How to safely remove oxidation and scratches from exterior painted surfaces?
To remove medium to heavy scratches and oxidation, you must correct the surface with a high speed polisher, cutting pad and buffing compound (For a complete listing of ECP Compounds and Pads, See the Compound / Pads section of the Products page of this website). If only light scratches and oxidation are present, buffing with a mildly abrasive polish and polishing pad is recommended (See “Question How do I remove swirl marks on painted exterior surfaces?” for more information on polishing or swirl removal). If the scratches and oxidation are sufficient, the compound used should be aggressive enough to correct the imperfections present but appropriate for the vehicle’s paint system (Single stage or basecoat/clearcoat). To identify your vehicle’s paint system, run a piece of sand paper (2000) grit in an inconspicuous spot on a door panel. If color comes off in the paper, you’re working with a single stage system. If not, you have a basecoat/clearcoat system. The thickness of the exterior
