So today I found 3 key marks on my car, thankfully they are not too deep or long. Since I am a n00b at detailing, what products are recommended to buff out the scratches as much as possible? Thank you!

 

im in the same situation you are, when i bought my car, there appears to many light "key like" scratches among the car, i tryed some meguiers and it didnt seem to work, i switched to this polish/scratch remover that has the color in it, it seemed to have filled in most of the scratches, any other suggestions, please post

 

Either do it yourself or have the professional do it for you.

 

do you have any useful replies?

n3985, run your fingernail across the scratch. if you can feel it, its usually too deep to correct on your own. the scratch remover SBman182 is talking about usually just fills the scratch and it will look like its gone, but after a few washes they will come back. Try applying some polishing compound to see if it will lighten the scratches up. If that doesn't work you can try rubbing compound, but i warn you it is an abrasive compound, so you need to be careful with that

 

A very informative answer, thank you! Any particular brand of polishing compund you recommend?

 

I hear 3M is the best, i think i remember seeing it at R&S Strauss; not sure about autozone...I have turtle wax myself, but if I saw it I would go with the 3M

 

i forgot to mention, if you don't already know about it, def check out the autopia forums, its a great place for detailing enthusiasts!

 

Thanks x2

10char

 

Just to reiterate: If you can run your fingernail down the side, and feel it "snag" or get caught in the scratch, it usually won't be easily corrected. Is it through the clear coat and the color coat, so now you're seeing primer? (Your description was a little confusing). If it's through to the primer, no compound/polish will resolve it.
For a non-machine application, I would have to recommend 3M as well. I have NO experience with 3M however, and don't know which way to turn you. Good luck, and it might just be in your best interest to find a private detailer to take care of this for you. Again, look on autopia.org, so much information there.

 

Well, I can feel the scratched but 2 are really shallow. One on the fender I see a black line...which is the deepest, which I guess I am SOL on that one.