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**jfelbab** · Jul 25, 2005, 01:36 PM

ScratchX uses diminishing abrasives so perhaps you need to work it more until the abrasives have finished polishing the paint.

Also what are you using to apply and remove the polishes and wax. Be sure to use clean foam or even-coat applicators and top quality microfiber toweling to remove.

**rusty bumper** · Jul 25, 2005, 01:42 PM

Re: :-( doing more harm than good...scratching my car

Originally posted by Gary G
Seems using the megs clay bar kit followed by scratch x is causing lots of scratches in my paint :-( Sure feels smooth tho and cant help thinking the scratches are visable because its a solid paint finish.

Is it possible that you have trapped a piece of grit in your clay, and introduced some scratches with it?

And I've never used ScratchX myself, but I've heard a lot of good reviews about it.

Originally posted by Gary G
......So far i have done the boot......

Pardon my ignorance, but what do you mean by the boot?

**Gary G** · Jul 25, 2005, 02:38 PM

Think its the clay thats causing the scratches :-( may be a bit of grit is in it?! I use ultimate wipe for removing wax/polish etc.

What do u think is the best course of action? Shall i buy new clay and continue to do the rest of the car? Thing is the clay does get dirty real quick because of all the dirt on my car...should i use a paint cleaner first then clay? Have been scratchx'ing the claying.

Think i may need a random orbit polisher or something and some real abrasive polishes to remove the scratches???

Oh btw..boot=trunk i guess lol ;-) i'm english

)

cheerss guys

**the other pc** · Jul 25, 2005, 02:41 PM

I agree with jfelbab and Rusty Bumper, either your clay has gotten contaminated with grit or your towels or applicators are causing more scratches. I use ScratchX all the time on both clearcoats and single stage paints. It is absolutely safe and very effective.

Rusty Bumper,
British, bonnet = American, hood
British, boot = American, trunk

PC.

**Gary G** · Jul 25, 2005, 02:49 PM

Righto so new clay definately needed before doing anymore. Shall i clean then clay or just clay? The car has been on track and is covered in brake dust, rubber and tar :-( Its not an old car but the paints looking shocking at the moment! Need to get it clean and remove these scratches i've caused :-(

**Mike Phillips** · Jul 25, 2005, 02:56 PM

I agree with the comment on something has been contaminated.

Neither ScratchX nor our Detailing Clay will instill a scratch into your car's finish when used correctly. If you're seeing straight-line scratches in the direction you have moved you hand while applying either of these two products than somewhere along the line an abrasive particle has been introduced into the process.

The question now is how to remove the scratches?

Well... ScratchX by hand of course. AT this stage of the game, if the scratches are very deep at all, you're going to have to focus on removing each scratch pretty much one by one if your paint is hard. If your paint is soft, then you can probably tackle a couple of close ones at the same time.

Here's what you do, after insuring the surface is completely clean and your foam applicator pad is completely clean, (new would be best considering the history of this problem, no need to take an chances now), then apply a dollop of ScratchX onto your applicator and apply going across the direction of the scratches at an angle so that you can focus a lot of your energy on the scratches while still working across them, not with them.

Apply 2-3 applications to one scratch or one set of scratches and then inspect. If the scratches are gone then you have paint that is workable you can continue in this manner or switch over to a machine applied product.

If the scratches are still present, then you paint is fairly hard, (or you're not working the scratchX hard enough and long enough, i.e. poor technique), and it's likely that the only way to remove these scratches will be with a rotary buffer in the hands of a professional.

Have you read this?

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

**Gary G** · Jul 25, 2005, 03:08 PM

Excellent Mike thanks :-)

I have a strong feeling my paint is hard and will require a PC to remove the straight line scratches as there are too many to do by hand....would probably kill me lol.

I have a question re claying...surely using clay to remove (pick up) contaminants they will be stuck in the clay and cause scratches? would using megs paint cleaner first help?

Interesting read the viper article, must go to sleep now as its gone 1am here (car was keeping me awake lol :-( )

thanks again everyone :-)

**Mike Phillips** · Jul 25, 2005, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Gary G
I have a question re claying...surely using clay to remove (pick up) contaminants they will be stuck in the clay and cause scratches? would using megs paint cleaner first help?

If the paint is still very dirty after washing such as tar, oxidation other gunk, then in these situations it's a good idea to use a clean paint on the paint first to remove these things, and then use the clay bar to remove what the paint cleaner didn't remove.

**rusty bumper** · Jul 25, 2005, 03:32 PM

Originally posted by the other pc
Rusty Bumper,
British, bonnet = American, hood
British, boot = American, trunk

PC.

Thanks PC!

I remember the 1st one, but the "boot" caught me off guard.

**rusty bumper** · Jul 25, 2005, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by Gary G
Righto so new clay definately needed before doing anymore. Shall i clean then clay or just clay? The car has been on track and is covered in brake dust, rubber and tar :-( Its not an old car but the paints looking shocking at the moment! Need to get it clean and remove these scratches i've caused :-(

I would try to remove any tar or rubber before claying again.

If you have WD-40 in the UK, then I would buy some and use it to dissolve those two substances..........WD-40 will not harm the paint.

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:-( doing more harm than good...scratching my car

:-( doing more harm than good...scratching my car

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