TheTallest

My wife and son were loading a few bags of coal ashes into the bed of my truck so I could get rid of them. Instead of opening the tailgate my son being lazy as usual decided to just jump in the bed and sort of drag the bags over the paint and into the bed while my wife pushed. The end result is many tiny scratches where the bag dragged across the paint. Needless to say, I'm livid because they could've taken some care in putting them in the truck and opened the tailgate. But my son dislikes manual labor and always thinks of the quickest way to get a job done.

I was at work otherwise I would've done it myself...

My question to all the forumites is this, how do I easily remove the scratches or will it need to go to a body shop?

The scratches are not deep and appear to be just the top coat and clear. When I was more adept at this stuff back in the day I used to use 3M rubbing compound is this not OK?

Should I use a claybar?

skavolution

time to trade it in (the son that is)

eye.surgeon

Claybar is not meant for scratches.

A mild abrasive polish followed by a wax will help. I've used meguiars cleaner polish for similar scratches, it's a combination of both.

Having said that, it is a truck and sometimes the first scratch is a good thing as you can use it like a truck without wincing from here on.

Truck owner

Scratch X,,

TeamZambo

First, get rid of the kid.

Just kidding.

Could you take some pictures? If you run your finger nail over the scratch, does your nail feel/get caught in the scratch? Do you have a Dual Action (DA) Polisher?

Depending on the severity of it, I may be able to walk you through the process using the correct product combo.

TeamZambo

Scratch X just hides it, short term fix.

And by short term fix I really mean half assing it.

H-60 Electrician

I used this stuff on my Mustang around the drivers door, its a little work well worth the outcome.

TheTallest

If only that were an option.

[MENTION=109567]TeamZambo[/MENTION]

The scratches are not deep, my finger does not get caught in the scratch. I'll take some pics tomorrow as it's dark out. I do not have a dual action polisher but can get one.

I understand the getting a first scratch is hard and once you get it it makes it easier to use the truck as a truck. But I don't have a problem loading the truck up with construction debris and coal and furniture. But I take care to pay attention how I'm loading it so I don't knick the paint. I'm pissed because it could've been prevented had my son not been lazy and my wife opened the tailgate.

Truck owner

Meguiar's Scratch X 2.0 works good. It takes out simple scratch swirls.. if his scratches are in the paint its a bigger job..I say try the first step for you go all out to remove,

jwanck11

Not sure why you are ragging on your son on an internet forum? How would he take it if he read what you have written? Perhaps you might take the time to clearly explain your expectations and more so take the time with him to demonstrate, by way of working side by side, work ethic and how to think through ways and means of accomplishing things. You have a way that it should be done in your head. You made NO EFFORT to explain the process and your truck got scratched. You are now openly blaming your family in a public forum. The only person you ought to be pissed at is yourself. Just a thought.

Wash. Polish. Wax.