Needed some help.

[Dave Dogg]

I just bought a brand new car and noticed minor scratches on the hood after washing/drying the car. These scratches aren't visible in sunlight just under flouresent lighting in my garage at certain angles. Do you think I will be able to remove them using swirl-x by hand or should just use scratch-x? I'm going to only apply them on the scratches on my hood. After I apply them can just I wax over them or is it necessary to polish? Thanks.

[Mike Phillips]

Since this is your first post...

Welcome to Autogeek Online! :welcome:




I just bought a brand new car and noticed minor scratches on the hood after washing/drying the car. These scratches aren't visible in sunlight just under fluorescent lighting in my garage at certain angles.


Pretty common problem...

Modern clear coat paints tend to be harder than old style single stage paints but they still scratch easily and this frustrates most car owners.

The skinny is this...

Modern clear coats won't oxidize like old single stage paints but instead will accumulate swirls and scratches.

Removing oxidation from an old single stage paint is pretty easy to do... removing swirls and scratches out of clear coat paints BY HAND is actually kind of tricky to do and this is why machine polishing has become so popular over the last 15+ years.




Do you think I will be able to remove them using swirl-x by hand or should just use scratch-x?


Maybe, you won't know till you go out into your garage and try...

It's easier to get swirls and scratches out by machine because it doesn't take as much skill.

Moving your hand with an applicator pad in a way that will actually "remove" the swirls and scratches requires a little skill and experience. After teaching car clubs how to do this for 5+ years at Meguiar's I'm pretty confident when I say most people don't have the skills or abilities to remove below surface defects by hand.




I'm going to only apply them on the scratches on my hood. After I apply them can just I wax over them or is it necessary to polish? Thanks.


I teach the practice of doing a "Test Spot", that is test out the product and application process to one small area and make sure you can make one small area look GREAT before you start rubbing out the entire car or even an entire panel like the hood.

If you can make one small area look great then keep moving forward and tackle more of the car. IF you can't make one small area look good you'll be glad you didn't tackle an entire panel or the entire car.

Lots of people make this mistake and then find out they've inflicted swirls and scratches throughout their car's entire finish because you can't always tell what you've done till you wiped off the wax and inspected the paint in different light conditions.

Hang tight and I'll get you some links...


:)

[Mike Phillips]

Here's an article on working by hand to apply a compound or paint cleaner...

How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/26612-how-use-hand-applied-abrasive-polish-paint-cleaner-hand.html)


These are related to your topic...

The practical differences between single stage paints and a clear coat paints (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/21924-practical-differences-between-single-stage-paints-clear-coat-paints.html)

RIDS - The Definition of RIDS and the story behind the term... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/24045-rids-definition-rids-story-behind-term.html)

What it means to remove swirls, scratches and water spots out of automotive clear coats (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/faq/19986-what-means-remove-swirls-scratches-water-spots-out-automotive-clear-coats.html)

Fingermarks (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/20496-finger-marks.html)


The difference in time....

Man versus Machine (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/faq/20257-man-versus-machine.html)



The most important things are to,

Work clean, paint needs to be washed and dried and clean
Use clean applicator pads and microfiber towels
Don't try to work too large an area at one time... 8" to 12" is about as big as you want to go when first learning to remove defects out of clear coat paints by hand.


Ultimate Compound is a very effective compound for removing swirls and scratches by hand but you still have to use good technique...


:)

[Mike Phillips]

This is the easiest tool to learn how to use and master...

The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/23995-free-rotating-spindle-assembly-story-behind-story.html)



Benjamin figured it out and is buffing like a pro after just a few seconds of instruction...


Pictures from Operation Comfort - Autogeek in San Antonio, Texas (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/company-forum-news-headlines/29667-pictures-operation-comfort-autogeek-san-antonio-texas.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/948/OpComfort059.jpg







:)

[Mike Phillips]

Avoid letting someone else do the work for you unless you can document they actually know what they are doing...


The story of 3 H's - Horrendous, Horror Story and Hack Detailers... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/28142-story-3-h-s-horrendous-horror-story-hack-detailers.html)


:D

[Dave Dogg]

Thanks for all the helpful info. Im going to try your "test spot" method with the swirl-x hopefully it is abrasive enough. In the future I will purchase a DA I just havent yet because the car is brand new and doesnt need a polish yet.

[truckbutt]

Thanks for all the helpful info. Im going to try your "test spot" method with the swirl-x hopefully it is abrasive enough. In the future I will purchase a DA I just havent yet because the car is brand new and doesnt need a polish yet.
I recently bought a 2011 Mustang GT in black. As you know, black shows every imperfection and speck of dirt/dust, known to man. I use a Meguiars G110v2 to apply M26-High Speed Yellow Wax as my LSP. It's a sight to behold. If I need any correction/cleaning I use M205 first. New cars need love too!

[FASTFRED]

I recently bought a 2011 Mustang GT in black. As you know, black shows every imperfection and speck of dirt/dust, known to man. I use a Meguiars G110v2 to apply M26-High Speed Yellow Wax as my LSP. It's a sight to behold. If I need any correction/cleaning I use M205 first. New cars need love too!
Agree.:dblthumb2: