How to repair a scratch or two properly question

Your method may be correct. But I would trust a demonstration on UTUBE more than mere suggestion on a forum. That way could can see (in detail) what to do. Just my opinion.

 

I use a blob eliminator. A company called Dr. Colorchip makes one.

Here's another blob eliminator:
LANGKA The Blob Eliminator : Amazon.com : Automotive
I've used this one often in my motorcycle shop.

Having tried both; I like the blob-eliminator approach a lot better than sanding, because it's much easier on the surrounding paint. It's also faster to get back to a polished finish.

 

I hope you are not in a hurry and take the time to learn more.

If the scratch is only thru the clear and not the colored paint

And it is not too wide touching it up with Clear will bring the color out and may be all you need

Perhaps posting a picture of the scratches would help

I would not use 1000 grit sandpaper on it, unless you are trying to sand the scratches off, and even then I would start with Much finer sand paper, you can always go to the 1000 if needed, but once you use 1000 you are committed to a depth to get rid of the scratches the 1000 will make.

 

That's a tricky one. Easy ones are deep, but over a small area. Large shallow ones are hard to fill, because the touch up paint tends to come back out, as you're trying to smooth it.

Getting back to your question. A blob eliminator is used to flatten out the blob you get when you fill a chip with paint. It's a chemical that softens the touch up paint, but not the car paint. Again, it doesn't work well for shallow scratches though.

I agree with Dan, that clear might be the trick, if the scratch hasn't gone through to the primer. You'd be amazed how big white scratches can turn back to body color, when clear coat is applied (only in cases where the scratch doesn't reach the bottom of the paint).

This is one of the easier clear coat applicators I've found, for quick repair of shallow scratches.
Amazon.com: DuPont D101 Pro-Fusion Scratch Repair and Sealer Pen - Clear: Automotive

 

Larry from Ammo NYC uploaded this video may be of use. His vids are insanely geeky but very informative and his products are amazing.

Best Paint Touch-up Tricks: Mercedes G55 - YouTube

 

You can get micromesh sandpaper to 8000 grit. Micro-Mesh makes a nice kit. My kit is the KR-70 and is utilized esp. for aircraft acrylic and plastics My current kit goes to 6000 grit. Much safer than any polish or cutting material. Can purchase from Finishing Products,Inc., 1217 West Third Street, Wilton,IA USA 52778. Phone 800-225-3006

Docf

 

When you've clean the scratch and applied touch-up paint make sure to let it dry for a while. Paint will sink in the scratch. Buit it up but be patient before refinishing it. It you polish it too early the scratch will show up again when the paint sink.

I use an absolutly flat piece of aluminium as a block with 1500 grit wetsand to cut it up and finish with 2000 grit. I've even use super fine piece of file with edges grinded to make sure to be flat applying minimum of pressure. A sanding block is soft and may create low spot around your fill up while sanding.

This is art!

 

Please show a before and after comparison once you complete the repair. I'm sure there are others besides myself that would love to have an instructional, along with real world results!

 

The video surprised me
That a) anyone would take on such a large scratch, especially on a black car
and b) how not-fixed it looked when it was done.
Not saying I could have done better, but I'll bet the Mercedes ended up getting re-sprayed after it was all said and done.

 

The professional way to do it would be to either tape to the edge of the scratch as Larry did but instead to using a bristle brush to fill, you use an air brush to lay in thin coats. Or depending on the type of scratch, lay the air brush coats on until the scratch is filled, then compound and/or clay bar the overspray to create the blend without taping.

Larry did state that his attempt was a sort of "hail marry pass" at fixing it. The air brush method would have worked much better especially with Larry's skills at paint correction.

The type of airbrush I'm talking about is what a fine artists would use, not a paint gun like you would use to paint a fender. If you are going to be sanding you're probably going to need a dual action polisher or similar tool to get the sanding marks out and bring the gloss back. Not sure if that was in the original posters action plan.

Good luck!