Getting out scratches in paintwork

[rosie631]

Hi guys. Does anyone know a decent cut and polish for getting out surface scratches? My bike is gonna need a repaint when I get the money together but trying to make it look a bit better in the meantime. Deep scratches/gouges on the rear guard which I doubt anything will fix. Also numerous surface scratches on tank and guards. Tried some crap called Holts cut'n'shine which the local Shitco (repco) recommended but like everything they have recommended to me in the past it was total crap. Didn't remove any of the scratches, just showed up a whole heap more that weren't visible before. Anyone got any suggestions? cheers

[Flip]

Hard to say as sone of those scratches are deep ones.

Might suggest you try the touch up guys thay seem to understand how to make paint repairs without repainting the whole guard. The Wellington operator called Viv fixed my last bike after I was blown over in a gale (I was riding with a broken bone in my leg) it was impossible to see the repair and you could only tell where it was by rubbing your hand over the area because the repair was slightly rougher than the original paint.
HD paint is difficult th repair because it is metalic covered with a candy coloured clear coat.

[rosie631]

yeah, don't think anything short of a repaint will fix the ones on the guard. But there are also a lot of very fine, superficial ones on the tank. I thought there might be a product i could cut them out with?

[FROSTY]

I wouldnt piss around if I were you. Go to a painter and get a professional buff done. They might say--"hey look its a waste of time" but bu the time you buy this compound or that compound it'll work out cheaper to just let the professionals do it for ya.
Actually I'll rephrase that. Im in the auto industry and my painter has 30 or so different compounds he uses. Add to that his experience in knowing just how mutch clear he can take off before its an issue and to me its a no brainer.
Price wise I pay about $100 to get an entire car buffed (cut n polished)

[rosie631]

Actually, looking at it that way i think you're probably right. Paid 20bucks already for the shit stuff I tried this morning. So, as you say, by the time you buy a few different things it works out just as expensive as getting a professional job. Cheers for that.

[trailblazer]

Hard to say as sone of those scratches are deep ones.

Might suggest you try the touch up guys thay seem to understand how to make paint repairs without repainting the whole guard. The Wellington operator called Viv fixed my last bike after I was blown over in a gale (I was riding with a broken bone in my leg) it was impossible to see the repair and you could only tell where it was by rubbing your hand over the area because the repair was slightly rougher than the original paint.
HD paint is difficult th repair because it is metalic covered with a candy coloured clear coat.

a decent painter wouldn't have only touched up half a HD gaurd they would have painted the whole panel. HD paint is no differant to any other bike and is easy to touch up if you no what you are doing so don't let a paint shop tell you that cause it is just an excuse to charge you more.
Go to a paint supply store and get ane of the 3m polishs or farecla g3.

[YellowDog]

Actually, looking at it that way i think you're probably right. Paid 20bucks already for the shit stuff I tried this morning. So, as you say, by the time you buy a few different things it works out just as expensive as getting a professional job. Cheers for that.
IME - The cut compound does work well, provided you work it hard. Maybe you just need to work a bit harder with your circular motions. It will remove light scratches then let you apply a polish to make it look like new again.

So far as the deep scratches go, the touch up guys are highly skilled at filling these and matching up the paint to make them invisible.

If you see the guys at the auction houses with the 'before' and 'after' results, you would be amazed.

Good luck.

[Molly]

Out of interest, what colour is the bike? The black Harleys I've had were bastards for picking up scratches. The slightest touch and you'd leave a mark.

Anyway, with practice and patience you can repair most blemishes. That said, maybe it'd be good to have a painter flat it off and put new and harder clear on?

[AllanB]

I've a tube of "Meguiar's Scratch X" It works relatively well on fine swirls in the top clear coat and reduces any deeper ones. Then follow with a quality polish and wax :sunny: It's not a miracle worker but worth a go.

[Owl]

Actually, looking at it that way i think you're probably right. Paid 20bucks already for the shit stuff I tried this morning. So, as you say, by the time you buy a few different things it works out just as expensive as getting a professional job. Cheers for that.

Frosty's advice is spot on Rosie!!!:yes:

Hell, I'd check it out for free if you were local, as it'd take about 10 seconds to tell whether you're wasting your time and about 2 minutes (maybe a little longer) to run a buff over it.

[rosie631]

Out of interest, what colour is the bike? The black Harleys I've had were bastards for picking up scratches. The slightest touch and you'd leave a mark.

Anyway, with practice and patience you can repair most blemishes. That said, maybe it'd be good to have a painter flat it off and put new and harder clear on?

It's dark blue/purple

[FROSTY]

Rosie--I probably exaggerated re the number of compounds sorry but it was to make a point. A professional will sort it for you.
Mind you maybee its time for your bike to become a rosie special. with a custom paint job

[hgmiers]

Hey Owl - Where are you in Palmy? If possible, I'd like you to have a look and see if my tank can be buffed. Cheers.

[rosie631]

Mind you maybee its time for your bike to become a rosie special. with a custom paint job

It sure is. Will be getting transformed next month. Trying to come to a decision on what I want. Have got a couple of totally contrasting ideas. Have to decide which way to go.

[peasea]

It sure is. Will be getting transformed next month. Trying to come to a decision on what I want. Have got a couple of totally contrasting ideas. Have to decide which way to go.

Talk to your local drug dealer and get some wicked LSD, that should give you some inspiration.......lol.

[scumdog]

Try CAREFULLY sanding with soapy water and some 1200 grit (if you can get finer stuff try that when you've finished with the 1200) and then give it a go with the cutter.

Too much effort can result in going through the paint to stop often and check.:crazy:

[Owl]

Try CAREFULLY sanding with soapy water and some 1200 grit (if you can get finer stuff try that when you've finished with the 1200) and then give it a go with the cutter.

Too much effort can result in going through the paint to stop often and check.:crazy:

Bloody old timers!:laugh:

P2000 wet is a better start and less likely to get into trouble, although still easily done.

Save the 1200 for that 20 year old lacquer!:msn-wink:

[rosie631]

Am wondering if this is a fault with the factory paint on the newish harleys. Not enough clear coat or something? Apart from the scratches she came with she's also picked up quite a few more. Never had that problem with the old one. Think I'll invest in some custom skins once I get the custom paint done.

[Molly]

The Harley clear coat is fuckin' shit! Excuse me... Black HDs are particularly vulnerable. I've considered having the paint flatted-off and re-coated. My new purchase ('07 Springer) is also black so I'm looking forward to a lot of time with soft cloths and top quality polishes...

[AllanB]

If you want to try the wet & dry Rosie, George Henry on Manchester St (between RT & Street & Sport) stock the really fine stuff.

I think it's common place on all new bikes - there appears to be less clear coat than some years back.

[Molly]

I think it's common place on all new bikes - there appears to be less clear coat than some years back.

And it's just not hard enough. Should be a hard shell over the paint. Never had this problem with Jap bikes (though it pains me to say it). There's no excuse given the sophistication of modern paint technology.

[rosie631]

Never had it with any of my other bikes either. Seems to be a recent development.

[sunday social riders]

if your guna paint it becarefull who does it the a lot of cowboys out there that think they can paint trust me i have to fix a few of them

[rosie631]

Thanks. Got a mate who's an airbrush artist. Have seen heaps of bikes he's done, so I'm in safe hands.

[sunday social riders]

cool always pay to carefull load a pic once done

[rosie631]

Yep, will do. Just gotta make up my mind what I want lol