Removing scratches in paint

[Rscotts1]

Okay. Have owned my 2002 X for about a year now and after washing it today, get upstairs look down at the X (with the sun shining on it) and notice really small scratches all over it. I have always been very careful when applying wax and removing it with 100% cloth terry towels. Any ideas on how the scratches got there? Any way to remove them? Thanks again.

 

[Jason_25]

What do you use to wash and wax it?

I use Meguaire's three step system and the first step (paint cleaner) takles the scratches right out with enough buffing.

 

[ahhjaws]

Live with it. It adds character. Just kidding, my X is all scratched up, but that is what happens when you decide to go down an ATV trail.

 

[jimbo74]

Try that "As Seen On TV" GS-27...... That stuff took the scratches out of the Mustang Hood!!!!

 

[Rscotts1]

removing scratches

Jason, you mean that I can remove these fine scratches? I thought they were there for good. Gonna try the Meguaires system including the clay bar. Thanks

 

[kardinal]

Re: removing scratches

Originally posted by Rscotts1
Jason, you mean that I can remove these fine scratches? I thought they were there for good. Gonna try the Meguaires system including the clay bar. Thanks

most of the time a good buff/wax will remove fine scratches, cuz theyre only in the top layer of clear coat, its the big deep ones you gotta live with

and i know all about the ATV trails, mine isnt even a 4x4, and i have z-rated Falken street tires on it too, yet the Georgian in me comes out and the construction site behind my neighborhood just calls my name.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Re: removing scratches

Originally posted by Rscotts1
Jason, you mean that I can remove these fine scratches? I thought they were there for good. Gonna try the Meguaires system including the clay bar. Thanks

Don't use Maguaire's Clay bar!!!!! They leave streaks everywhere. Go to Wal-Mart and pick up Mother's Clay Bar. They are a lot better.

Go to PepBoys and get a bottle of 3M's Swirl Mark Remover because that what those little scratches are...swirl marks. It's about $10 so it's not that expensive. Good luck!

 

[beavis195]

Yes, they are swirl marks, nothing to get alarmed about. Look at most peoples cars in the sunlight. You'll see them. Get 3M SMR (Swirl Mark Remover) for either light or dark colored cars, depending on your color, or Meguiars #9 2.0. 3M sucks to do by hand, but will give better results. My hood alone took 2 hours. Look at it in all angles of the sunlight to make sure they are gone.
Always use 100% cotton towels to dry your car, and make sure they are clean. Never put wax on in a circular motion, always back and forth. That way, you will have no more swirls.

 

[Rscotts1]

removing swirl marks

Is this 3M SMR a polish/compound? Will it be safe for the clear coat? Thanks for the info.

 

[Gonzo]

What does a clay bar do?

 

[jimbo74]

gonzo...it fills in slight imperfections in the paint....

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

A clay bar removes the oxidations and contamination on the paint. When you put your hand and feel along the hood or any body panel and you feel roughness, use the clay bar. After using it, the paint will be glass smooth.

 

[beavis195]

Re: removing swirl marks

Originally posted by Rscotts1
Is this 3M SMR a polish/compound? Will it be safe for the clear coat? Thanks for the info.

The 3M SMR is basically a very mild compound. It will grind down the clearcoat to eliminate the swirls. It is perfectly safe, as it will only remove a tiny amount. If you have a 91-94, you have two layers of clearcoat, if you have 95 and later, you have 3 layers of clearcoat. How do you wash your car? don't use the automatic carwash, only use 100% cotton clean towels, Use 2 buckets and 2 wash mitts, one for the tires and the rockerpanels, bumpers; the other for the upper half of the car. Never wash in circular motions, Only back and forth. This will keep swirls to a minimum. they will happen however, so You might want to try klasse or zaino wax system, as they hide them.

 

[Ketch]

What does Ford say about this?

Ford put out a Technical Service Bulletin to their dealers a few years back regarding the dealing with surface contaminates, etc.

Now, we are all grown ups here, and will do what ever we wish to do, but perhaps some may wish to read what Ford has to say about clay, surface contaminates, etc.

You may read this, it is a 4 page TSB and the last page of it may clarify the technical lanquage that is in the first part of the document, at www.autoint.com under the OEM/TSB Section, just click on the Ford area after you enter that area of the site.

Ketch

 

[unabonked]

has anyone had personal experience with the zaino brothers polishes? the pics on the web site look promising, but i never heard of it before. http://www.zainobros.com

 

[beavis195]

Originally posted by unabonked
has anyone had personal experience with the zaino brothers polishes? the pics on the web site look promising, but i never heard of it before. http://www.zainobros.com

Zaino is awesome! It will make your car shine unbelievably. Some think it makes the car paint look plastic, but I like it. The only problem with Zaino, it magnifies imperfections in the paint. The key to getting rid of swirls is to prep the surface, even if you are going to apply Z-5. I didn't prep the surface, and after 5 coats of Z-5 the swirls were still there, but were much more visible. So I did the 3m SMR, then I applied Z-2. and there were a few swirls I missed, so I applied Z-5 and they were gone. Do a lot of coats. Another product I recommend is Klasse. you can get a full Klasse kit for 29.95 over at Tascar.com. Klasse AIO will remove all oxidation and old wax from the paint. Klasse SG adds the shine and hides the swirls. Do three coats, and it will shine beautifully. Since both Klasse and Zaino are synthetic polymers, they will not produce as deep of shine as a carnauba wax, but that is only on colors like yellow that you can tell a difference. Polymers will also last a lot longer. The cool thing about Klasse is you can apply a wax directly over the SG to get that carnauba shine. Hope this helps.

 

[ok89]

For more info on Zaino talk to Aldive. I'm sure you could probably get him to tell you a little about it.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

I use Klasse 2-step system and it's awesome!!! Here's a pic I took right after I finished:

 

[unabonked]

should i use clay first? my paint is just starting to feel rough. i'm thinking of pinnacle polyclay. would this be much better then the mother's clay at wally-mart?

Originally posted by beavis195

Zaino is awesome! It will make your car shine unbelievably. Some think it makes the car paint look plastic, but I like it. The only problem with Zaino, it magnifies imperfections in the paint. The key to getting rid of swirls is to prep the surface, even if you are going to apply Z-5. I didn't prep the surface, and after 5 coats of Z-5 the swirls were still there, but were much more visible. So I did the 3m SMR, then I applied Z-2. and there were a few swirls I missed, so I applied Z-5 and they were gone. Do a lot of coats. Another product I recommend is Klasse. you can get a full Klasse kit for 29.95 over at Tascar.com. Klasse AIO will remove all oxidation and old wax from the paint. Klasse SG adds the shine and hides the swirls. Do three coats, and it will shine beautifully. Since both Klasse and Zaino are synthetic polymers, they will not produce as deep of shine as a carnauba wax, but that is only on colors like yellow that you can tell a difference. Polymers will also last a lot longer. The cool thing about Klasse is you can apply a wax directly over the SG to get that carnauba shine. Hope this helps.

 

[Boman01]

The clay bar will remove things like over-spray and other things on top of your paint. It wont help get scratches out. Yes, if your paint is ruff, feels almost gritty, then the clay bar will make your paint alot smoother. The mothers clay bar should work fine, i am not sure of what they give you or tell you to use with it, but we use spray wax where i work. Just spray a panel with it , and your hand if you dont want the clay sticking to you, and rub the surface. As far as streaking, this isnt meant to be your final stage, you should wax after this and even rinse off your ex. then wax. For waxes i usually use mothers, they also have a three stage process, if your ex is a dark color it will really deepen it up.