Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

[ChevyBowTieGirl]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

I went over the pickup many times to check for spots and it is spotless! I am pretty thrilled!

[boostshunt]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Hi sorry for hijacking this thread but this is exactly the topic I've been searching for. There has been an entire blanket of grit and dust accumulated all over my car that I've be trying to tackle for the past month. This past 4th of July I spent all morning and afternoon washing, clay barring, and waxing. While the surface of the paint is now glossy and smooth, all the grainy dust particles are still visible all over the car when you look up close, mostly on the hood, roof, and trunk. I even had to use a razor blade to scrape it off the windows! But as for the body paint, I picked up Scratch X 2.0 which successfully did the job, but it takes so much effort and pressure scrubbing that I'm thinking about picking up Ultimate Compound instead. I had to use a terry cloth because a microfiber was too soft to remove the dust. It took me an hour to scrub off all the dust from just from my spoiler. That's when I stopped.

Should I move up to the more aggressive Ultimate Compound? Or should I tough it out and continue to use Scratch X 2.0 for the remainder of the car???

[boostshunt]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0



This is my car by the way. Meguiar's Clay Bar Kit and Gold Class Wax FTW!

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

So you are saying the fresh dust on the car is actually sticking, and that just a regular wash or waterless wash wont remove it?

[boostshunt]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Yup exactly, only it's not 'fresh' dust, it's the same dust that was visible on the car prior to washing. This dust looks like grains of sand. You could definitely feel it, especially on the windows. But after I used the claybar, the surface was smooth but it didn't take away the visible dust. Claybar did help in smoothing the suraface but did not have the same affect as when I scrubbed with Scratch X. Scratch X got rid of the visible dust but it took a whole lot of effort. Should I move up to Ultimate Compound to make the work more effortless in scrubbing?
I can take a picture after work so you know exactly what I'm talking about. But any suggesstions are appreciated.

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

A pic can always help.

Sounds like claying first, then UC would be a good plan. UC isnt dramatically stronger than ScratchX 2.0, but wont hurt, and probably a better price for doing the whole car.

[boostshunt]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

A pic can always help.

Sounds like claying first, then UC would be a good plan. UC isnt dramatically stronger than ScratchX 2.0, but wont hurt, and probably a better price for doing the whole car.

Okay so I picked up a bottle of Ultimate Compound and went back to work on the car. For this particular task of getting the dusty grit off the paint, UC was just as effective as Scratch X. Only UC cost less and came in a larger container, making it a better value for me.

Here is what I was referring to previously about the dust that looks like grains of sand. Best way I could capture it on camera was to show how it also sticks to the glass and rubber weather stripping of the car.

Note that I had just washed and used claybar on the entire car just two days ago. The surface is smooth, but the dust is untouchable!


Hood


This is the rear bumper before using UC.


Here you can see the progress. In the middle is the strip where I applied most of the UC and scrubbed off the dust until you can only see paint. Above and below you can still see the visible grains of dust.


And about 30-40 minutes later you can see the final results. Completely gone after much effort.


Now here the rear bumper is gleaming! Mostly just the top of the bumper is where the dust had settled. I used a combination of UC then Scratch X. Scratch X just seemed must easier to apply on the surface. I just didn't want to go over the same surface with UC more than twice, so I followed it up with Scratch X until every spec of dust was gone from sight. Then followed it all up with a complete spray of Quick Wax.

This has been a daunting task. I'll next move on to the top of the trunk right under the spoiler, then the roof, and finally the hood. I've really never seen anything like this where the dust has bonded so much to the paint where a simple wipe of compound paint cleaner doesn't wipe it right off. But nonetheless Ultimate Compound and Scratch X is doing its job so I'll just keep going at it until I finish the entire car.

Any suggestions on the best way to remove it from the black rubber weather strippings?

[ffboy]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

You can try using a body solvent (kerosene or alcohol) but work it quickly and remove as soon as possible. After that, maybe a good massage of Ultimate Protectant or Gold Class trim detailer using a microfiber or terry towel.

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Does this happen often? Do you live/work near construction, painting, etc?

Not as sure about the rubber... UC could be tried, or WD-40, other all purpose cleaner.. and a brush, cloth, etc. Just have to be carefull, as things could alter the look/texture of it if rubbing too hard in one spot.

[Bretts08GT500]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Can you use a buffer with the UC? I got the Griots Garage dual orbitor would like to use it on my black 2008 GT500. Got the regular swirl marks you see on a black car and I'm trying to prep it for Mustang week.

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Yes, UC is good with a DA.

[Bretts08GT500]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Good deal. Thank you.

[carwasher]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

It's nice to hear that ScratchX 2.0 did what it was supposed to do on your truck - that also tells us that you used it properly, and improper use is the single greatest reason for lack of results with this (or any) product. So good for you! There is no problem at all using ScratchX 2.0 on a large area; you could easily use it on all the painted surfaces of the vehicle if you want to. We do recommend that you wax the surface after using a product like this since it will completely remove any existing wax that might have been there before hand.

Hi, Michael

I still have a question, there was a video from Meguilars page shows how to keep car look good, there are 3 tips.
In that video, after they wash the car then they were using Ultimate Compound to do more clean before wax. Which confused me a lot, if UC is more arrgrasive why they were using it for entire car, and seems that they are doing it as normal process.
The video is from this guy

http://player.youku.com/player.php/sid/XMzIwNjUxNzU2/v.swf

Another thing is,Scratch X2.0 is more expensive then UC, on your page, Scratch x2.0 is 207ml,price is $11.9 and UC is 450ml price is $10.9, which also confused me, if UC is more aggrasive why it is cheaper than Scratch X2.0? is that trur UC is more strong than Scratch X2.0?

my car is red, I bought it in Sept, 2012, only 5 months, after sonw there were some spot area on the surface, I just want to remove them and then using wax to protect the car, so between UC and Scratch X2.0 which one I should use?

appreciated.

[waterbeads]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

dear all,
some suggestions would be helpful...i got a used car with offwhite color... it has alot of swirlls on it...so i am planning to work on it..
please note i will be doing everything by hand.. no machine involved...

first wash the car with ultimate wash and wax
clay
scratch x2.0 or swirlx (which ever i can find in the market)
ultimate polish
ultimate paste wax

please suggest me if i am doing it properly(steps). also remember all is done using elbow grease...

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound vs Scratch X 2.0

Using Wash and Wax would be a little more expensive than just a wash, but if it is all you can find. Just cleaning the wax right back off after so a bit of a waste.

Working by hand, I would want Ult. Compound instead of ScratchX. I wouldnt plan on SwirlX doing a whole lot....