How to remove scratches from your A2

A2Steve

A2OC Donor
Wales
Just a bit of a helping hand when removing scratches.

There are many many websites dedicated to all sorts of detailing (which I haven’t read). There are probably members on the site who are expert detailers who spend hundreds of pounds on their products. But here is just my own experience in layman’s terms.

This won’t work for scratches that have gone through the paintwork down to the undercoat but will work on lacquer scratches.

Example scratch
3BA14C6C-A250-4999-97DF-0D10D2095696.jpeg


First off wet sand with a 3000 grit sanding pad. The laquer on this age of Audi is very thick and tough and you’d have to do a heck of a lot of sanding to cut through with a 3000 grit pad.
45062DD8-1B30-4F80-90B4-18F7B647B7F6.jpeg


Dry off and then it will look like this
F45D658F-3975-48F1-83E0-E3A70B6BC850.jpeg


You will then need to use an orbital polisher such as this silvertec example I bought for around £50 with a medium polishing head
A2557FEB-F8BE-4728-B065-7F0E3D664A69.jpeg


Use the orbital polisher with a cutting compound. I use Meguirs ultimate compound because it’s laquer safe and so won’t cut through the laquer to the paint underneath.
E044AD27-02A4-404E-9F01-CD48703E4973.jpeg


Keep working the compound on a low speed setting moving back and fore until the compound goes clear and the end result should look like this

AB9FD0AF-96ED-4FA2-89A3-42ADD02EF4E5.jpeg


Apart from my laquer peeled bonnet, the car is now looking pretty darn good.

10113CAE-1336-4603-BAE6-E4C5FF3F09C6.jpeg
 
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Just a bit of a helping hand when removing scratches.

There are many many websites dedicated to all sorts of detailing (which I haven’t read). There are probably members on the site who are expert detailers who spend hundreds of pounds on their products. But here is just my own experience in layman’s terms.

This won’t work for scratches that have gone through the paintwork down to the undercoat but will work on lacquer scratches.

Example scratch
View attachment 56653

First off wet sand with a 3000 grit sanding pad. The laquer on this age of Audi is very thick and tough and you’d have to do a heck of a lot of sanding to cut through with a 3000 grit pad.
View attachment 56654

Dry off and then it will look like this
View attachment 56655

You will then need to use an orbital polisher such as this silvertec example I bought for around £50 with a medium polishing head
View attachment 56656

Use the orbital polisher with a cutting compound. I use Meguirs ultimate compound because it’s laquer safe and so won’t cut through the laquer to the paint underneath.
View attachment 56657

Keep working the compound on a low speed setting moving back and fore until the compound goes clear and the end result should look like this

View attachment 56658

Apart from my laquer peeled bonnet, the car is now looking pretty darn good.

View attachment 56659
I have to say I think that looks superb! How did you sort the wheels to look so good?
Is the colour Amulet red? Well done, it's a great looking example.
Tom from Chorley Lancashire.
 
Thanks for the post very useful. I will try it soon.

Do you have a method with deep scratches as well?
I have few on my car.
 
I have to say I think that looks superb! How did you sort the wheels to look so good?
Is the colour Amulet red? Well done, it's a great looking example.
Tom from Chorley Lancashire.

The wheels were just polished with a bit of autosol metal polish on the rims and autoglym on the faces. I can’t remember the name now but it’s also got cherry in the name
 
Thanks for the post very useful. I will try it soon.

Do you have a method with deep scratches as well?
I have few on my car.

If it’s gone through to the undercoat the the only way is to add paint. You can use a very fine brush to fill the scratch with a colour matched paint and once it’s hardened (given a few days to be sure) it can be rubbed back using the same procedure as above. If done right then it should be very difficult to see.
 
That Farecla polish works a treat in the headlights as well but I wouldn't call it a lazy option unless you've got a machine polisher
 
What do you use on misted lights, where they have gone opaque with age. Is there a lazy way of cleaning them?

800/1200/2000/3000 wet sand in that order, followed by a cut with some compound. Then needs to be lacquered and wet sanded with 3000 grit followed by more compound.
 
If you use only heavy cutting compound ( it will probably leave holograms - you will see them on a sunny day. After cutting compound you should use lighter finishing compound or use one step compound (cutting and removes holograms in one product and no need additional polishing with lighter compound).

I use :
Farecla G3 when i need only cutting
Menzerna 3500 after cutting compound to remove holograms
Menzerna 400 as one step compound
 
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If you use only heavy cutting compound ( it will probably leave holograms - you will see them on a sunny day. After cutting compound you should use lighter finishing compound or use one step compound (cutting and removes holograms in one product and no need additional polishing with lighter compound).

I use :
Farecla G3 when i need only cutting
Menzerna 3500 after cutting compound to remove holograms
Menzerna 400 as one step compound

I've had Menzerna 400 cut through the laquer on a resprayed car so that's why I recommended the Meguirs for DIY use :)
 
It can be because of the new lacquer (resprayed car). New lacquer may be not fully cured and it is always softer than old lacquer.

I fully agree that for DIY use (especially for the first or second or third time) is better to use not so aggressive compound. It may take longer but not as long as repainting the whole part.
 
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