Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

[shweetpickens]

I am using swirl x on my 2008 Lexus is. It seems to be working so far and I have been following advice from this forum. My question is that when I remove the swirl x (I don't let it dry), I see a small amount of gray from my gray car on the microfiber towel. I thought you would only see this on single stage paint? Is my clear coat gone??

[Murr1525]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

How light of gray?

[shweetpickens]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

How light of gray?

Its pretty dark gray

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Single stage paint is still used by many car manufacturers for certain colors (Honda uses single stage on it's red and white painted cars), and Lexus Obsidian Black is definitely single stage (http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...s-ls460-l.html) so it is not improbable that your 2008 Lexus was painted with a single stage paint by design. Contact your dealer and ask if your paint is clear coat or single stage, or ask the question on a Lexus owner's forum. Someone should know.

[shweetpickens]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Single stage paint is still used by many car manufacturers for certain colors (Honda uses single stage on it's red and white painted cars), and Lexus Obsidian Black is definitely single stage (http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...s-ls460-l.html) so it is not improbable that your 2008 Lexus was painted with a single stage paint by design. Contact your dealer and ask if your paint is clear coat or single stage, or ask the question on a Lexus owner's forum. Someone should know.

Everything I'm reading on Lexus forum seems to indicate that it could be single stage. So this is no good for buffing, etc? Any precautions? Why would Lexus do this if it is less ideal than clear coat? Hmmmm

Also, how do I reply to a thread without quoting someone? I don't see a reply button

[davey g-force]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Single stage paint is still fine for buffing etc. In fact, many prefer it because it is easier to work with and (arguably) doesn't swirl as easily as clear coat.

The principals for polishing SS paint are the same as those for CC. The SwirlX should be doing nicely. Being SS, you might want to follow up with M07 (to "moisturise" the paint and really add extra depth), then follow up with your favourite wax/sealant.

There is a "Reply to Thread" button toward the bottom of the page, on the LHS.

[davey g-force]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Having said that, if you feel like purchasing more products (again due to the SS paint) give M80 and/or M83 a try instead of SwirlX. They work particularly beautifully on SS paints.

[shweetpickens]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Having said that, if you feel like purchasing more products (again due to the SS paint) give M80 and/or M83 a try instead of SwirlX. They work particularly beautifully on SS paints.

Cool thanks

[ethereal45]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Single stage paint is still used by many car manufacturers for certain colors (Honda uses single stage on it's red and white painted cars), and Lexus Obsidian Black is definitely single stage (http://autopia.org/forum/click-brag/...s-ls460-l.html) so it is not improbable that your 2008 Lexus was painted with a single stage paint by design. Contact your dealer and ask if your paint is clear coat or single stage, or ask the question on a Lexus owner's forum. Someone should know.

Ha, there's no way anyone at the Lexus dealer in my city would know the difference between base coat / clear coat and SS.

[wifpd4]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

Ha, there's no way anyone at the Lexus dealer in my city would know the difference between base coat / clear coat and SS.

If you ask me, only the robots at the factory know for sure or you take a white pad to it and it turns the color of the car. The color code for obsidian is 212. I wish they would go 212C, 212S and 212T for clear, single stage and tinted clear. Not that it makes a huge difference, a difference yes.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Should I see paint on my rag? 2008 Lexus

It should be noted that, although this may well be a single stage paint, it is most definitely NOT the same as the old single stage lacquers used back in the '70s and earlier. The chemistry is such that this paint is still a catalyzed coating using technology much closer to a modern clear coat than to what was applied at the factory on a '57 Chevy. Whether the paint is hard, soft, delicate, or otherwise isn't really going to be dictated by the simple fact that you're working on the actual color. Just as clear coats vary all over the place with regard to hardness, so could this single stage vary from one model year to another.

The basic concepts for working on it are identical to those used on a new car with clear coat, except of course that you're pads are all going to change color!