Cleaning the Cobwebs

[MtCamry09]

Hi,

So after getting all my supplies this week for washing (Grit Guards, ect) I thought it was time to do some work on those ol' swirl marks. I washed then clayed for the first time on this car, which wasn't dirty at all. I could feel the slight difference, and the clay barely showed any dirt on most of the car.

On to those swirls... I started with some SwirlX on a small area on the hood where there's some swirls and one larger scratch. I put 3 coats on which didn't show much difference. I then tried some ScratchX 2.0 on the same area. 3 coats of that with only a very small difference showing.

How many coats should I try?

The thing that bothers me is the car is only 6 months old, and I didn't think the marks would be this bad.

Here's some pictures:

Of the larger scratch (before/after):


So should I go for some most coats, or go out and get some Ultimate Compound? It sorta grinds my gears to be using UC since the car is still pretty much new. But oh well I guess...

Thanks,
Matt

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Hi Matt,

Welcome to MOL!

As for the situation, you used a word that stuck out to me so I want to make sure that you were using the proper advice before speaking to the need of Ultimate Compound. You said you put "coats" on, so by that do you mean you actually were spreading the product without pushing it into the paint and then wiping it away? Then repeating that process as if it were a wax?

If not, can you describe how you used the products and how much force (light, medium, fairly hard) you did use?

This will help greatly!

Thanks

Mark

[HemiMopar]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Great set of eyes Mark... I agree if you are only putting on coats and not working it in that could be one of your problems. We are here to help so please be specific.

[Caress Detailing]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

I think Mark hit the nail on the head.

You don't put "Coats" of polish, you work it in.

And for the "swirls on a new car" thing, it's normal. Infact, I think there's some strange conspiracy from dealerships to put swirls on cars to keep Car Crazy detailers like us in business.

[MtCamry09]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Hi Matt,

Welcome to MOL!

As for the situation, you used a word that stuck out to me so I want to make sure that you were using the proper advice before speaking to the need of Ultimate Compound. You said you put "coats" on, so by that do you mean you actually were spreading the product without pushing it into the paint and then wiping it away? Then repeating that process as if it were a wax?

If not, can you describe how you used the products and how much force (light, medium, fairly hard) you did use?

This will help greatly!

Thanks

Mark

Hi Mark,

I've read a bunch of different threads here plus some videos, so I'm not sure what I got from where. But what I did was: Spread the product out evenly with a foam applicator, then started working it in with medium pressure until the haze started to clear up. (With SwirlX, I started getting little flakes of dried residue after about 15 seconds of rubbing it in.) After the first coat, I wiped it the small amount of residue leftover. I didn't see much difference, so I went for the 2nd and 3rd coat. Only difference between the 2nd and 3rd, I added more product on the applicator just as the white haze started to clear, instead of wiping inbetween.

Is this correct? Anything I should add or change?

Thanks

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Well aside from pressure another thing to look at is the size of your working space. Are you working on a 12x12 area (roughly), or an area much larger? If you work smaller areas it tends to be much, much for effective.

As for pressure, you should really be pushing quite hard if the medium pressure isn't seeming to be helping.

I took a closer look at your pictures and some of those scratches look really deep. Can you feel any of them with your fingernail?

[Caress Detailing]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Hi Mark,

I've read a bunch of different threads here plus some videos, so I'm not sure what I got from where. But what I did was: Spread the product out evenly with a foam applicator, then started working it in with medium pressure until the haze started to clear up. (With SwirlX, I started getting little flakes of dried residue after about 15 seconds of rubbing it in.) After the first coat, I wiped it the small amount of residue leftover. I didn't see much difference, so I went for the 2nd and 3rd coat. Only difference between the 2nd and 3rd, I added more product on the applicator just as the white haze started to clear, instead of wiping inbetween.

Is this correct? Anything I should add or change?

Thanks

Actually that seems correct. It seems like swirl-x just isn't cutting it because it's a light polish and not meant to take out deeper scratches. The cobwebbs I assume are deeper than normal swirls.

I'd bump it up to UC followed by swirl-x and see how that works.

[yalerd]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

You could try to shrink your work area. If that doesn't work I would just move on to a more aggressive product.

Remember that you are using a very light cutting product

[MtCamry09]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

I kept my working area pretty small (12x12 seems about right). I tried to keep the pressure even on the pad so it wasn't applied just where my fingers were. Although I pushed pretty hard on the following coats (possibly some anger fueled 'passion').

Should I just skip the SwirlX and put a few more ScratchX 2.0 attempts on? I'd like to see what I could get done today without any trips to the store.

Thanks for the replies!

-Matt

[Murr1525]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

You have seen this clip also?

How to correctly apply ScratchX to remove swirls and scratches

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Definitely step it up to ScratchX 2.0 if the SwirlX doesn't seem to be changing anything.

[MtCamry09]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

You have seen this clip also?

How to correctly apply ScratchX to remove swirls and scratches

Ah, yes that's the video I saw before.

Definitely step it up to ScratchX 2.0 if the SwirlX doesn't seem to be changing anything.

Well I finished one half the hood with ScratchX 2.0, and it looks somewhat better. There's scratches still visible looking from the right angle though. I'll finish up the other half tomorrow and put some NXT 2.0 wax on. Unfortunately I don't have time to make it perfect right now; although I would like to.

I'll pick up some UC for the next polishing session, which will probably be before winter comes around.

I'm not sure if there's an answer to this, but: How much paint does ScratchX remove? I'm thinking it could vary greatly on how much product you use and pressure you apply. Is there a broad guesstimate on how much is removed (mils?) generally?

One quick final question:
What's the best way to protect the black plastic molding on the doors from fading? I'm gussing what I'm looking for some type of UV protection? Any good products to protect it without adding a gloss? I've heard Back-to-Black is pretty popular.
Okay, two quick final questions (): How about maintaining the chrome molding, or should washing be enough?



Thanks!
-Matt

[MyFirstES300]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

I've had some problems with ScratchX 2.0 and have tried it several times using proper technique. I personally think stepping it up to UC will yield you better results.

[MtCamry09]

Re: Cleaning the Cobwebs

Well I picked up some UC today, and actually had some time to use it! I put 2 applications of UC on followed by one ScratchX 2.0. It's not 100% better, but the best I could do without a DA (my arm was about to fall off). The scratches are still visable from the right angle, but atleast they don't catch your eye like they used to.

I followed it up with a coat of NXT 2.0 wax. I tried to get good coverage, but in doing so I may have put too much on. After an hour, the swipe test still smeared. I might QD tomorrow and put another quick coat on.

Here's some pictures:


Thanks for all the help everyone, I really appreciate it

-Matt