help with tape residue & clearcoat scratches

[dtuna42]

2004 Mineral Grey Clearcoat Metallic Lincoln LS. Leaky sunroof - owner chose packaging tape & a plastic bag for a few months over getting it repaired immediately- and that's all I will say about that...

So a few months later I get the car and the area around the the sunroof still has the remnants of the tape on it. Prep solvent didn't work; brake cleaner didn't work; WD-40 sorta-kinda helped; believe it or not, on a whim I tried Gunk engine degreaser. Using a heat gun and a kitchen scrubber pad finally did the job. (disclaimer: I advised him that using abrasives would very likely cause more damage but he was planning on paying for paint shop repair anyway, so anything we do is basically just experimenting)

Of course now we are working on repairing the fairly deep scratches and scuffs in the clear coat - scuffs you can see but not feel - and that's where I could use some help. Sorry - no pics right now, but I would say picture a car with really bad swirls; make the swirls in a straight line not circular, then multiply the density x 100, and you should have an idea.. So anyway, I can work by hand or use a 6"orbital buffer or a Craftsman 6" rotary sander/buffer, and I have Meguiar's clay bar, the M205 & M105 compound / polish, Ultimate Compound, Scatch-X, Swirl-X, Cleaner Wax, and Deep Crystal Polish available to me (along with other brand's of polishing & rubbing compounds if necessary but I really don't want to add more scratches..)

So finally, question is (other than wetsanding, which I have never done) using what I have here, which products, in what order, and by what method would you recommend?

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Murr1525]

Re: help with tape residue & clearcoat scratches

Are you experienced with a rotary? Otherwise, leave that out as well.

Its hard to say if you would get better results by hand or with the orbital buffer. If the swirls are that, and you need to apply some pressure to work the product in, it may not do it. But you can certainly try a test spot by hand and with the orbital, see how it goes.

I would be looking at UC or #105. Then follow up with SwirlX if needed. And claying of course.

[dtuna42]

Re: help with tape residue & clearcoat scratches

Thanks, I washed & clayed; will now try starting with the 105 and work my way back down; but after compound & polish is it worth doing clay again before wax?
I am pretty comfortable with the rotary. Just not an expert with picking the right products for the more difficult jobs. I end up spending a lot more time figuring out what works rather than doing the work... which is why I'm looking for other opines on the subject from people who have done it a little more than me.

[Murr1525]

Re: help with tape residue & clearcoat scratches

No, you shouldnt need to clay again.

The rotary isnt the first thing you want to jump to anyway, without testing milder methods.