Advice on removing scratches / swirls

[swamper8]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

When I worked on the scratch by hand I was going in circular motions across the scratch. I then moved to back and forth across the scratch. Never with the scratch. I then moved to what I thought were less severe scratches and did the same thing. Those came out a little better, but not much. It took at least 5 applications before I even began to see a change.

In regards to the color sanding, if you finish with 3000 grit, what is the next step after that? could I go to a DA with ultimate compound like I was doing?

Seems my Nissan has a pretty hard clear coat. I just wish I knew if it was on the thin side or not. I'm not sure how to determine if a scratch is through to the base coat, how do I determine that?

[xantonin]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

When you were using the compound by hand, where you going across the scratch, not with it?

Either way, regarding sanding, you want to always finish with the highest grit, so 3,000 is recommended to finish. I've heard people having problems removing 1,000 grit. Some refuse to even start with 1,000 and will just keep working from 2,000 or above.

But really if the scratches are that deep they may be down to the base coat?

[swamper8]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

I will work on the pictures, it may take a day or so. The scratches will catch my nail though so they have some depth to them.

I had thought that if I color sanded, maybe 1500/2000 or 1000/1500/2000, wouldn't I then need to use a rotary buffer anyway to get the sanding marks out? I thought I had read that you really can't get sanding marks out with a DA, I would need the rotary buffer intermediate step regardless....... I think it was a Meguiars youtube video actually.

But I wonder if my final wet sand was something ridiculous like 2500 or 3000 grit, could I then go directly to my DA...

[xantonin]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

swamper8, are these single scratches or series of them?

Maybe wet sanding is the way to go. I'm not sure. I trust myself more with sand paper than I do with a rotary buffer haha.

Got any pictures?

[swamper8]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

Well, I don't appear to be doing anything wrong. I did thouroughly read that article before I started, I didn't want to make any rookie mistakes. I worked only a small area with overlapping passes. I used speed setting 5 as well. Almost all of the hood and fenders came out excellent, so I'm not thinking my technique is off. I just think some of the scratches on my car are too deep. It's a severely abused finish. I will try and take some pictures to illustrate.

Beyond that, what is the next more aggressive step? Last night I tried applying UC by hand, 3 - 4 applications and that didn't appear to do anything to the deeper scratches. I then went to 5-6 applications of scratchX (by hand) and that also doesn't appear to have done anything!

So, I guess I need to know where to go from here. Apparently I need to go more aggressive. I don't know if that means a rotary buffer and a cutting pad (suggestions welcome) or possibly there's another compound I can apply by hand to see if the results are better.

I've already watched paintucation's color sanding/buffing video but definitely do not want to go that aggressive unless I absolutely have to!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

Be sure to re-read through this and make sure you're not making any of the very common mistakes people new to machine cleaning often make.


How To use: G110 - G220 - G100 - PC/Porter Cable - UDM
If you're moving up to machine polishing, be sure to read the below thread before starting...
Tips & Techniques for using the G110, G100, G220 and the PC Dual Action Polisher
(These are all similar tools)

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

And, while it looks 1000 times better, the UC didn't even come close to taking out even the most mild scratches.

Removing scratches mean removing paint, so what you're saying is you didn't remove enough paint to remove the mild and deeper scratches but you did remove enough paint to remove the lighter or shallow scratches?


Recently, a new member posted a video of him using the G110 for the first time and asked us to critique his technique which we did. Below is the link to the thread, watch the video and the read our critique, see if by chance you might be making some of the mistakes he made.


Critique My Technique

[xantonin]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

Personally I'd try by hand because you can focus your pressure towards the scratch more.

[swamper8]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

OK, well I Finally got around to working on my car last night. I used a G110 DA, W8207 foam pad and Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. I washed/dried the hood/front fenders, then clayed them. After that I taped off lights etc and had at it with the DA.

I wound up using almost a whole bottle of Ultimate Compound on just the hood and front fenders. I made many many passes over the area. And, while it looks 1000 times better, the UC didn't even come close to taking out even the most mild scratches. That's a noodle scratcher for me because even though I know the DA's don't work miracles, I figured it'd be able to take out some of the lighter scratches. Or perhaps I just don't know what a light scratch really is.

Anyways, is my only option now to move to a rotary buffer with cutting pads/compounds (suggestions welcome) or is there something else I can do with my DA?
Should I try applying either the UC or SwirlX by hand to the scratches in 5 - 10 applications, then go back over with my DA?

Thanks

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

If you are going to do the work by hand, try a regular foam applicato. Those pads in the picture are for a G100/110.

I

[roger 668]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

Experience and patience.

[Murr1525]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

1. In 99% of cases, you would use the 8207 pad for both products, and the 9207 pad for the wax.

Just do a test spot to make sure. If you cant get it perfect, then you take some pics, and come back here and ask questions.

2. No, not really, unless you find you are working slow and the car is getting dirty/dusty.

[swamper8]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

Ok, things are coming together for me. I went to walmart and bought detailer, car wash, ultimate compound & swirlX. (all meguiar's)

Questions:
1.) The two pads listed above. Can I use either pad for either compound or is the W8207 more aggressive (ultimate compound) and the 9207 less agressive (swirlX) ??

2.) Do I wipe down between using these two products?

[Murr1525]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

The test spot Mike refered to would be Swirlx first, to see if it was enough to do the job. If not, then try Ultimate Compound. See what you need, before going over the whole car.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Advice on removing scratches / swirls

OK thanks. Do you have pad recommendations for ultimate compound and swirlX? Which one is more aggressive (Which one would I use first?) Do I need to clean the surface between these products or just wipe down?

A normal procedure would be to,

Wash & Dry car
Clay paint
Do Test Spot
Go over paint with Ultimate Compound
Go over the paint with SwirlX
Apply your favorite wax or paint sealant


Swirl and Scratch Removers
Ultimate Compound
SwirlX


Most aggressive to least aggressive -->



Washable 7" Soft Buff 2.0 Foam Pads
W8207 - Washable Foam Polishing Pad
W9207 - Washable Foam Finishing Pad