Where to begin?

[avs]

I have a bunch of swirls/scratches (I'll attach a pic) that have to go . How do I go about getting rid of them and what products, towels,techniques are needed?
Thanks!

[avs]

1 more

[Mike Phillips]

Hi avs and welcome to Meguiar's online discussion forum.

From your pictures, (which I took the liberty of uploading to the gallery so they will show up in you message), your swirls don't look too bad.

Another way of saying this would be, I've seen a lot worse!

It could be that a couple of coats of Meguiar's new NXT Tech Wax will eliminate most of your swirls and restore a crystal clear, high gloss, swirl free finish.

If the scratches are deeper however, then you will need to use a pre-wax paint cleaner either by hand or with a dual-action polisher. Meguiar's ScratchX applied with a foam applicator followed by NXT Tech Wax should work for you by hand.

If you want to use a dual action polisher, then I would recommend either Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner, or Meguiar’s Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner with Meguiar’s W-8006 foam polishing pad. The results you can achieve using a Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher, like the Meguiar’s G-100 cannot be understated.

If you want to try a one-step product, then Meguiar’s has just introduced a new extra strength cleaner/wax called ColorX. This one step non-abrasive paint cleaner, polish and wax, all-in-one, is proving itself to be very effective at restoring neglected finishes.

Before attempting any of the above, you should first evaluate your finish for bonded contaminants with the face of your clean dry hand after first washing your car. If you feel little bumps on the surface, especially the horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof and deck lid, then it would be a good idea to clay your car’s finish using a clay bar and spray lubricant such as Meguiar’s Quik Clay System, (part number G-1116). This will safely remove the bonded contaminants while leaving your finish as smooth as glass.

As far as applicator and removal products go, you should always use either a new, clean foam applicator or a piece of clean, soft 100% cotton terry cloth towel to apply paint cleaners, polishes and waxes. For removing product from your finish, Meguiar’s recommends their premium quality microfiber polishing cloth, the Ultimate Wipe, (part number M-9910).

Thank you for your questions and please feel free to ask more, or better yet, post pictures of your results.

Mike

[avs]

Thanks for the reply!


I'll go ahead and try NXT and/or SratchX since the paint feels smooth What temperatures can I apply the products? Is still kind of chilly here( in the mid 30's) Would it better if I waited until March or April when ist a bit marmer (50's to 60's)
Thanks again!

[MrShado]

Hi Mike,

I dont mean to piggy-back off of avs, but thanks for the info you've posted! I've been lurking for a bit and read a lot about using the clay bar to ensure a smooth contaminant-free base for polishing and waxing. If I've noticed a few bumps here or there should I use the clay bar on just those areas or on the entire car?

Thanks in advnace.

[corics]

hi mike!

i am not sure of my question but is it really necessary to clay the car first before using the paint cleaner?

if i were to use the diamond cut, is claying still necessary?

as NXT tech wax, how does it compare with medallion paint protection in terms of durability and shine?

thanks a lot in advance!

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by avs
Thanks for the reply!


I'll go ahead and try NXT and/or ScratchX since the paint feels smooth What temperatures can I apply the products? Is still kind of chilly here( in the mid 30's) Would it better if I waited until March or April when it’s a bit warmer (50's to 60's)
Thanks again!

You will get your best results if temperatures are above 50 degrees with any Meguiar’s wax.

Wish I could help you with the weather, but that's a little out of my capabilities.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by MrShado
Hi Mike,

I dont mean to piggy-back off of avs, but thanks for the info you've posted! I've been lurking for a bit and read a lot about using the clay bar to ensure a smooth contaminant-free base for polishing and waxing. If I've noticed a few bumps here or there should I use the clay bar on just those areas or on the entire car?

Thanks in advnace.

I would recommend claying all of the horizontal surfaces. If you can feels some bumps on the horizontal surfaces, chances are very good there are some microscopic bonded contaminants that you cannot feel. Claying will remove all bonded contaminants and provide a smooth surface to which to apply any further products, such as a paint cleaner, polish or wax.

Claying first is really the most important step to insure a clean surface, and a high gloss surface.

Mike