quick help please before i start.....

[n8te81]

ok so im about to wax the car but clay it first.....my question is would putting a coat of scratch x before the wax be worth it or should i just clay and wax???....that scratch x is just such a pain by hand....

[n8te81]

can i use the microfiber that came with the clay kit to clean the car after wash with the detail spray or should i just use that for the claying???

[sneek]

Use scratchX if you have swirl marks.

it would be better if you had 2 different M/F one for drying and one for claying

or you can just not dry the car at all and clay while the car is wet

[n8te81]

how do i know if the clay is working?? i know that you can put your hand in a baggie and feel but is there anyway else?

[zr123]

^^ You'll notice a change in the color of the clay while claying. That's when you know you have to fold it and continue.

[n8te81]

yeah its starting to turn brown....lol... anyways that scratch x should get alot of the swirls and fine spiderweb lookin scratches out right??

[sneek]

ya be sure to work it in really well

[n8te81]

yeah i worked it in almost until it looked like it was taking it back off....i couldnt really tell the diff after but im not that well into light in the garage so i dont know.I dont have that much time today so i think im gonna just put a coat of wax on and wait on the scratch x until maybe next week cause that takes some DAMN elbow work to get that stuff on in just a small place....ill take a reflection shot and a couple of more and see what you guys think of it afterwards.....

[n8te81]

ok this is what im dealing with....those lines in the second pic are near the front of the hood. I should have been taking car of my paint a long tim ago....

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/n8te81/paint2.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/n8te81/paint1.jpg

[BerraST]

From what i have read in another tread, those lines are actually 'clear coat failure' although im not sure what can be done about them, other than a respray.

please dont take what i have said as gospel, i am just suggesting something from what i have learnt over the past few weeks, please wait for a more experienced head to either dismay or confirm my answer

Mark.

[Monk]

Originally posted by n8te81
how do i know if the clay is working?? i know that you can put your hand in a baggie and feel but is there anyway else?

YOushould be able to tell with your hand without the baggie, but do yourslef a favor and try the baggie for fun. You will be amazed. Instead of dulling the sensation, it heightens it. Obviously, you have to feel an area you haven;t done and then ar area you have. You will say "WOW!'

[Erik Mejia]

I had a client who had some similar marks like that, at first I thought it was clearcoat failure aswell but then I figured out that they were scratches caused by the neighbors cats who sleep on the hood when the engine is warm.

[n8te81]

ok well i just got done doing the car it looks and FEELS better but up really close you can still see all the fine scratches but hey,.....from about 10 feet it looks great..lol.Like i said before ill probablly wait till next week to do a coat of scratch x when i have more time to do so. ill never be able to get all that out and i should have been doing this a long time ago but i guess ive learned my lesson...x2 for black paint. I'm thinking about having a blue pearl put on the whole car anyways so i guess ill just have to see what happens.

[n8te81]

ok hear is the car after the wax and everything so far.....i know i need to do alittle more.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h59/n8te81/waxedcar2.jpg