Not very happy with ScratchX

[Emig5m]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I find using the foam pads a waste of time with ScratchX. I seem to get twice to three times the polishing/cutting power with ScratchX when using it with a microfiber rag. I painted a spot on my bumper once and after the wet sanding all I had to use to take out the wet sanding scratches and bring it back to better then showroom shine (no orange peel in wet sanded paint, heh) was ScratchX and a microfiber.

In fact yesterday I used ScratchX on my factory painted rims, my goal was just to clean them real good (Turtle Wax Platinum tire gel ran off a little and stained/turned some areas of the metallic silver paint brownish - I switched to hyperdressing shown in the pic below) and there where scratches/nicks that looked like it was down to the base metal but it came out with ease in just one pass. If you're working by hand, don't waste time with foam pads and use microfibers. Heck, on my rims I was using my oldest and shoddiest grime area microfibers and it still came out mint - like I said, my objective was just to clean them and it took out some pretty nasty scratches that visually looked like they might be all the way down to the base coat (I'm not the original owner of the vehicle), but, they came out with ease.. Everything except the curb rash on the outer lip that is definitely down to the base metal.



Look at them, they look mint now. I never thought to take before pictures since most of the scratches I thought would never come out - if you could of only seen them before.

[NickJRE]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I guess ill do a hybrid.

Ill

- wash
- clay
- apply scratchX to heavily swirled areas
- apply HD - cleanse ( I love the results from this product)
- wax

ScratchX is the best by hand scratch remover I've ever used and I've used quite a few............

However, Honestly, if I were you, I'd really invest in a Meguiars G110 dual action polisher, it takes so much less time and in my opinion the final result is worth the money spent on the polisher, it really is that much better by hand.

[Nappers]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I guess ill do a hybrid.

Ill

- wash
- clay
- apply scratchX to heavily swirled areas
- apply HD - cleanse ( I love the results from this product)
- wax

It can be done by hand, but it's a hard days work.

good order to do things, the HD cleanse may not be necessary but if you like it then by all means Git R' Done

Put some passion behind the pad and do more than 1-2 passes and work a small area like 12X12 or smaller if your patient.

in case you didn't see these write ups:

How to remove defect with ScratchX

How to remove swirls using ScratchX - Awesome write up, you can see what they started with and what they ended with

Then save your pennies for a PC your arms and back will thank you

Aaron

[CorruptedSanity]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I guess ill do a hybrid.

Ill

- wash
- clay
- apply scratchX to heavily swirled areas
- apply HD - cleanse ( I love the results from this product)
- wax

[Derrick]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Can I do the whole car? I have a Porsche Cayman S with some light swirl marks on the roof,bonnet and trunk.

Yes you can do the whole car with scratchX if you wish but it will be alot of work if you are working by hand. Also ScratchX is also a paint cleaner so there is really no need to follow with another cleaner. After scratchX you can move straight to polishing and waxing but that is just a sugestion. I would suggest your process look something like this if working by hand
wash
clay
ScratchX
polish
wax

[CorruptedSanity]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I know its been a while but this thread is really helpful, so I'd like to ask.

Can I do the whole car? I have a Porsche Cayman S with some light swirl marks on the roof,bonnet and trunk.

I was thinking of first washing, then claying then using Zymol's HD Cleanse (supposed to be a filler - nonabrasive) then wax. Now that ive been instroduced to Scratchx im thinking of washing then claying then scratchX then HDCleanse (its supposed to help the wax - also Zymol- bond more/faster to the paint).

I know for sure ill use Scratchx before I HD-Cleanse and after I clay on a bird poop on my roof. I know that HD Cleanse is not an abrasive (more of a filler as I understand). So should I incorporate ScratchX on the whole car?

Thanks

[Anonincog]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Bernard 78 early on in this thread mentioned a vid sample by Mike. Can I get the link to this video? I would love to see a recording of how to use scratchX.

[Graeme]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I have the same problem too. I try and try and try the scratch still there over a year now and I give up.

Well I have managed to get rid of the scratch and the etching from the bird poop.
You have to rub really fast and hard for quite a while, you want to feel the heat. It took 4 goes to get rid of it.
All I can say is have another go, you might be like me and do it the right way this time

Graeme

[sneek]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Maybe try something one the PC. ScratchX is kind of mild.
Does your finger nail catch the edges of the scratch?

BTW: Where in Canada are you?

[sub0]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

I have the same problem too. I try and try and try the scratch still there over a year now and I give up. The reason I am here today is because someone ran into my van and leave some hairline scratch on my real bumper.
Now I am looking for something to take it out. It just scratch and no paint lost. Anyone here have any good product I should try. The bumper is plastic of cause.

Thanks !
Sub0

[Graeme]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Thanks Mike for taking the time to reply and outline how to do it properly.

I appreciate it. I will have another go and post the results here when I am done.

Once again Thank you

Graeme

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Thanks everyone for you replies I will have another go today. Just a couple of things....

What amount would I use, when do I stop and wipe off? When its dry or does it go very clear like U have rubbed it all off? and how much pressure do I need to use?
I would like the above answered before I start, that way I know then that I am doing it right.

Thank you all again for taking the time to reply

graeme

Only work about 5 to 6 inches of the scratch at a time, first see if you can make a small section of it go away, then cookie-cutter your results over the rest of the scratch.

Not sure how deep this scratch is, but we've seen similar scratches that look as thought they were put in with a razor blade, so they are thin, but deep, in these case you cannot remove them at all.

When applying to remove a 5-6 inch section, use about a teaspoon of product, in your situation, better to use too much than too little. Spread the product out over the section your working, and move your applicator pad across the scratch, not in line with it, actually at an angel to it is a good practice. You can even rub in two different angles with repeated applications.

Rub using around 8 to 15 pounds of pressure to the pad and move you hand in a back and forth direction quickly, like you're a machine.

"Be the pad"

as Chevy Chase would say...

Apply until what starts out to be an opaque/whitish film turns to an oily looking film then remove. Don't pay any attention to the directions that direct you to let the product dry, these are wrong. See this article,

Then wipe off the residue and repeat until you done this at least 3 times. After each application and removal, inspect to see if you notice any improvement. If with each application it gets harder to see where you applied the product then continue until it's gone you feel to any further could go through the clear coat.

If you see absolutely no improvement after 3 applications, then the scratch is either very deep and you're actually improving it, (this means you're remove the paint surround the scratch but because the scratch is so deep you cannot and will not see any improvement).

Or

The paint is so hard that you cannot remove small particles of the paint by hand.

If you were nearby, we would love to have a go at it just because we love a challenge.

[Larry A]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

What if you start with rubbing compound, and finish with Scratch X. The compound to remove the scratch and the Scratch X to remove the compound haze.

[Graeme]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Thanks everyone for you replies I will have another go today. Just a couple of things....

What amount would I use, when do I stop and wipe off? When its dry or does it go very clear like U have rubbed it all off? and how much pressure do I need to use?
I would like the above answered before I start, that way I know then that I am doing it right.

Thank you all again for taking the time to reply

graeme

[yakky]

Re: Not very happy with ScratchX

Yeah, basically scratch impressions from the abrasives being rubbed across the paint. Didn't see this by machine, only when hand applied using a clean foam applicator pad. I can see if we have the pictures, if not it's easy enough to duplicate.

ScratchX doesn't do this.

Interesting, I applied via Costco Yellow MF and it came out nice and smooth. I haven't had issue via machine either. Next time I use it by hand I'll pay attention to it.