Let's Talk About Scratches...

Before we get too far into scratches, how we all hate them and how we all somehow manage to get them, it is important to first understand exactly what the anatomy of your car's paint job is.

Most cars are painted in a two-stage process. After the primer is cured the first stage is applied. This is the basecoat - the actual color of the car. Once the proper number of coats is applied, the second stage begins. This is the clear coat. This is the final stage that gives your base coat a shine and a layer of protection. So, once the job is complete you essentially have three layers between you and the metal of your car. Ok, now on to scratches.

Scratches come in many forms. Some appear to be swirls, some appear white or are discolored, and others go all the way to the paint. All of these can be addressed and repaired to varying degrees.

There is a general rule that you can easily use to see what your scratches will need in the way of repair. If you drag your fingernail across the scratch and it catches, the scratch is usually too deep to buff out. Otherwise, a combination of cutting and buffing can be employed to fix the scratch because this generally means that the damage is limited to the clear coat.

Cutting and buffing are two separate techniques. “Cutting” means a wool pad on a buffing machine is used to “cut” down some of the clear coat to smooth out the edges and spread out the scratch. This process actually eliminates the scratch, where as light buffing and waxing tend to only temporarily fill the damage and hide it. Buffing is then used to polish out the damaged area making the scratch disappear for good.

There are some times when wet sanding or “color sanding” is used to repair deeper scratches. This technique is very sensitive and should only be done by a professional. It is very easy to do more damage if you have never done this before. This will usually make the scratch disappear or minimize it to the point where you are happy with it. Again this is usually only used on scratches that are very aggressive.

Finally, when the scratch is all the way down to the metal, you are left with two options. Touch-up or re-paint. Touch-up is a great alternative to expensive re-painting although is not perfect. You will still be able to see the damage but the color will be the same and the metal will be protected. It is also important to understand that no amount of sanding and buffing will make this repair appear any better than a touch up job.

Each scratch is unique, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. We will offer honest and thorough answers that are beneficial to you. Please feel free to call us at 253.474.7274 or comment below - we're here to help!

Theft Recovery

It can happen to anyone. One minute, your car is in the parking lot at the mall, the next minute - gone! Those lucky ones among us eventually end up getting their car back, but even then it's not the same. You look inside to see either A) What appears to be a somewhat clean car or B) The guys trashed your car so bad it makes a couch at the dump look inviting! What do you do now?

In either situation it is best to have the car professionally cleaned and restored to the way it was before your automotive world was turned upside down. The reason being, no one knows what the car may have been used for. WA State patrol says that the majority of auto thefts result in the car being used in other crimes (drug dealing, more theft, prostitution, illegal transportation of illicit material… the list goes on). It is quite unsettling to think of what your car may have been used for. I know when my car was stolen, it just felt dirty when I got it back.

This is not a job that I would recommend anyone take on themselves. Finding needles and razorblades, even latex gloves could mean bad news. The last thing you want to do is add health risk to the situation! Having the car professionally detailed will address all of the issues that could have plagued your car.

At The Car Bar we're ready and equipped to handle hazardous material clean up, biological clean up and can even replace glass, repair torn leather or cloth, and repair dents without using body filler or paint. We can completely restore your car to the way it was or even better, before the whole incident took place! The Car Bar can also deal directly with insurance for anyone who has the policy coverage. We make it easy and quick.

Having your car stolen is stressful enough. The good news is that, when recovered, your car can be brought back to how you left it and and even have new life breathed into it after a theft. So before you go anywhere else, give us a call. We're here to help!

Have you ever had your car stolen? If you got it back, what had happened and how did you deal with it? Let us know in the comments!