Prepping side skirts and taking out scratches

[clean96GST]

So I just got these new skirts (finally not gunna be a single piece of rice on my car, other then the taillights ) and they have some pretty deep scratches on the bottom side. I was just planning on wetsanding them and throwing a coat of black paint on it so it can temporarily match my car before I get a paint job... but I think a few of the scratches might be far enough up the side to be visible. How would I go about getting some of the deep scratches out?


Sorry about the cell phone quality pics

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[Doctor DSM]

Very easy, go to Autozone or paint specialty place and buy some simple bondo. Sand the INSIDE and then around of the scratches carefully. Use some lacquer thiner to clean the same areas and apply very small amounts of bondo inside the scratches. Once it's almost dry (don't wait too long it wil be too hard) start sanding the bondo with some 220 or 400 grit. This particular area is very easy to sand down because of hand forming the contour of the side skirt. Once sanded, wipe with lacquer thinner again, clean it and shoot some spray can primer and then your paint. wait really long time between coats. Even when it feels dry it really is not. Spray even in slow but fluid motions.
Make sure your pain and primer in the cans are both from SAME manufacturer or you can have a nasty chemical reaction. Also insted of lacquer thinner, since most of them contain oil (I know, it blew my mind as well), I prefer to use rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl 91% pure and available in any pharmacy for few bucks). It seriously CLEANS the area and primer sticks much better. Some lacquer thinners had so much oil in them I had to repaint parts all over because of the reactions it caused. Let me know if you have more questions.

 

[fastbike02]

I would not use bondo, I would sand with 180 until the scratches are smoothed out and then go over the whole part with 400. Prime with a high build primer (duracoat is the best and you can also buy it in ready to spray can) sand with 400 repeat until scratches fully blend then wipe with prepsol and paint with your choice of base/clear or single stage.. Any paint store can give the stuff I have listed.

 

[SD_TSI]

You can use a special kind of plastic bondo if you can find it to fill them in. But I would just try and use a high build primer or surfacer to try and fill in those scratches like previously stated.

 

[clean96GST]

I would not use bondo, I would sand with 180 until the scratches are smoothed out and then go over the whole part with 400. Prime with a high build primer (duracoat is the best and you can also buy it in ready to spray can) sand with 400 repeat until scratches fully blend then wipe with prepsol and paint with your choice of base/clear or single stage.. Any paint store can give the stuff I have listed.

So you think this would be a better method then the bondo? I'll probly go and pick this stuff up today then... thanks for all the help guys.

 

[fastbike02]

Just remember to take your time, it may take priming and sanding more than once to get a "good finish"