Straight scratches/marring seen with xenon light

[74 thing]

Was detailing a car and I broke out the xenon light to check for swirls and saw that most of them were in a straight line instead of circular. What causes these straight line minor scratches/swirls/marring-is it a dirty sponge or drying towel? I just don't want the client to do this to his finish once I remove them. Thanks.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Straight scratches/marring seen with xenon light

Originally posted by 74 thing
Was detailing a car and I broke out the xenon light to check for swirls and saw that most of them were in a straight line instead of circular. What causes these straight line minor scratches/swirls/marring-is it a dirty sponge or drying towel? I just don't want the client to do this to his finish once I remove them. Thanks.

Try to find out who's touching the car, and how they're touching it.

[Superior Shine]

Re: Re: Straight scratches/marring seen with xenon light

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Try to find out who's touching the car, and how they're touching it.

......... then have the culprit terminated!

[Jeff Smith]

I have a few of those as well. Can't see them in the daylight but can with the Xenon and also at night where I work because of the Hangar Lights.

Mine are few and far between 1 or 2 on each side. I am pretty sure mine came from a piece of grit of some sort having gotten on the finish while running the Speed Detailer over the finish.

Sometimes I have to do this, not directly under trees, but within 20' or so of a couple of large trees. I suspect that something has blown out of them onto the finish that I either missed with the duster or blew on after I dusted.

Or, the Quick Detail pad may have picked something up out of a crack or crevice.

I do the best I can to avoid this. I own about 12 of the QD pads. Sometimes use 2 of them for the QD. I don't seem to see any of these on the roof or hood but do see them on the side. Might be due to something as simple as people in parking lots brushing up against it.

Whatever it is, If I am causing it, I am trying to stop it as best I can. But my truck is a daily driver and I have come to realize that absolute perfection, although strived for, will never be attained.

[Accumulator]

It's just the same kind of marring that everyone else gets in circles/spiderwebs/etc.; it's straight because of the front-back motion that people who know something tend to use.

Little pieces of abrasive grit get trapped in sponges/mitts/brushes and when they are then moved across the paint you get the marring. Or yeah, it could be from a coarse drying towel. And yeah, using a QD to wipe down an unwashed vehicle will almost always result in this kind of marring eventually. No matter how careful you are, some day there will be that little piece of grit.

If you're gonna mar it anyhow (and that's a whole 'nother topic) then at least the straight scratches aren't as noticeable as circular ones.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Accumulator
It's just the same kind of marring that everyone else gets in circles/spiderwebs/etc.; it's straight because of the front-back motion that people who know something tend to use.

Little pieces of abrasive grit get trapped in sponges/mitts/brushes and when they are then moved across the paint you get the marring. Or yeah, it could be from a coarse drying towel. And yeah, using a QD to wipe down an unwashed vehicle will almost always result in this kind of marring eventually. No matter how careful you are, some day there will be that little piece of grit.

If you're gonna mar it anyhow (and that's a whole 'nother topic) then at least the straight scratches aren't as noticeable as circular ones.

I agree with your thoughts Accumulator. When I QD I do tend to make long straight passes. Not that I was smart enough to know it would be harder to see, it's just easier for me.

I am trying to get out of the habit of QDing so often. I just get so many compliments and people who want to look my truck over, I can't stand to show it dirty.

I have a secuirty job with nothing to do and no one around for about 4 hours every night. So when the dew is not heavy I tend to go over my truck every night. QD the finish & wheels, clean the glass, trim out the plastic & rubber. Just about everything on the exterior. Now if I had a good water source I would be in heaven.

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by Jeff Smith
I am trying to get out of the habit of QDing so often. I just get so many compliments and people who want to look my truck over, I can't stand to show it dirty.

I sympathize with this. I haven't shown my Jag because I'd have to QD it and I won't risk inflicting any marring. Nobody's gonna be impressed with a dusty car at a concours, even if it *is* really nice under the dust