[FN Phat]

I've bought one new car in my life, and I took very good care of it. I remember the time we were up at our cabin, and I went outside to find my 3 year old hucking rocks at the car. For fun. I am still very proud of myself for gently letting him know that we don't throw rocks at cars.

For the scratches, I would start with a good swirl and scratch remover. I use P21s products. That might be enough to mask the scratches, but if they are deep, you're going to have to use a buffer. Make sure you use an orbital buffer because it is VERY easy to burn more swirls into the paint using a standard buffer, especially with black paint.

Thank you for the advice. I am looking into a detailing forum that has some good advice, even for beginners. I hope to have tried something in a few weeks. I will post some pics...if it works.