Light scratch how to fix?

[slickooz]

I recently found some light scratches on my car and wanted to know whats the easiest way to remove them. I don't have any sort of buffers and will do everything by hand. Will scratch X work? Or would Ultimate compound work?

[Setec Astronomy]

Boy I'm really glad I talked you out of wetsanding that. Since it sounds like perhaps you want to go local with your products I'd go to Wal-Mart or Target or Pep Boys and get a bottle of Ultimate Compound, Scratch-X, and/or Swirl-X and a few applicators go at it. I'm sure you'll get a lot of different answers, but I think you'll be pretty happy with your results with just some polish on that (presuming that's the same scuff in the two pictures).

[LuxuryMobile]

Without any polisher I would clay the area. Then ultimate compound on a foam applicator then follow with a lighter polish using the other side of the applicator.

If no results...either don't worry about such a small scratch (especially if its a dd) or wait until your ready to pick up a polisher. I guess if it bothers you enough you could ask around the forum and see if anyone is close by to offer some help

[Setec Astronomy]

I guess if it bothers you enough you could ask around the forum and see if anyone is close by to offer some help

Ok, Slickooz, where in NJ are you?

[Mike Phillips]

Will scratch X work? Or would Ultimate compound work?

As long as they are not too deep either one will work by hand, UC will be faster...


In my article list there's a section for working by hand, check out the first article,

Polishing Paint by Hand

How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand

How To Remove Paint Transfer

How to remove water spots by hand

How to clay, clean and wax paint by hand with Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion and Pinnacle Signature Series II Carnauba Paste Wax

1-Step versus 3-Step Process by Hand

Man versus Machine

[slickooz]

Thanks guys. I just finished washing my car. A bout to head to Pep boys to pick up ultimate compound and maybe Swirl X. Right now I just for few panels repainted so should I wait a month to do a full detail? wash, clay, swirl x , polish , and wax? Or should I fix the swirls I have on the car now, knowing don't want to wax 2/3 the car? I live in central jersey. I wish they have more stuff in the stores. Right now I'm using all Meguiar's stuff, waiting for it to run out and start ordering stuff from this site. Great stuff and good price on lots of items.

[OCDetails]

Not SwirlX. Get the black tube of ScratchX. What you have is a scratch and not a swirl. If you have any polishing compounds already then you could always try using one of those first. I use XMT 3 and XMT 4 on a regular basis in lieu of ScratchX and it works perfectly.

[slickooz]

Just got back and Scratch X worked great. I can barely see where the scratch was. Thank guys. I also bought Swirl X but wont be using it for at least a month. Waiting for paint to cure, so I can do a full detail.

Does this look right? Wash (two bucket with grit guard), clay car with diluted soap, swirl X, then wax? Do I need to add Deep polish from meguiar's? after swirl x then NXT wax?

[slickooz]

Will Ultimate compound fix everything Scratch X can do? Is there any point in getting Scratch X if Ultimate compound can fix scratch and more?