Hello all,

I removed the S2000 emblems the other day using fishing line and rubbing away with a smidge of acetone dapped on my fingers and waxed after I finished. All the gunk's off, but now I can see the outline of where the emblem used to be?

Any way to make it look flush? Do I need to buff?

 

Clay it, rubbing compound with a DA polisher, and then finish with your preferred polish.

 

Thank you!

 

I would try the clay bar and then some polish before moving to the rubbing compound. You don't want to make the area look any different than the rest, the mark left is from the adhesive and perhaps the emblem masked off that part from polishing around it over time. Try polish first and see how it goes, I strongly suspect a light polish will do the trick. I did that exactly myself and I was able to make the mark disappear with only hand polishing.

 

Rubbing compound isn't all that aggressive and you only need to do a quick pass with it. I used Meguiar's Ultimate Compound.

Driver side done.


Passenger side done.

 

Yeah, that's what it looks like for me. The paint under the emblem matches the rest of the car while the outer parts are rough from polishing or wax not being able to get in the gaps throughout the years.

I'll pick up a clay bar - I have 3M rubbing compound but no variable speed polisher or one of those orange pads with the bumps on it for polishing. What would you recommend I get to hand polish it? I want to stay away from getting an actual polisher if possible.

 

Ugh I wish mine looked that clean...

 

Might be semantics, but Meguiars Ultimate compound is a fine polishing compound. Rubbing compound, is far more abrasive/gritty for severely damaged paint/metal surfaces. It's best to start with the least aggressive means to remedy an issue, in this case clay and a polish should work very well.

 

Ah, I thought it was plain jane rubbing compound, I use it exclusively for removing blemishes. I always err on too little which is easier to rectify, but I didn't find the stuff very harsh, hence my comment. Just a misunderstanding. It wiped away the marks left by the dirt/glue and I finished it with Mequiar's Mirror Glaze.

 

Get something decent like Menzera Intense Polish or Mequiars. Read the label and it should tell you how aggressive it is. I would make sure you have decent lighting (not a dark garage) so you can easily see how you are doing. You want to be able to see swirls and any scratches or marks. It also helps you see how the polish is holding up. Use a cotton, microfiber towels or foam pads for applying and removal.
Work in a 2x2 section at a time.
I like using microfiber towels or pads (I get the Costco giant pack for $15), fold it so it fits comfortably in your hand this will help you apply even pressure.
Apply a nickel size amount of polish on the towel or pad. Using a circular motion to it out then use a back and forth motion, left to right, up an down, diagonal to work the polish in until the it breaks down or turns clear.
Wipe off residue and check your work under good lighting. Repeat using different pressure or speed (your hand/arm speed, if necessary) to achieve the desired results.

Doing this correctly will not only take care of the emblem mark but also fine scratches and swirls. I might add, to be sure you get all the adhesive, try some lighter fluid (Naphtha) or hand warming fluid (same stuff). It evaporates completely and does not damage paint. Slop some on and use your finger tip to work it in and wipe with a microfiber towel.

Let us know how it works out. Sooner or later you might invest in a Porter Cable. Great for widows, headlights, cars/paint.