newbie detailer

[aldon]

Hi All,

I have been reading various tips on these forums for a while now and have followed some of them. Big for the ScratchX and Glass Cleaner products.

Lately, I noticed very faint and fine lines across the surface of the clear-coat finish of my car. Not noticeable if you look directly from a distance of 1-2 ft, but it is if you look at it from an angle. Maybe I have been too vigorous when wiping the car? Probably yes, since I used to use a chamois when I wipe the car. I've since switched to a microfibre cloth for this.

My question are:

1. Will waxing diminish or even eliminate these lines/scratches?

2. The dealer I bought the car from has instructed not to use wax and to use only a mild car shampoo so as not to affect the clear-coat finish. Is the dealer right, or is he loco and use wax on clear-coat finish?

3. If waxing on clear-coat finish is ok, which Mequiar products can I use? Which would you recommend for 2 types of waxes: one that is a spray-and-wipe type and the other is a wax-and-buff type.

Thanks for your time!

[Murr1525]

1. No, to remove a scratch, you will need something with at least mild abrasives in it. Be sure to read these 2 articles..

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

2. Is the car freshly repainted at all? If it is, then he is sort of right. You should not wax for 60-90 days. If it is a new car, or used car with older paint, then yo ucan certainly do a full detail right away.

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

3. If you want a very durable wax, and plan on using a spray wax after washing, then the Nxt Tech Wax and Nxt Spray Wax are going to be really good for you.

[aldon]

Good stuff, mate! Thanks for the links...

Its a new car bought about 3 months ago with a clear-coat finish as a dealer option.

The scratches, as I said, are faint and very fine. They're not deep as the finish still feels smooth when I run my fingers over it. Like I said, probably a result of using a chamois to wipe after a wash. Dumb mistake on that one, I guess.

[Murr1525]

Hmm what kind of car did you get? Dont hear of many with clear-coat as an option these days.

After 3 months, then you should be set to do a detail, wit hall 5 steps.

If you cant feel your scratches/swirls, then they should not be permanent at all, and easily fixed.

Remember, most of your swirls will come from the washing step, so be sure to use quality soaps, wash sponges/mits, towels, grit guards, etc.

[aldon]

Thanks again, mate!

Its a silver-lining metallic Toyota Yaris. Its not a Toyota installed option. The dealer sub-contracts to a local detailing company (Wynn's, I think) stuff like paint/interior/rust protection, window tinting, alarm upgrade and other after-market options. The paint protection is actually a clear-coat finish on top of the car's original paint.

I think that Nxt Gen Spray Wax or Quick Wax is the one that I'm going to try.

[sneek]

hehehe the yaris is an awsome car its so amazingly small

[Murr1525]

Well, the Yaris is coming to the US soon....

Just so you know, the Spray Wax is not meant to be used on its own.

How to Get Great Results Using Meguiar's Spray Waxes

[Pete-FWA]

Originally posted by aldon

The paint protection is actually a clear-coat finish on top of the car's original paint.

This bears more investigation. Many companies market paint sealant as some sort of "clear barrier" or "clear coating" on top of the existing finish.