Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

This isn't the first time we've seen someone rub through the clear coat by hand. "Clear coat safe" does not mean it's impossible to cause a problem, just that with proper use it won't scour the paint. It is extremely common for our Call Center to get a complaint that ScratchX 2.0 cause some haze when in reality, there's nothing in it that can cause hazing. It's always down to the applicator of choice and the way it's used. It's also extremely common for those very same people who complained about the haze to go back and rework the same area with the same tube of ScratchX 2.0 but with a foam applicator pad - the haze is cleared up and they often then call back complaining that they now have an area much shinier than the rest of the car and then ask if that means they now need to do the whole car! So, yes, ScratchX 2.0, when used properly, can do an outstanding job of removing isolated scratches without negatively impacting the clear coat in any way, shape or form. In fact, it almost always makes the paint glossier and better defined.

That said, we've seen a few cases of people very aggressively working by hand with a variety of products on Subaru paint, and rubbing through the clear. Not sure if that's down to Subaru paint being that much softer, that much thinner, or a combination of the two.

We just hate seeing things like this happen, but aggressive use of an aggressive applicator can cause problems in a big hurry.

thanks for the response. obviously i used the wrong technique for this to happen. it was all done by hand as well. i actually seemed to go through the clearcoat and the basecoat and im glad i didnt go through the e coat to bare metal. this was just too unfortunate for the very fine scratches i was trying to remove. now i will be having the entire trunk resprayed which is a pretty penny, but i guess i have learned from what has happened.

[ethereal45]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

I would imagine you get some pretty upset people calling in....has anyone ever tried to take legal action?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

This isn't the first time we've seen someone rub through the clear coat by hand. "Clear coat safe" does not mean it's impossible to cause a problem, just that with proper use it won't scour the paint. It is extremely common for our Call Center to get a complaint that ScratchX 2.0 cause some haze when in reality, there's nothing in it that can cause hazing. It's always down to the applicator of choice and the way it's used. It's also extremely common for those very same people who complained about the haze to go back and rework the same area with the same tube of ScratchX 2.0 but with a foam applicator pad - the haze is cleared up and they often then call back complaining that they now have an area much shinier than the rest of the car and then ask if that means they now need to do the whole car! So, yes, ScratchX 2.0, when used properly, can do an outstanding job of removing isolated scratches without negatively impacting the clear coat in any way, shape or form. In fact, it almost always makes the paint glossier and better defined.

That said, we've seen a few cases of people very aggressively working by hand with a variety of products on Subaru paint, and rubbing through the clear. Not sure if that's down to Subaru paint being that much softer, that much thinner, or a combination of the two.

We just hate seeing things like this happen, but aggressive use of an aggressive applicator can cause problems in a big hurry.

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

wow, i had no idea you were using such sustained pressure! I guess i was looking at solutions for you other than the obvious! On the bright side, i would say that you must have arms that could polish all day so once you get your technique squared you will be good to go!

lol

[NZ ECO1]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

Wow, I had no idea you were using such sustained pressure! I guess I was looking at solutions for you other than the obvious! On the bright side, I would say that you must have arms that could polish all day so once you get your technique squared you will be good to go!

[JET_Fusion]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

The bright side of the repaint is the body work will be minimal!

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

That pic almost looks like he rubbed down through the clear and the basecoat....

yeah it seems like i went through both, i should have just left those scratches be in the first place...

[ethereal45]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

That pic almost looks like he rubbed down through the clear and the basecoat....

[Kornercarver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

I actually did have a bit of color on the terry

If you got paint color on your towel, I suspect you rubbed through the clear coat.

[ffboy]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

Those things happen sometimes, it's a tough thing that many have learned from, its fixable but a respray is really the best option. It will be as good as new again, it is costly but the car will be as good as new again and if its fixable no need to worry about it. But the entire panel will have to be repainted being a metallic finish to ensure even and consistent finish.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

after using scratch x with light pressure and making no more progress i switched to meguiars ult compound and now it looks like this....not really sure what to do anymore

Ouch! Def. looks too far gone now.

[ffboy]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

Oh man... Not looking good, unfortunately a respray looks like the best if not only fix for that.

[kiwiatlarge]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

Keep in mind you can actually cut/rub through a clear coat with any product, consumer or pro, with "just" hand application. Concentrating your efforts on too small an area, getting too aggressive with your downward pressure, or using too harsh an applicator (or any combination of these) and you will be rubbing through the clear coat in no time.

Which is exactly what I did... one small area, lots of rubbing, and Ultimate Compound. The bird bomb itself probably didn't help the condition of the clear. Nonetheless it made me think twice about how I approach future severe scratches and bird etches with Scratch X or UC...

[Selectchoice]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

you wouldn't/couldn't cut right through an otherwise healthy clear cost with consumer Megs products and hand application.

Keep in mind you can actually cut/rub through a clear coat with any product, consumer or pro, with "just" hand application. Concentrating your efforts on too small an area, getting too aggressive with your downward pressure, or using too harsh an applicator (or any combination of these) and you will be rubbing through the clear coat in no time.

[bsilver]

Re: Used Scratch X, but left a lighter colored area on car

Subaru paint can be soft. I used to have a dark green Subaru Legacy about the same age as yours and the paint swirled like crazy but that said I see plenty of Subaru's in our day to day business and I wouldn't say there was any sort of issue with them having paint any thinner than any other mass manufacturer. It's a real head scratcher. I'm out of ideas Im afraid without being able to actually see the damage in person. It looks like the clear coat has gone but that would be really unusual in a car that age and you wouldn't/couldn't cut right through an otherwise healthy clear cost with consumer Megs products and hand application. I would suggest taking it to a pro detailer who can see the damage first hand and perhaps diagnose the problem and offer a solution?

Update with how you get on

yeah everyone i talk to always says how soft subaru paint is. i will take it to a detailer and see what they suggest.