Removing scratches
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,112
Likes: 40
From: Boise Idaho
Removing scratches
I have over the last year and a 1/2 aquired quite a lot of scratches and dings on my Road King that I couldn't get out by hand with polishing compound.
So last week I went to my local paint supply house and asked for help, they sold me a small set of 3" buffing pads ($20) for use in some kind of air buffer, after reading the RPM requirements of the pads I decided to use my variable speed electric drill instead of buying a $150 slow speed air buffer and I already had some medium rubbing compound.
This kit has a wool pad for fast cutting, a yellow pad for medium cutting and a gray pad for polishing, I use the yellow pad with just a little water on it and my medium compound and proceeded to buff the scatches out, this worked so well I can hardly believe I had been trying to do it by hand.
The top of the fender and the top of both saddlebags took about 10 minutes to do and must have gotten rid of 90% of the sctratches that where on them, you can still see a couple of the deep dings but they look much better because they are smoother and the color came back, I did part of the gas tank also and it flat made the light scratches on it disappear.
This is the best $20 I've spent in a long time.
I've included a before and after picture of one of the worst dings on the side of the fender I got from wacking it with the zipper on my coat, and a picture of the pad kit.
I hope this helps someone else with the same problem!!
So last week I went to my local paint supply house and asked for help, they sold me a small set of 3" buffing pads ($20) for use in some kind of air buffer, after reading the RPM requirements of the pads I decided to use my variable speed electric drill instead of buying a $150 slow speed air buffer and I already had some medium rubbing compound.
This kit has a wool pad for fast cutting, a yellow pad for medium cutting and a gray pad for polishing, I use the yellow pad with just a little water on it and my medium compound and proceeded to buff the scatches out, this worked so well I can hardly believe I had been trying to do it by hand.
The top of the fender and the top of both saddlebags took about 10 minutes to do and must have gotten rid of 90% of the sctratches that where on them, you can still see a couple of the deep dings but they look much better because they are smoother and the color came back, I did part of the gas tank also and it flat made the light scratches on it disappear.
This is the best $20 I've spent in a long time.
I've included a before and after picture of one of the worst dings on the side of the fender I got from wacking it with the zipper on my coat, and a picture of the pad kit.
I hope this helps someone else with the same problem!!
Last edited by jag1886; Apr 1, 2009 at 07:21 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 724
Likes: 2
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I might try that out. I've got vivid black and it scratches when you breathe on it too heavy. I can usually get em out by hand with Maguires Scratch X, but not always. This kit have a name, or can I find it anywhere? I have a Craftsman "buffer" my brother lent me, but I imagine it's really more of an orbital waxer, I can't imagine it's fast enough to do much other than wax
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
From: Amesbury, Ma
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: San Berdo, So. Cal
If you want something a little easier to spin your pads, Harbor Freight usually has a 1/4" die grinder on sale for $9.99.
This will spin those pads pretty well and is very inexpensive.
I usually use Turtle Wax polishing cream that way, although I haven't (knock on wood) had scratches that deep.
This will spin those pads pretty well and is very inexpensive.
I usually use Turtle Wax polishing cream that way, although I haven't (knock on wood) had scratches that deep.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,401
Likes: 4
From: SoCal
google PORTER CABLE 7424.....you will never go back to buffing by hand again. Hard to damage paint with a RANDOM ORBIT POLISHER...not so with a straight rotary.
Here is a quick demo (actually a plug for Pinnacle though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZVDsiEQ8-w
Here is a quick demo (actually a plug for Pinnacle though)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZVDsiEQ8-w
Last edited by kromdom; Apr 2, 2009 at 11:00 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,670
Likes: 19
From: Waukesha WI
Be careful using a high speed buffer. If you never used one you can make things worse real easy. On dark colors its worse. A cheap orbital buffer will do the trick and a fine scratch remover.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
