Light Scratches From Wash?

[Xizor]

Got my bro to wash my car today, and now i notice light scratches especially all over the bonnet when the sun is reflecting off it. Pretty sure it wasnt like this before. He didnt use my normal foam sponges as i left them at my girlfriends, he used my dads ones. I think they are f**ked.

I just tried to rub some maguires scratch x over the bonnet with a terry towel clothe but it made no difference (it never seems to do anything to anything!). Help!!!

[fr0st]

You probably won't get them out by hand polishing, but if you do its gonna take you a very long time.

Supercheap have a $20 orbital polisher on sale atm (atleast in WA they do) which will do wonders. If you use that with a fine cutting compound they should disapeer. You may need to go over the really bad areas twice.

Finish it off with a decent wax and buff

[RANDY]

Cost me 30-40 bucks for one of them in Sydney, not on special.

Definately the right direction for cutting and polishing, although the supercheap ones are pretty cheaply made.

[MANWHOR3]

Basically, scratch x won't fix it. When I first bought my car, I didn't really know what was good and what wasn't, so I wasted about 500$ trying almost every product at the car store.

I found scratch x to be more like a bandaid. It sort of fills the scratches a bit to restore optical consistency. You can achieve a similar result by waxing it. It'll make the scratches a lot less evident.

If you want to 'fix' it, the only way it can be done is to 'cut'. That will take off some of the clear coat so it is level again.

Basically, the clear coat is moderately thick. So one light cut won't kill it.

BUT, I would try and avoid scratching it too many times, becuase repeated cutting is no good

[Xizor]

Basically, scratch x won't fix it. When I first bought my car, I didn't really know what was good and what wasn't, so I wasted about 500$ trying almost every product at the car store.

I found scratch x to be more like a bandaid. It sort of fills the scratches a bit to restore optical consistency. You can achieve a similar result by waxing it. It'll make the scratches a lot less evident.

If you want to 'fix' it, the only way it can be done is to 'cut'. That will take off some of the clear coat so it is level again.

Basically, the clear coat is moderately thick. So one light cut won't kill it.

BUT, I would try and avoid scratching it too many times, becuase repeated cutting is no good

Thanks for the advice guys. I picked up at orbital polisher for $50 at supercheap today and some macguiers swirl remover 2.0 which does light cutting too so hopefully using this stuff will work out alright.

Got any advice in method to use the orbital? ie how much mixture to apply, how long to spend on a certain

area etc..

Also, whats good wax/polish to do once i've finished with the swirl remover?

[fr0st]

Thanks for the advice guys. I picked up at orbital polisher for $50 at supercheap today and some macguiers swirl remover 2.0 which does light cutting too so hopefully using this stuff will work out alright.

Got any advice in method to use the orbital? ie how much mixture to apply, how long to spend on a certain

area etc..

Also, whats good wax/polish to do once i've finished with the swirl remover?

Give this a read - http://www.waxit.com.au/howto.asp?howto=7

Just go slowly and don't use too much polish. It should be an even haze, don't use too much or it will be a bitch to rub off (even with the polisher). If some areas are really bad just spend a little more time on them with the polisher, you should only need to go around the car once... twice if its really bad.

Meguires yellow wax is pretty good. A good canuba one will make it nice and shiny, just read the back of them and make sure you can use them with the polisher. Let the wax sit for 20 mins or so (or out in the sun if its not raining) and then rub it off.

Your not the same guy that posted this on OCAU are you?

You might wanna read through the 'Consolidated car detailing thread' for heaps of tips

[Xizor]

I sure am, had a fit when SAU was down and wanted to know what to do. First time i've been on OCAU for as far back as i can remember.

This consolidated thread.... i didnt notice it here or OCAU, i did briefly look for something of that effect. Where is it?

Edited July 3, 2006 by Xizor

[fr0st]

I sure am, had a fit when SAU was down and wanted to know what to do.

This consolidated thread.... i didnt notice it here or OCAU, i did briefly look for something of that effect. Where is it?

http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showthre...d+car+detailing

There ya go

[MANWHOR3]

Ok, What they said above about the polishing is correct.

A haze is what you want. If you put more on, you'll just end up killing yourself buffing it off. If you want it thicker, do it twice instead. Trust me on that one.

Try it on a small spot if you want and put lots on, it'll cake up.

BUT

cutting is a total different story. Because the orbital buffer pad is so big, you don't want to leave any of it dry. Don't be scared and cheap not to use enough of the solution, otherwise you'll burn your paint or swirl it more.

Apply generously so the whole pad has stuff on it.

I dunno what orbital buffer you bought, but there are different ones. There are ones that just spin, and there are ones that vibrate. Doens't make a difference really. Some spin faster, some slower.

WHATEVER YOU DO, make sure you don't push down hard!!!! You will scratch the shit out of the paint. Let the machine do its work.

It will cut very quickly. make sure you keep it moving. don't leave it on one spot for obvious reasons.

hope that was helpful. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask.

If you have another car you can try it on first, I suggest you do so. maybe if one of your family members has an r32 or something, rip that one up.

cheers

Edited July 3, 2006 by MANWHOR3

[Modena]

Get an Ipod scratch remover...

sorry

[Greg]

The Meguiars NXT generation synthetic wax is excellent. Lasts ages (3months) and does hide small scratches.

[Xizor]

Nah no point trying it any other car we got, not worth it. I'll just try and be careful. The orbital buffer i bought is 240mm in diameter... big puppy.

With regard to wipping the product off before waxing, do i wait until i've done the whole car or wipe it off each time i finish a section?