T-CUT or alternatives?
Discussion
Evening all
It appears that in the last 2 weeks (i.e. between washes!) someone has hit my bumper and left some light scratching in places - very barely visible if the car is dirty, but aggravating after I've spent several hours cleaning the bloody thing!
Rather than losing my rag, I thought I'd be pragmatic - it could be worse!
So - is this a job for T-Cut or is there something better/safer to use for hairline scratches? would be applied with a micro fibre by hand on - I don't have a DA polisher.
The bloody car is pristine otherwise grrr…!
It appears that in the last 2 weeks (i.e. between washes!) someone has hit my bumper and left some light scratching in places - very barely visible if the car is dirty, but aggravating after I've spent several hours cleaning the bloody thing!
Rather than losing my rag, I thought I'd be pragmatic - it could be worse!
So - is this a job for T-Cut or is there something better/safer to use for hairline scratches? would be applied with a micro fibre by hand on - I don't have a DA polisher.
The bloody car is pristine otherwise grrr…!
driverrob said:
How about some colour (color) match polish? I think they also come with a hard wax stick for fine scratches.
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_219145_langId_-1_categoryId_165527This the one? not seen this before but looks interesting - think I will give it a try.
Thanks!
Buff Mchugelarge said:
Where abouts are you?
there are plenty of scratch removers available these days, Meguiers Scratch X, or Ultimate compound are good, other wise colour polishes work well too.
At home mate - why, you're not going to break in are you? (I kid I kid - Staffordshire/Stoke)there are plenty of scratch removers available these days, Meguiers Scratch X, or Ultimate compound are good, other wise colour polishes work well too.
Really interesting all this - never had excuse to use one before, but look like some quality suggestions. Really useful - thanks all.
Buff Mchugelarge said:
If you happen to be near Worthing in Sussex, give me a shout and I'll run a polisher over it for you.
A bit of a journey though!
We use all sorts of compounds and waxes at work but we still have a big tin of good ol' T-cut that gets used nearly everyday. It really is very good
Quite a journey but a really kind offer - thanks mate <3A bit of a journey though!
We use all sorts of compounds and waxes at work but we still have a big tin of good ol' T-cut that gets used nearly everyday. It really is very good
The old rule is if you can hang your finger nail in it, it probably will not polish out completely. However, even under thosse circumstances you can improve it by rounding off the top corners along the length of the scratch, meaning less light refraction. If we are talking just dulling of the clearcoat shine, T-Cut by hand should be good to use as a final cut and then apply a polish or wax to seal.
Product choice is difficult without seeing/feeling the scratch, and even then you will get almost as many answers as there are products out there - everyone has their own favourite including wet sanding. I have removed some significant scratches by hand with T-Cut, but have also used other compounds of differing abrasive qualities. Compounds are like sandpaper, they put damage into the paint as they remove larger imperfections, so you need to work through the grades to get a final finish starting coarser for correction and finishing fine to remove the damage put in by the coarser compound.
All I would say is be careful if the damage is deep as you could remove the clearcoat before you get rid of the scratch. You need to know when to stop removing clearcoat, or you will end up with a dull mess each side of the scratch.
There is a lot of stuff out there on youtube for technique for a specific type of scratch - whether to work along or around the scratch depending on what it looks like. Providing you are careful, you will almost certainly improve it.
Product choice is difficult without seeing/feeling the scratch, and even then you will get almost as many answers as there are products out there - everyone has their own favourite including wet sanding. I have removed some significant scratches by hand with T-Cut, but have also used other compounds of differing abrasive qualities. Compounds are like sandpaper, they put damage into the paint as they remove larger imperfections, so you need to work through the grades to get a final finish starting coarser for correction and finishing fine to remove the damage put in by the coarser compound.
All I would say is be careful if the damage is deep as you could remove the clearcoat before you get rid of the scratch. You need to know when to stop removing clearcoat, or you will end up with a dull mess each side of the scratch.
There is a lot of stuff out there on youtube for technique for a specific type of scratch - whether to work along or around the scratch depending on what it looks like. Providing you are careful, you will almost certainly improve it.
SeeFive said:
The old rule is if you can hang your finger nail in it, it probably will not polish out completely. However, even under thosse circumstances you can improve it by rounding off the top corners along the length of the scratch, meaning less light refraction. If we are talking just dulling of the clearcoat shine, T-Cut by hand should be good to use as a final cut and then apply a polish or wax to seal.
Product choice is difficult without seeing/feeling the scratch, and even then you will get almost as many answers as there are products out there - everyone has their own favourite including wet sanding. I have removed some significant scratches by hand with T-Cut, but have also used other compounds of differing abrasive qualities. Compounds are like sandpaper, they put damage into the paint as they remove larger imperfections, so you need to work through the grades to get a final finish starting coarser for correction and finishing fine to remove the damage put in by the coarser compound.
All I would say is be careful if the damage is deep as you could remove the clearcoat before you get rid of the scratch. You need to know when to stop removing clearcoat, or you will end up with a dull mess each side of the scratch.
There is a lot of stuff out there on youtube for technique for a specific type of scratch - whether to work along or around the scratch depending on what it looks like. Providing you are careful, you will almost certainly improve it.
Bumping an old thread I know, but this is a big post for someone who has no idea what they're talking about.Product choice is difficult without seeing/feeling the scratch, and even then you will get almost as many answers as there are products out there - everyone has their own favourite including wet sanding. I have removed some significant scratches by hand with T-Cut, but have also used other compounds of differing abrasive qualities. Compounds are like sandpaper, they put damage into the paint as they remove larger imperfections, so you need to work through the grades to get a final finish starting coarser for correction and finishing fine to remove the damage put in by the coarser compound.
All I would say is be careful if the damage is deep as you could remove the clearcoat before you get rid of the scratch. You need to know when to stop removing clearcoat, or you will end up with a dull mess each side of the scratch.
There is a lot of stuff out there on youtube for technique for a specific type of scratch - whether to work along or around the scratch depending on what it looks like. Providing you are careful, you will almost certainly improve it.
You don't "apply polish or wax". They do completely different jobs. A polish is what you need to cut the clear coat (it's an abrasive) and remove the scratches as much as possible. Wax then is applied on top and protects the clear coat. You do not apply polish, you use it as an abrasive and then buff it off.
Most people who arent into paint or detailing will call indeed call the wax/sealant ‘polish’ as thats what the traditional ‘all in one’ products are called, like Auto Glym Super Resin Polish....
Which is fine to use as a top coat after cutting back.
Nothing wrong with the most and more than a bit odd to pile in after the elapsed time.
Which is fine to use as a top coat after cutting back.
Nothing wrong with the most and more than a bit odd to pile in after the elapsed time.
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