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Illushun -> RE: Fine scratches on the tank (1/11/2007 3:40:19 PM)
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First, just clean the surface with good warm soap and water. This will get any existing waxes/cleaners out of the scratch. Doing this removes the probability of any optical illusions (pardon the usages of my sn). Then take a look as some different grit abrasive compounds. Like 3M medium grit rubbing compound. Apply a small amount of compound on a rag and try it. Go in steps. You will notice the area begin to get lighter than the rest of the paint surface but you are essentially dulling it down. Then, you might consider 3M swirl remover. This will bring the luster back into the paint making it look like the rest of the painted surface.
I know these work excellent but the trick is (if your new to it) is to go in small steps. couple drops of compound, rub a little, wipe compound, inspect. The guy I got my bike from use to rest his arm on the tank and therefore put scratches on the tank.
Another option that I told my brother about (whom had a few in his bmw's tank) is the different grits of jewler's rouge. This works great for removing scratches by hand.
Most body guys use wool pile buffer pads (1 -1 1/2 inch pile) to apply the compound, but then use a foam polishing pad. But this isn't as easy as it sounds as one could "burn" through the clearcoat. If the paint on the bike isn't basecoat clearcoat, and it is a single stage, then you could buff all day (obviously not burning into the undercoats of primer or what not.
These are just some materials and tricks I've used over the past 16 years of painting.
There's my $.02.
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