Which came first the clay or the scratch-x

[disneymous]

I'm working on a red 05 Hayabusa. I want (need!) to clay the paint. I also have some small/micro scratches on the tank. So do i clay or scratch-x first.
1. Wash
2a. ?
2b. ?
3. Polish
4. Wax
5. Maintain

Thanks for any help.

next we will discuss why I crossed the road.

[onawrxhigh]

Re: Which came first the clay or the scratch-x

I'm working on a red 05 Hayabusa. I want (need!) to clay the paint. I also have some small/micro scratches on the tank. So do i clay or scratch-x first.
1. Wash
2a. ?
2b. ?
3. Polish
4. Wax
5. Maintain

Thanks for any help.

next we will discuss why I crossed the road.

disneymous,

You should clay first as it will remove all bonded above the surface contamination(rail dust, sap, etc), then use the scratch-x to remove the micro scrathces. The clay will make the paint surface on the tank smooth as glass and ready it for paint correction via scratch-x.

Andrew

[Nappers]

Re: Which came first the clay or the scratch-x

Indeed!

Put some passion behind the pad and it may take more than one pass to get it swirl free .

Then put some pix up

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Which came first the clay or the scratch-x

Clay then scratch-x. Then you paint will be as smooth as glass. Remember to put some passion behind the pad. If using a foam applicator and not having a lot of success, move up to a terry towel. This will give you more bite.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Which came first the clay or the scratch-x

Typed up a similar answer to this question last week, found it by searching using the word,

Here's the link,
Always Clay before DA or Rotary?


Here's the reply

I just wanted to know if you always clay before buffing.

The below is a key sentecne...

"Claying is the most effective way to remove above surface bonded contaminants"

The key word here is effective.

Other means, buffing by machine or working by hand with a paint cleaner will remove some above surface bonded contaminants but claying is the most effect way to remove all above bonded surface contaminants or at least as much as is possible.

A rotary buffer with a wool pad and a compound will also remove everything because it's going to take a lot of paint off fast. A DA Polisher however won't be very effective as it's too gentle and the foam buffing pad will tend to glide over above surface bonded contaminants versus kicking them off.

Make sense?

So...

Wash
Clay
Start your paint cleaning steps.

p.s.

Moving out of Hot Topics and into Detailing 101

[acsuppa]

Re: Which came first the clay or the scratch-x

disneymous,

You should clay first as it will remove all bonded above the surface contamination(rail dust, sap, etc), then use the scratch-x to remove the micro scrathces. The clay will make the paint surface on the tank smooth as glass and ready it for paint correction via scratch-x.

Andrew