buffing scratches from car Page 8

First, figure out if the scratch is just in the clear coat—if your fingernail barely catches, you’re in luck; if it digs in, you’re off to paint-land. Wash and dry the panel, then use a clay bar to evict the gritty culprits that love to make polishing pads cry. Apply a small amount of cutting compound to a foam pad and work a 30–40 cm section with light pressure—machine polisher if you’ve got one, tight circles by hand if not. Wipe, inspect, repeat sparingly; you’re refining clear coat, not sanding a deck. Follow with a finer polish for gloss, then seal with wax or a ceramic topper so it doesn’t all disappear at the first hint of rain. If you can see primer or metal, stop pretending it’s a buffing problem and book a proper touch-up.