DIY scratch/scuff repair.

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DIY scratch/scuff repair.

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DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/6/2008 10:28:49 AM

bluej511

Posts: 839
Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

Alright first off i am not responsible for you screwing up your fairings this is just a DIY.

Tools needed:
Touch up paint/pen.
Sand paper (must be wet sanding compatible) 2000-3000 grit.
Rotary/orbital with polish REMOVING (not hiding) capabilities for 2000-3000 grit sand marks.

Now i don't know if OEM fairings have a clear coat but i'm sure they do if anyone can comfirm it would be great. Don't try this if there is no clear coat.

Now the first step is to touch up the area thats scratched. You can get a bit to the surrounding area thats ok. Now make sure the paint is above the clear or level. Its easy to tell if the scratch is not visible anymore then you've gone above the clear which is good.

Here is a picture of what it should look like with the paint all dried up (24hr cure time is preferable)

You can see that its a bit past the scratch and you can see a couple more areas on the right i touched up.

Now take your sand paper and leave it in a bowl of water for a couple mins then start wet sanding only the area that you painted. If you make an area too big its ok (this is why its important theres clear coat. Scuffing up clear coat is ok) Let the sand paper do the work, take your time and once the color looks blended in you can stop. As you see in the picture you can't tell between touch up and original.

Now after this wipe it down with a clean MF (microfiber rag) make sure all the water and elements are gone. Now take your buffer or orbital and follow the instructions on your polish. I used Optimum Polish because it does not fill in but actually remove.

There is the final result and as you can see i circled whats visible of the damage. Now i had to hold this under the light and at an angle to even catch a glimpse of it.

Here is another scratch i caught and fixed
Before

After

Any questions feel free to ask. Once again i am not responsible for damages and this will more then likely not work if trying to buff it out by hand.

< Message edited by bluej511 -- 3/6/2008 10:34:22 AM >

Post #: 1

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/8/2008 11:16:28 AM

bluej511

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Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

Wow nothing huh

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RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/8/2008 11:50:13 AM

Onarom

Posts: 1201
Joined: 8/29/2006
Status: offline

That is very impressive. I have a few scratches I will try this on. Thanks for the post!

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Post #: 3

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/13/2008 3:48:33 PM

bluej511

Posts: 839
Joined: 7/14/2007
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Anyone else have any comments/questions/ideas haha

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Post #: 4

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/20/2008 8:07:36 AM

WoodyRR

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/1/2007
From: NW suburb, IL
Status: offline

This seems awfully nice...do you think it's worth a try on these parts? (Tail scratch on crease, silver part of the upper and very small part on top of lower)

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RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/20/2008 9:37:22 AM

bluej511

Posts: 839
Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

Corners really suck to do cuz its hard to buff. If theres a clearcoat on the paint id def try it its worth a shot. Make sure when you paint it its even or above the surrounding paint. Do thin layers give it a bit to dry and do it again. Then wetsand and buff. Post some pics up if it works out.

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Post #: 6

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/21/2008 6:19:44 PM

WoodyRR

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/1/2007
From: NW suburb, IL
Status: offline

Will do. Thanks for the confidence boost.

I'll def post some "after" pics if I do it...have to find an orbital first.

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Post #: 7

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/21/2008 6:32:56 PM

bluej511

Posts: 839
Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

Even if these is no clearcoat you should be ok, the finer the sandpaper the better. You can buff paint without a clearcoat it just goes all over the pads you use. If you use an orbital might take a bit longer to remove the sanding marks. I recomend a porter cable. Maybe someone near you knows how to detail and will let you borrow one. Make sure you get a polish that removes sanding marks and doesnt just fill em in ie scratch x, most meguiars over the counter.

Something you can buy at the store is megs #83 or 89 i dont remember it removes scuffs.

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Post #: 8

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/22/2008 7:12:12 PM

WoodyRR

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/1/2007
From: NW suburb, IL
Status: offline

I figured I'll buy some 2000-3000 grit paper like you suggested in the post. I was trying to find some polish with "removing" capabilities, but didn't see that description in anything online...I'll just have to go to a store and read the bottles. However, I went to "Meguiar's" website and found this under "motorcycle care" :

http://www.meguiars.com/?/Motorcycle-Liquid-Wax-Wet-Look

Do you think that'll be fine?

< Message edited by WoodyRR -- 3/22/2008 7:24:24 PM >

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Post #: 9

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/23/2008 7:16:19 AM

bluej511

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Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

Here woody try and find some of these. You can always order from autogeek.net

< Message edited by bluej511 -- 3/23/2008 7:22:22 AM >

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Post #: 10

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/25/2008 7:50:24 AM

WoodyRR

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/1/2007
From: NW suburb, IL
Status: offline

Bluej, did you mean to post a link? I went to autogeek.net and saw a few products that might work.Meguiar's Plastx Clear Plastic Cleaner & Polish? I found it under Motorcycle care products.

Also, regarding the touch-up I went to Color-Rite's website and was about to order the paint I need (Pear Sun-beam White). However, it said it requires a base coat touch-up as well? And then it suggested clear-coat touch up. Can you tell me if the base and clear-coat touch ups are necessary? I would think a good polish would suffice instead of clear-coat touch up.

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RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/25/2008 8:23:12 AM

bluej511

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Joined: 7/14/2007
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You dont need a base or clear just make sure its clean enough so the paint will stick. The scratch wont have a clear on it but its ok cuz its a small area. Your not repainting the whole fairing. You can put clear if youd like its exactly the same step just make sure you wait 24hrs for the paint to try. A good polish and wax will protect it enough.

You dont need motorcycle products the car products will work just fine.

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Post #: 12

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/25/2008 8:34:27 AM

WoodyRR

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/1/2007
From: NW suburb, IL
Status: offline

So should I apply the white, wait 24 hours, apply the clear, wait 24 hours and then wet-sand and follow the process from there? Thanks for helping out with this bluej.

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Post #: 13

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/25/2008 9:25:32 AM

bluej511

Posts: 839
Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

Yea you can do that. Wet sanding will make everything uniform and even. Paint until its a bit lower then the surrounding area then clear it till its even or a bit more. Don't forget dont just do one blob but wait a couple mins for it to dry then another coat and another then do 2-3 coats of clear. Now if the OEM fairing has no clear dont bother but im pretty sure it does.

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Post #: 14

RE: DIY scratch/scuff repair. - 3/25/2008 5:35:12 PM

WoodyRR

Posts: 384
Joined: 5/1/2007
From: NW suburb, IL
Status: offline

Yep, deff has clear coat on it...the only plastic fairing/cowl w/o clear coat is the black "shark tail" looking fairing in between my upper and lower side fairings.

Well, I'm going to order the touch up tomorrow. I have to try this. I don't have much to lose especially when considering new plastics would cost me $500+

Thanks again Bluej...I'll post some before/after pics in the coming week or two when this mini-project is done.

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Post #: 15