Will Scratch Remover Ruin Your Paint Over Time? – Jalopnik

Seeing scratches on your car can be incredibly frustrating, but it’s one of those unavoidable things, shall we say. No matter how much you cherish your prized possession, a scratch or stain can eventually appear on your car’s paint. Of course, there are several DIY scratch removal methods you can take advantage of, such as using WD-40 on your car’s paint. However, it is important to assess the scratch yourself before deciding on the next course of action.

For example, small imperfections (such as scratches on the inside of your door handles) can be remedied with scratch removers, while deeper imperfections often require a professional approach. A rule of thumb is to run your finger along the scratch and see if your fingernail catches. If so, then you’re beyond DIY repairs. If it doesn’t feel so clear, scratch removers can work. But will they ruin the paint? The short answer is no. The long answer is that it depends. That said, as long as you use the product properly, the car’s paint should be fine.

Here’s the thing: There are different types of scratch removers available. Some of these are quite simple and require about the same amount of time and effort as washing your car. Others can be a bit tedious and complicated, especially those that require sanding. The latter type can lead to long-term paint damage if used incorrectly.

Understand that a scratch remover does not necessarily remove anything, but merely blends the lightly scratched surface with the car’s finish by making it smooth and even. The scratch is therefore no longer as obvious as it used to be. Polish and pen-based scratch removers are often the easiest to use, while compound scratch removers generally require sanding and a bit more manual work.

Scratch removers don’t have to be a problem as long as your car’s clear coat is intact. It’s worth pointing out that scratch removers are mild abrasives that typically work by removing a thin layer of the paint’s clear coat. Scratch repair pens, on the other hand, use a clear coat resin to mask the stain, although their effectiveness is somewhat questionable.

The thickness of automotive clearcoats typically ranges between 38 and 50 microns, which is approximately 40% of the paint thickness itself. Depending on the product used, polishing may remove 2 to 5 microns of clear coat, which is normal. Please note that aggressive polishing or sanding can cause the clear coat to thin. If too much clearcoat is removed, you’re looking at future paint damage in the form of fading, oxidation, peeling, and so on. Make sure you use scratch removers properly, otherwise the situation can look bad quite quickly.