I agree with the above statement and question. If the scratch is not through the clear coat though; I've fixed similar issues multiple times.
I used to do body work for a living so; I have some insight that some do not but, I'm not a painter. I've buffed a few cars and they looked great but, I did burn through one spot on one of the cars in like two seconds; you have to be careful.
With the above said, what I've done in the past is started with the least aggressive course of action and worked my way up as needed. For instance, I've never used any heavy cutting compound. If I knew how to use it, it could probably save me time but, I've been able to accomplish what I wanted using a very light compound; it just took me longer. The same with wet sanding. If something really requires you start with 1500, I start with 3000. By doing this, you have less chance of messing something up, you get a feel for doing this type of work and ultimately, you can fix the issue yourself; it just may take longer than what it should but, who cares.
Just take your time. Buff and or sand for a little bit and check your progress frequently. You can always do more if needed; if you go too far, you're SOL.
If the scratch is small, I've also used 3" buffing pads on a drill. You have more control than what you do with a buffer.
Just things to think about.
Last edited by parksr5; 09/28/17 04:35 PM.