Did someone KEY my CT? No footage on sentry found..

[jbtfd]

Am bummed out just saw this today while admiring my CT

definitely was not there until today, I’ve looked at every square inch of my CT since delivery day (even though it’s used I inspected every panel!!)

went to sentry mode and looked through everything, nothing out of the ordinary

can I just buff this out? I like the SS look and don’t really want to wrap it

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[CT_AZ_4x4]

Am bummed out just saw this today while admiring my CT

definitely was not there until today, I’ve looked at every square inch of my CT since delivery day (even though it’s used I inspected every panel!!)

went to sentry mode and looked through everything, nothing out of the ordinary

can I just buff this out? I like the SS look and don’t really want to wrap it

Try Bar Keeper’s Friend. It will likely buff out.

If that isn’t an intentional scratch I’d say you would’ve heard something impacting that left such a mark.

Good news is that SS cleans up nicely! It should come out and if not entirely probably mostly.

 

[netcatz99]

If the scratches are superficial, they can be removed by using 3m very fine and ultra fine scouring pads and a random orbital polisher.

 

[HaulingAss]

Try Bar Keeper’s Friend. It will likely buff out.

If that isn’t an intentional scratch I’d say you would’ve heard something impacting that left such a mark.

Good news is that SS cleans up nicely! It should come out and if not entirely probably mostly.

Those are superficial scratches. BKF without abrasives in the formula will not do much to it (except brighten the area around the scratches). BKF with fine abrasives will leave a shiny spot if you polish enough to get those scratches out.

I would sand the entire plane with a suitable sanding pad (either a non-woven "scotch-brite" pad of around 400 grit) on a random orbit sander. You can also use a silicon carbide based metal polishing pad of around the same grit. How well it matches the other panels depends upon the brand and grit number (or fineness) you chose and the kind of RO sander you use. Tesla recommends one with a 5 mm orbit for the factory match but nothing says you have to stick with that.

IMO, those scratches don't look like they were done intentionally. They don't have anger in them. In fact, it looks like whatever made them was rotating. Do you go to automatic car washes? Have people been using drill motors around your car? Have you polished it with a rotating polisher?

It may remain a mystery. It could even have been someone's hubcap that flew off on the freeway. If you like to listen to music when you drive, you might not even hear it.

 

[jbtfd]

No car washes or near anything mechanical that rotates

just parked in my garage or errands out, but no sentry alerts that showed someone walking up and keying the car

have had it less than a week !

so it seems from my research I would need to get a random orbiter and sand the entire pane down not just this one panel

I’ve never sanded anything in my life, is it hard?

also will the car be shinier and shinier if I keep doing it? I definitely don’t want that polished mirror look

but if it stays the same look after sanding that would be awesome, I wouldn’t feel concerned or stressed parking anywhere knowing I can just spend a couple hours sanding the CT down after letting a bunch of scratches build up

 

[netcatz99]

It's not hard to do, just have to have the right tools and scouring discs.

3m 7447 Very Fine 5"
3m 7448 Ultra Fine 5"
Dewalt 5" random orbital sander (corded or cordless) or whatever is available to you
Blue Masking Tape (mask off the plastic fenders to prevent scuffing)

Start with the 7448 on the scratched areas to see if it removes the scratches and then follow the recommended pattern from the Tesla Service Manual on refinishing the Cybertruck. If 7448 doesn't remove the scratches, then go to 7447 and then back to 7448 to add appropriate levels of burnish to the stainless steel surface.

The area will be lighter, but will eventually darken. I removed some superficial scratches on the driver side door panels w/ success. Also, made some custom 1.5" 3m scouring discs to refinish the smaller areas near the window trim.

Check out the YouTube video on how the panels are refinished.

If you're not comfortable, you may check w/ your Service Center to see if they can do it for you instead.

 

[jbtfd]

I don’t intend to wrap the CT so I will invest in learning how to do it and get the right tools, that way I can fix it every summer season so it looks brand new!

thank you for the insights!!

 

[HaulingAss]

I don’t intend to wrap the CT so I will invest in learning how to do it and get the right tools, that way I can fix it every summer season so it looks brand new!

thank you for the insights!!

I would get a 6" RO sander, not a 5". I know it sounds like much not difference, but believe me when I say the difference for finishing panels is HUGE! This is very hard metal and the 6" will be a lot faster. Use a light touch so your abrasives last longer. I think I'm settling into a preference for silicon carbide metal polishing pads for their more even sheen but I haven't needed to do enough polishing to know for sure. These are foam backed sand paper pads that have very well graded abrasive sizes. I get a more uniform look than the recommended non-woven pads using less hard aluminum oxide abrasives.

Of course then I get the truck muddy and beat through hardwood mountain shrubs and saplings and grind some new tiger stripes in it. It's OK, it still looks good!

 

[bg002h]

Is that a normal finding after delivery? I think I have something very similar on mine. I’m in Finland but when I get back I’ll post a photo (if I can remember).

 

[BeFamousVideo]

It's not hard to do, just have to have the right tools and scouring discs.

3m 7447 Very Fine 5"
3m 7448 Ultra Fine 5"
Dewalt 5" random orbital sander (corded or cordless) or whatever is available to you
Blue Masking Tape (mask off the plastic fenders to prevent scuffing)

Start with the 7448 on the scratched areas to see if it removes the scratches and then follow the recommended pattern from the Tesla Service Manual on refinishing the Cybertruck. If 7448 doesn't remove the scratches, then go to 7447 and then back to 7448 to add appropriate levels of burnish to the stainless steel surface.

The area will be lighter, but will eventually darken. I removed some superficial scratches on the driver side door panels w/ success. Also, made some custom 1.5" 3m scouring discs to refinish the smaller areas near the window trim.

Check out the YouTube video on how the panels are refinished.

If you're not comfortable, you may check w/ your Service Center to see if they can do it for you instead.

Your truck SS is gorgeous. Now I want to do an annual SS clean up on mine too. The even clean shine on your CT is spectacular.

 

[Kenneth K.]

Am bummed out just saw this today while admiring my CT

definitely was not there until today, I’ve looked at every square inch of my CT since delivery day (even though it’s used I inspected every panel!!)

went to sentry mode and looked through everything, nothing out of the ordinary

can I just buff this out? I like the SS look and don’t really want to wrap it

i coated mine with Everbrite Protectaclear self leveling metal coating, if it get keyed or scratched i just applied a thin coat on it and scratches be gone.

 

[netcatz99]

Is that a normal finding after delivery? I think I have something very similar on mine. I’m in Finland but when I get back I’ll post a photo (if I can remember).

Yes, however refinishing the Cybertruck surface is much easier w/ the right tools than dealing w/ typical clear coat etc.

 

[jbtfd]

Yes, however refinishing the Cybertruck surface is much easier w/ the right tools than dealing w/ typical clear coat etc.

Thanks for the detailed suggestion in your earlier reply.

So, once I do the panel with the scratches, I'll have to do the entire pane as per the manual right?

Or is it ever possible to just lightly do one panel only?

And do I need to apply anything to the pads when I start sanding? Or it just goes on dry?

Thank you

 

[netcatz99]

Since your affected area is pretty large... I would do the entire plane as per the service manual. Use the finest grit (7448) pad on the affected area and see whether it removes the scratches. If the refinishing is obvious, the you will need to do the entire plane to blend it in properly.

Also, if you have a Foundation Series etching... you will need to mask them off w/ vinyl or stencil decals to protect the FS etching as scouring pads will burnish those areas.

I ran the pads dry and washed them w/ mild soap and water to reuse next time. However, the scouring performance will degrade as you use the pads so I bought a box of them from Amazon as replacements.

 

[jbtfd]

After you run the sander over the whole plane, do you just rinse the car with water and that’s the end of it?

any special technique or tips on amount of pressure to apply?

I’ll try and do it this weekend!

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