Imperfections Help

[futekisenshi]

I'm new here and just started to detail my car(haven't done it yet, but want to get answers before I start and screw something up). I haven't been able to find my answer to this question in the forums, so I thought I'd ask.

When removing scratches and imperfections, say you use scratch x 2.0 for a spot, do you need to do the whole car with the product?

What if there is a spot that you need to use ultimate compound? Do you do the whole car? Or use the lightest product possible for certain sections?

For example, one section I need to use ultimate compound to get my desired results, but other sections come out perfect with scratch x 2.0. Should I do the whole care with ultimate compound? Or is it ok to mix and match product on the car depending on severity of the imperfections?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Show 'N' Shine Car Detailing]

Re: Imperfections Help

Scratch X is good for spots as you metioned. You don't need to do the whole car. IF you have swirls all over, it might be best to use the Ultimate Compound over the whole car, if scratch X isn't enough to remove the defects.

So again if Scratch X won't remove the swirls/defects move up to UC to remove them. You can use UC is spots as well and don't have to do the whole car.

And yes you can mix and match. Some spots/sections will do just what you've done, work with Scratch X fine, but other sections need the more aggressive UC to achieve your results.

Always try the least aggressive first.

Forgot to ask are you doing these spots/sections by hand or machine, ie; DA Polisher, Flex, etc??

[Detailing by M]

Re: Imperfections Help

your waaaay over thinking this.

Keep
It
Simple

Polish out the "spots" and forget about the rest.
If it doesn't need it then don't do it.
All detailing products work together.

[yfwong]

Re: Imperfections Help

Always start trying with ScratchX, if it works, continue. If it isn't, use UC.
UC is more abrasive but ScratchX is more expensive, small bottle compare to UC.
Learn how to use the applicator pad correctly, spread your finger so that the force applied is even.

[Murr1525]

Re: Imperfections Help

When removing scratches and imperfections, say you use scratch x 2.0 for a spot, do you need to do the whole car with the product?

If your whole car was swirled up or dirty, then cleaning one spot could stand out.

But if the defect was in one spot, and the rest of the car was good, then doing one spot would be fine.

What if there is a spot that you need to use ultimate compound? Do you do the whole car? Or use the lightest product possible for certain sections?

Same basic story.

The nice thing with the UC is that you can apply it gently to make it milder, or apply it with more passion/effort to make it stronger. So you could use one product, remove the defect with some passion, then mildly clean the rest of the car.

For example, one section I need to use ultimate compound to get my desired results, but other sections come out perfect with scratch x 2.0. Should I do the whole care with ultimate compound? Or is it ok to mix and match product on the car depending on severity of the imperfections?

You can certainly mix and match, or do as noted above.

Also, note that UC and ScratchX 2.0 are pretty similar. UC is cheaper, so I'd just go with that....

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Imperfections Help

Once again, we have to agree with every point made by Murr1525. Nicely done!

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Thanks for all the reply's everyone, I really appreciate it! Ok, so I went ahead and did a test section and thought I'd post some pictures and then have some questions before I go ahead and do the whole car. The car was washed previously, and then I did a test section on the left half of the top of the trunk, all work being done by hand. I clayed the section, used swirlx, then scratchx 2.0, then ultimate compound, and then I used nxt 2.0 wax. I wanted to do it all, just to see the finished product. I did all of the work in my garage, and used microfiber applicators and microfiber towels to wipe the products off. I used moderate pressure with each product rubbing in all the products about 2-4 minutes. I continued to up the cleaner strength because I could still see swirls, although they did get better.

After using the ultimate compound, I could still see some swirl marks. The pictures kind of show them, but it definitely looks a lot better than before. You can see the imperfections indoors better, so most pictures are from inside the garage.









^ Down the middle is a little bit of product. On the top right you'll see a bad smudge, that was on the left as well (bike rack), there are still some marks, but they look like tiny dents now(not a paint problem anymore it seems). I've washed it multiple times, even scrubbing hard where the marks were, I thought the smudges were going to be permanent. UC finally removed it, I was super impressed with this!!!







^ Best looking picture to see the swirl marks. There's more than you can see, just don't show up in pictures that much. All the little dots around the lights are sparkles, the paint has a faint sparkle to it that you can only notice if you look in close to, I love the paint.




^ Left side is complete, right side isn't. You can see better detail in the clouds reflection on the completed side.




^ Close up of only the completed side. Reflection is almost as good as a mirror now.


Ok, now the questions. Do you guys think I still have swirl marks from using a microfiber pad? Or do I need to use yet another stronger product? Or am I just too much of a perfectionist and everybody has a little bit of swirl marks?

Any tips on that lots of tiny dents part to make that even better looking?

[ffboy]

Re: Imperfections Help

You can still use Ultimate Compound but try using a DA polisher with more aggressive pads (maybe the burgundy pads but it's not recommended for a DA) using more pressure. This may initially cause marring, then step down to the yellow buffing pads. DA polishers allows for faster, better results at a much shorter time and less effort. Then use a finer cleaner like swirlX then pure polish (deep crystal or M07) or a cleaner polish (ultimate polish).

For UC, most prefer using a foam applicator. It allows for more even distribution of product and more work time. For spot removal, microfibers can work better since it has more bite.

For the dents, you can PDR (paintless dent removal) it or try those DIY dent removal kits (pops-a-dent).

[Murr1525]

Re: Imperfections Help

Yeah, UC and a foam applicator is the way to go by hand, may need 2-3 applications.

But the deeper swirls will just be hard to remove by hand.

[yfwong]

Re: Imperfections Help

the idea of removing swirl or scratch is to make it disappear by making the whole surface even/flat.
let's say your clear coat layer thickness is 15, and the depth of scratch/swirl is 3. Then, you will have to apply UC until the layer becomes 12.
I hope this clears your doubt.

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Thanks for your tips everyone! I ordered up the DA polisher, don't know why I didn't look at it before, figured it would be too expensive I guess. It's actually at a decent price point though. I also ordered Meguiar's super shine microfibers, they feel a lot more plush, softer, and bigger (judging by the one I got in a box of my wax or clay kit) than the ones I was using (autozone). I'll be doing the whole car in a couple days once all of my goodies come.

Does there come a time that you've used UC too much and get rid of all your clear coat? Or does doing all the steps every time pretty much add on to it and prevent that from happening?

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Does the DA make a big difference on ease of getting out scratches, etc? Are there some scratches you can't get out without using something like the DA?

[Murr1525]

Does there come a time that you've used UC too much and get rid of all your clear coat? Or does doing all the steps every time pretty much add on to it and prevent that from happening?

Well, yes you can go through the clear coat, though the point of the da polisher is that it is hard to do.

What you want to do is remove most/all of your swirls now, and then not cause them again so the paint keeps needing fixed over and over.

[Murr1525]

Does the DA make a big difference on ease of getting out scratches, etc? Are there some scratches you can't get out without using something like the DA?

Yes, it makes things easier.

Anything a da does can be done by hand, but will be difficult to be as uniform and consistent, and as quick.

Some scratches may be too deep to remove of course, so want to keep that in mind.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Imperfections Help

I don't know if it's already been mentioned, while it's OK to use different products such as Scratch-X and UC, you still want to avoid cross contaminating your applicator pads (if by hand) or your polishing pads if you're using a machine polisher. Don't use the same pad when switching up products. It's not the end of the world if you've already done it, just something to keep in mind for the future.