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How do you fix clear coat runs on a car?
I had a friend help touch up my car’s clear coat, but he went a little too heavy with the spray paint and now I have a couple of runs that stick out like a sore thumb. I just hope this is easy to fix. How do you fix clear coat runs on a car?
Bellina Gaskey · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s great to hear your friend was at least willing to help! Don’t worry—you can fix clear coat runs on a car pretty easily with wet sandpaper, polish, and a buffer.
Start with fine grain sandpaper. The exact grit you’ll need depends on how bad the run is. If it’s a big chunky run, you could start with 1000-grit. If the run is a little smaller, start at 1500 or so.
Get the sandpaper wet before applying it and keep water flowing on it as you sand. Wet sanding will help prevent scratching the area, especially the surrounding clear coat.
Pro Tip: Use a sanding block to keep your sandpaper level and only move vertically or horizontally, never in circles.
Complete several iterations of sanding with finer and finer grades, finishing with 2000-grit sandpaper or finer. Try to dull the runs, so they become indistinguishable from the good clear coat around them, but don’t over sand, which will remove the clear coat entirely.
Once you’re done sanding, grab rubbing compound, polish, and buffer pads (one for each substance). Using a dual-action polishing machine is best, but it’s possible to work by hand.
Apply small dots of compound to the edges of a buffer pad and push into the car surface. Don’t rub too vigorously and work on small sections at a time. Work up in intensity (or start your machine at a low setting, then turn it up gradually until it seems to glide over the surface).
Once you’re done, clear away any gunk or residue with a microfiber cloth, then repeat the process with polish on another buffer pad. If you’d like, finish up by applying and buffing some wax.
You and your car deserve the best for all your hard work—why not save some money by finding a great and affordable
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