Paint/body touch-ups

[daver36]

This is actually about my truck, but I was hoping to maybe find some pro's on paint here. I JUST got some rust work done on my box and got it fully painted about a week ago. My wife was at the grocery store and slipped and put the car seat she was holding into the box and put a scuff in the paint. AHH!!!!!! I'm mean it was an accident, s*#t happens, but it still sucks. Anyways, I got the scuff out by wet sanding with 1500 gritt (really light rubbing with hose running constantly on spot), and used a little turtle wax finishing compound on the spot, but it's still a little dull. So my question is if there's something else I need to do b/w the wetsanding and finishing compound, or did i already screw it up? All honest opinions are welcome.

 

[black_eclipse96]

light finishing compound will not help.hit it with heavy duty compound then go with a polish, and then wax.
did you do it by hand or a buffer?

 

[daver36]

I did it by hand, in a circular motion. The scuff was only 1 1/4 inch long. So heavy compound, polish, then wax? This will sound real dumb but i'm definately a paint newb. So use polish. I assume this is different from finsishing compound and will say "polish" on the packaging?

 

[black_eclipse96]

hahaha yes don't feel bad. i was a newb once. now a full on body man..
try using a buffer they get the job done quick. it will take you a little bit if you do it by hand, plus it will get tiring. yes it will say polish. these materials don't come cheap.
i only wet sand if it's a last resort. never know how much clear you have and might sand through, then you got your self a real problem.

 

[daver36]

Thanks for the info. ya, hopfully I didn't go through the clear, I went real soft and slowly watched the scuff fade away. Right now it doesn't look crazy bad, just a little hazzy and dull so i think the heavy compound/polish/wax should do the trick. Thanx for the info.

 

[black_eclipse96]

ya let me know how it goes

 

[Squirrel82]

I use 3000 grit to get the 1500 scratches out.Buffs out much easier.Then compound and a polish afterwards.Can be done by hand but takes a while.