Swirls and scratches on my black car

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Enough with all that, "pics or it didn't happen" eh?

Well, it sure happened all right, and it happened very nicely!! That's a major turnaround on what was a pretty messed up finish, so kudos to you for a job well done!

[DuCKy!]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Hey everyone!

Thanks for all your kind comments, suggestions and support.

Wash, clay, UC with LCC White Polishing, UP with LCC White Polishing, NXT 2.0 with LCC Black, and Hi-Tech Yellow Wax with hand
Gold Class Trim Detailer on all trim. NXT Interior Detailer for everything inside. PlastX on headlights, tailights, and convertible plastic window.
RainX for my windows

Enough with all that, "pics or it didn't happen" eh?
Please click on the imgur link below to look at the album I've uploaded.

http://imgur.com/a/kgFc4#0

Pretty sure the pictures speak for themselves. Rather disgusted at the before pics really =/
Though I've removed all the fine swirls and scratches, there are still a few deeper ones which can be seen under reflection of yellow/amber light. Will take forever with the white pad to cut out so I've just skipped it on most parts.

[Redefined]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

It is very possible that her fingernail left a very fine mark in the paint, yes. You might want to buy here a nice pair of mittens so she can't do that any more!!!

We didn't see if this was a new car or a used one. We've seen many S2000s where the pitting on the front of the car has been rather severe, and also where the paint is very delicate and easy to mar (which would also account for the fingernail marks noted above). Unfortunately, you won't really be able to do much about the pitting, and as for the marring it will be important to always make sure you're using clean, quality microfiber towels and a not overly aggressive approach when correcting defects. We've even seen Ultimate Compound leave some haze behind on these cars but it cleans up nicely with some M205, ColorX or other mild cleaner. Sometimes you need that extra aggressiveness of the UC to get through the defects, and that haze will just be a by product of the process on more delicate paints. Nothing to worry about, and it's neither bad nor good - it just is. If you know that going in, however, it will save you a lot of headache and worry about whether you're doing things right or not.

I second exactly what this man says. I doubt you will be able to remove what you have shown in the picture.
I am in the same struggle as you ducky. My car has very soft paint. I get rock chips and marring much easier than, let`s say, your average chevy.

[Blazebro]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

^ The little pitts to me look like stone chips. The effect of them is reduced when the paints flattend through the polishing stage. The op could look at filling them using paint from someone like Dr Colour Chip. It's not all that bad. I wish I had a photo of a bonnet from a original 1960's Jag XK. With that it was a respray, but again reduced the effect by wet sanding and going through the various polishing stages.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

http://imgur.com/6HEsR
Sorry for the bad picture, pretty useless camera with pretty useless lighting. But you can see those little "pits".
Those long scratch lines are from my mrs running her fingernails lightly across it after I've waxed it. I waxed on NXT 2.0, followed by #26 paste. Should it leave a scratch line like that?

It is very possible that her fingernail left a very fine mark in the paint, yes. You might want to buy here a nice pair of mittens so she can't do that any more!!!

We didn't see if this was a new car or a used one. We've seen many S2000s where the pitting on the front of the car has been rather severe, and also where the paint is very delicate and easy to mar (which would also account for the fingernail marks noted above). Unfortunately, you won't really be able to do much about the pitting, and as for the marring it will be important to always make sure you're using clean, quality microfiber towels and a not overly aggressive approach when correcting defects. We've even seen Ultimate Compound leave some haze behind on these cars but it cleans up nicely with some M205, ColorX or other mild cleaner. Sometimes you need that extra aggressiveness of the UC to get through the defects, and that haze will just be a by product of the process on more delicate paints. Nothing to worry about, and it's neither bad nor good - it just is. If you know that going in, however, it will save you a lot of headache and worry about whether you're doing things right or not.

[Blazebro]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

That car took 3 days on the paint to get it into that shape. The paint was matted and had every defect going. How I did it:

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail"

From the off you have to be in the right mental state and not cut any corners. Youstatrt off by giving it a good wash with a deep cleaning, degreasing shmpoo and snow foam. You then dr the car and take stock of the paint and defects in front of you. Next you hit the paint with an IPA solution, this will remove old polish and waxes. The you hit it with a tar remover to remove the black spots. This also has the effect of removing mor stubborn waxes and polishes. The, and possibly one of the most overlooked parts and something Megs don't do, is to hit the car with a de-ironiser. This removes ferrous and mettalic particles. The effect can be quite staggering:







Then you hit the car with a clay. After all that you can safely say the car is free from decontaminates. A further wash is probably in order to remove all the chemicals.

On the black vehicle I hit the majority of the body panels with a cutting compound (Menzerna s500) twice, with the boot hitting it 4 times. I then followed it up with Menzerna Super Finish on a polishing pad to refine it. At the time I was still using Mes Soft Buff2 pads. So it was Cutting and Polishing pads in both sizes from their. Like you I've now switched to Lake Country.

I then wash, dried and hit the car again with a IPA solution and finished up with Wolf Chemicals Body Wrap (Nano Tec sealent) as the lsp.

That is detainling and 3 days of hard graft and why pro detailers earn their coin.

[DuCKy!]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

http://imgur.com/6HEsR

Sorry for the bad picture, pretty useless camera with pretty useless lighting. But you can see those little "pits".
Those long scratch lines are from my mrs running her fingernails lightly across it after I've waxed it. I waxed on NXT 2.0, followed by #26 paste. Should it leave a scratch line like that?

[Redefined]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Glad to hear you are getting the results you are seeking. Can you take a picture of the pitting you are talking about?

[DuCKy!]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Yes Blazebro that is what I am after.

Thanks Redefined. Will test it out.

I did a little spot using the hand applicator pads using UC and then UP.
All swirls and scratches are gone, black and shiny as ever, though there are small pits here and there, which I assume is from the spray itself? Is it possible to cut out using UC and the DA? Or will it chew through too much of my clearcoat?

Thanks for the input guys, well appreciated

[Redefined]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Run a test spot with m105/UC and the white pad. If it does the trick for you then follow up with UP on a CLEAN white pad. If m105/UC and the white pad do not get you the results you want, try the orange pad first and then the yellow pad if that doesn`t work. You can use either the black or red pad for your sealant and or wax. That will be a personal preference. Personally i use the blue pad for my sealants/waxes.

[Blazebro]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Is this what your after:

[DuCKy!]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

So from what I've gathered, use the LCC white pad for UC, and white pad again for UP? Green will be too harsh?
Finishing with the black or red pad with the wax?

Do I require a different sealant before the wax?

[Redefined]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

From what i hear, honda paint is a bit softer. You may want to start out with a less aggressive compound than m105/UC. Or use a less aggressive pad, like the LCC white pad if you are going to start with an agressive product.

[Murr1525]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

Yeah, dont go with the cutting pad.

A pure polish after Ult. Polish could be overkill... just have to do a panel, or a spot (even by hand for a quick spot) and see if you notice anything.

[DuCKy!]

Re: Swirls and scratches on my black car

I picked up the DA polisher for quite a good price. Also bought the "Restoration Kit" that Meguiars released. It was on special at the local store, includes a considerable 300gm UC, small clay and other bits and pieces that I needed. Also bought the Ultimate Polish as well.

Time to get some pads and I'm off!
I might be using the LCC Orange cutting pad with the UC, and the LCC Green polishing for the UP. Followed up by #7 with the LCC Green again? Or is that overkill? The Ultimate Paste Wax is expensive, I'll try either the hi-tech yellow wax, or the nxt 2.0 wax for now and see which is better.