• If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Scratch Removal

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Scratch Removal

    Hey, crew. Fairly new to detailing and I am working by hand. I've spent countless hours almost every night for the last several months researching and reading posts on this site. What a valuable resource. I've been using ULW for several months. Love it.

    Ok, my question... I have a 2014 Tacoma pickup that has a near perfect paint job. Unless I inspect it from just a few inches away under VERY good light, I don't see any swirls/spiderwebs at all. I've been very careful with my washing and drying technique. But I've somehow managed to get one long scratch down the center of the hood, likely from a piece of grit in my drying towel. It's a long arc-ing scratch, barely felt with a fingernail, about 2 feet long. Not all that visible, but it's driving me nuts. Aside from that, the finish is perfect (or perfect enough for me).

    Because 99% of the hood is so nice, I really don't want to mess with it. But I would like to address the scratch. Based on my research, I've come to this conclusion, in order of least to most aggressive:

    0. Ultimate Liquid Wax
    1. UP
    2. SwirlX (?)
    3. ScratchX (?)
    4. UC

    I've already tried UP on the scratch. Spent quite a bit of time on it and didn't see any improvement to the scratch. On the positive side, no hazing- can't even tell I attempted a "spot repair". Ha success so far.

    Im confused on which product to try next- SwirlX or ScratchX ??? Do I try one, then the other, before moving to Ultimate Compound? Or just one of them before trying the UC ?

    Do I have the order correct? And which product should I try next?

    thank you.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Scratch Removal

    UP will not get a scratch out. As I am not fond of ScratchX, and never used SwirlX I would go directly to UC. Never used it by hand, but it is a super product with the little drill DA system that Meguiar's has. Great little tool for selective scratch removal when the whole vehicle doesn't need correction. (Wouldn't do a whole vehicle with one). Depending how hard it needs to be worked, UC should not haze the paint, but if it does, a little UP will take that out very nicely.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Scratch Removal



      You have the order of aggressiveness correct, but don't hesitate to go straight for UC in your case.

      If it does marr the area, UP should take care of it.
      Originally posted by Blueline
      I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Scratch Removal

        Originally posted by davey g-force View Post


        You have the order of aggressiveness correct, but don't hesitate to go straight for UC in your case.

        If it does marr the area, UP should take care of it.
        Thanks. Actually, I already went out this morning and got scratchX. I worked and worked and I can tell that it took the upper edges off each side of the scratch but really barely made an impact as far as visibility. It's still visible, just not as "sharp" looking. I can tell that If I looked under a microscope the edges would look more like a U now rather than a V in cross section. I've watched a bunch of the Stoops/Phillips videos and read the how-to's. So, pretty sure I'm on track with technique. It just needs a little more aggressive product. I don't doubt I'd have it gone in a few passes with a DA. Now that I know how much work it is by hand, I think I'm just going to wait until I get a DA. And then compound the scratch and polish the entire hood. In all a good learning experience. Thanks for your input.

        Comment

        Previous template Next
        Your Privacy Choices
        Working...
        X