Carwash Scratches

[H.E.D]

any tips removing carwash scrathces on a 99 black cadillac sts? i tried meguiars swirl remover by hand and they are still their plus seems that everytime i go over with microfiber towel to wipe off excess it puts more fine scratches. any tips and procedures??

[Andy M.]

Re: Carwash Scratches

Hello and welcome to MOL!

You could start here.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

This is assuming that you are working by hand. What kind of MF towels are you using that you are instilling swirls/scratches in you finish?

Andy

[H.E.D]

Re: Carwash Scratches

im using mf towels from costco. is it possible that the car may have a soft clear coat?

[Nappers]

Re: Carwash Scratches

I had troubles with those Costco MF towels, others like them. I would go and get some Meguiars MF towels. Also, you are just removing the product from the paint and don't need any more pressure on any towel than to remove the product. Know what I mean? What pad are you using to apply product?

Is this what your talking about, Meguiars M09?


It may take more than one pass to get them out.

Also, I read recently about a Honda Fit having such sensitive clear coat that even the lightest polish instilled swirls and the final product used I think was either ColorX or M66 (Quick Detailer one step wax).

You also could try the new Paint Reconditioning Cream


The new M105 is a great product, but word of caution and do a test spot in a inconspicious area . It works great though and may work on your Caddy.

Black is a color that shows every little speck of dust and every little blemish. It's beautiful when done though

My '00 GMC Yukon (different cars, but only a year apart, same company) has a pretty soft clear coat and actually easy to work on, usually start off with M83 on more abused areas (roof, hood, rear doors) and use M80 after and on not so abused areas such as the doors and fenders. I used ColorX in the past as a quick swirl remover and seemed to work good, used by G100, 9006 pad though, not by hand. Our Neon has a very hard clear coat and usually needs a chisel and a hammer to get the swirls out

Hopefully others will chime in. I got to go to bed now, I'm tired.

L8R

Aaron

[christian6984]

Re: Carwash Scratches

start out with least abrasive product/ pads(if machining) and work upwards, it does sound very sensitive paint, my sisters old shape mini is the same i found #80 on Polishing and Finishing pad worked well, but then again every car is different.

[Silverado12]

Re: Carwash Scratches

Costco microfibers always left fine scratches behind when I used to use them. I bought myself some Meguiars Supreme Shine microfibers and my finishes have been swirl free ever since. Do you own any kind of DA machine polisher? If so, M80 Speed Glaze is the perfect starting point to figure out what it'll take to remove the defects. If you're working by hand, ScratchX works great, but if you've got deep car wash swirls, it probably won't be enough. If you want to get a 100% swirl free finish, purchasing a DA machine is a great investment; it'll save you a lot of time and will make life a whole lot easier with a black finish.

[H.E.D]

Re: Carwash Scratches

yes thats the one meguiars 9 i was using. i own a cyclo 5 but kind of scare to use it and might mess up the paint as i heard that with improper use i could haze the paint, but i guess i would have to face my fears and give it a try. any suggestions on how to use it? i bought of a guy who no longer runs a mobile detailing. thanks!

[christian6984]

Re: Carwash Scratches

i believe the cyclo is safe is it not, similar to DA but with two pads?, if u started out with the least agressive which would be probably #9 and a finishing pad, then try a polishing pad if that doesnt work.

[H.E.D]

Re: Carwash Scratches

thank you guys. im ready to work on the car this weekend. so hopefully i do a great job on it and thanks alot about all the info.