Recommendations for black 1997 Sebring Conv.

[maknight71]

I have a 1997 Sebring Convertible that I allowed a friend to borrow for several months. While she had the car it was parked outside beneath trees (was garaged since bought until then) and it received a long scratch down the side to boot. Rather than pay to have the car entirely repainted (it has 160,000 miles on it) I have sucessfully repaired the scratch with the Dupli-Color scratch kit. I am looking to restore the oxidized/hazy black finish and "even out" a little more any remaining imperfections around the repaired section.

I have a new Craftsman 7" single-speed buffer and was thinking of the following steps...

1. ScrachX by hand (or could I carefully use the buffer with this since the entire car could probably use it?)
2. DC#1 applied by buffer, removed by hand
3. DC#2 applied by buffer, removed by hand
4. DC#3 applied by buffer, removed by hand

Any comments or suggestions would be deeply appreciated. Thanks.

[sneek]

to MOL
you may want to wait a while after using the Dupli-colour scratch kit as the paint may still be soft.
what you are planning to do sounds okay. Have you thought about claying, you will be shocked by what is can remove!
these my help ypu out
Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain
What it Means to Remove a Scratch
Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer
How To Remove Swirls By Hand
How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX
How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test

[maknight71]

Thanks. I've been lurking for a few weeks, but just registered.

I used the Dupli-Color about a month ago - the weather turned much colder afterwards, so my whole "restoration" process was temporarily placed on hold. I plan to get started back on it in mid-April (about a month and a half after using the touchup paint).

I so have some "stuff" on the lower sills that I have had trouble removing with washing alone. Would the clay bar help with this also? It's not tar/asphalt. I'm honestly not certain what it is. I have tried the plastic baggie tip on the hood and noted that using the bar would not be a bad idea. The cost factor is what initially kept me away, but more and more I read how amazing it is.

So, my steps should be...

1. Wash thoroughly (of course)
2. Use clay bar
3. ScratchX
4. Entire DC System

Also, can ScratchX as currently formulated be safely used with my single-speed buffer? I know Meg's is releasing a reformulated version later this year, but I would rather not wait that long.

The DCS drew my attention first off because it stated it could be used with electric buffers whereas many other brands did not. Then I read more about it and found it would probably be best anyway.