Scratch problem

[lime 70]

 I have a problem some animal got on the back of my car and put some minor scratches in the paint looks like toe nails. How and what do I use to get these out I have a polisher but no experience. The clear also has what appears to be overspray it has been there for a while buggin me so I would like to take care of that also. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[70challengerrt]

Remember I am an amature but I have painted several cars and did minor repairs on scratches and dents. I would use 3M 3000 grit buffing compound (any brand is fine) buff off the over spray. then find a good spot to mask off the rear end where the scratches are and degrease, lightly sand with 1200-1500 grit sand paper and reshoot a couple of coats of clear. Then rebuff to blend back in. Buff after about a week, because the clear will be good and hard so it will buff evenly first with the 3000 and then with a finish coumpound and wax. I you buff to soon the soft clear will buff easier the the original paint and have a slightly different look to it.  This is if the scratches are not in the paint and just the clear.

[4Cruizn]

For the overspray, definitely use a clay bar and some soapy water!  Works great!   

[torredcuda]

First off is it a clear coat or solid color and how deep do the scratches look?If it is clear coat and the scratches go thru the clear you will not be able to completely buff them out,same with a solid if they are thru to the primer.If they do not look too deep take some very fine sand paper-1500-2000 grit and wet sand the area till the scracthes are almost gone then buff with a good compound and finish with a polish/ swirl remover and then wax.For overspray either clay bar or just buff with compound.

[lime 70]

I know the scraches do not go thru the clear so the are very light. So it sounds like I should buff out the scratches, what is the techniqe for buffing cause I never did it before. And one more thing is there a name for the clay and what kind of buffing pad.

[FY1 RT SE]

2500 or 3000 by hand should be sufficent but requires lots of elbow grease, if you really feel brave use the 3000 grit polishing pads and a DA, a lot faster.

[Stacked440]

If they arent very deep at all i would just use some turtle wax(my fav! ) and wax them out by hand.  Easiest way, and dont have to worry about buffer burn on the paint or swirls if your doing it for the first time.

[matt63]

After a few attempts at wet sanding and polishing with abrasives compounds I watched a pro wet sand and polish with an electric polisher with a wool pad and realized I didn't have clue what I was doing.  I would find a professional auto polisher instead of risking your paint job.  You can make it worse (I know)  This person is not necessarily a detailer who may only try and fill and cover the scratch.

[freightdriver]

x2 on the clay bar your local autoparts store will have it