My JK came with a factory soft top and I shopped for a factory hard top for about a week. I finally found one on craigslist that the guy was willing to sell to me for $200 . When I finally got my hands on it I was shocked to see that it was in great shape, with the exception of some back woods pin stripping. Does anyone have any tips on how to get these surface scratches out? I know I'll probably wind up putting knew ones in, Id just like to look clean for now.

 

Are you talking about the paint on the top? Go to auto zone or local auto place and get a few cans of spray paint and painters tape. Then go to work. The paint that is on there is too thin. For window buffer and some compound.

 

Try some 303 first. I use it all the time to hide the scratches on mine.

 

X2 on the 303, takes the surface scratches and makes them disappear temporarily. For ones down to the white you could try a black sharpie. Eventually , you won't really worry about it much. Could always bedline just the sides or the whole top if you wanted.

 

x2. If you haven't done so already read this thread regarding chips on the HT:

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...hlight=sharpie

There are more suggestions there, but the simplest, fastest and most effective seems to be the SHARPIE.

 

The Sharpie would only work on a black top. Many of the hard tops are Khaki. No one size fits all answer works all the time. I would go the paint route or take it to a Line-X dude before installation and have the top sprayed. Especially since you got it for a steal.