Most regretted detailing product purchase

[conthedon]

I do everything by hand. I tried both variations of Meguiar's ScratchX and it did absolutely nothing. It is my understanding that unless you plan on using a rotary or orbital buffer, you cannot remove any scratches/light paint defects by hand. Someone correct me if I am wrong on this one, but I have had zip luck. -Ed

Shenanigans lol, you can correct defects by hand. I would recommend using euro ccs foam pads and not yellow foam applicators for polishing or compounding by hand. For example a long time ago I thought the results of scratchx2.0 were much better using those pads orange/white, it made the product work better imo. But if you have something that it doesnt remove step to ultimate compound, great product and follow up with a light polish.

[BradsDetailing]

my car, previous to me, was a lease to a lady who had long fake fingernails. Scratch X worked miracles on the door handles

[cardaddy]

I do everything by hand. I tried both variations of Meguiar's ScratchX and it did absolutely nothing. It is my understanding that unless you plan on using a rotary or orbital buffer, you cannot remove any scratches/light paint defects by hand. Someone correct me if I am wrong on this one, but I have had zip luck. -Ed

Not true.... Removing defects by hand is done all the time in right areas. Just takes the right pad and compound, along with a judicious amount of hand work.

Although.... I'd stick to confined areas, as hand work will darned near wear your hands off!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using AG Online

[Blackthorn One]

I do everything by hand. I tried both variations of Meguiar's ScratchX and it did absolutely nothing. It is my understanding that unless you plan on using a rotary or orbital buffer, you cannot remove any scratches/light paint defects by hand. Someone correct me if I am wrong on this one, but I have had zip luck. -Ed

You can remove scratches by hand, but it will take a long time. Concentrating pressure with one finger makes it go faster, but doing it by hand isn't as even as with a machine. Often polish only rounds off scratches and doesn't actually remove them. It only makes then less visible. Scratches are only removed by leveling the paint with a rotary or with sandpaper , for the most part, although you can remove them with a DA or by hand with polish with enough time. Wind and water made the Grand Canyon, so eventually you can remove scratches by hand if you don't just drop dead of exhaustion first.

[MyFirstES300]

You can remove scratches by hand, but it will take a long time. Concentrating pressure with one finger makes it go faster, but doing it by hand isn't as even as with a machine. Often polish only rounds off scratches and doesn't actually remove them. It only makes then less visible. Scratches are only removed by leveling the paint with a rotary or with sandpaper , for the most part, although you can remove them with a DA or by hand with polish with enough time. Wind and water made the Grand Canyon, so eventually you can remove scratches by hand if you don't just drop dead of exhaustion first.

Yep, that's what I thought. I gave up after a few attempts on my vehicles and even when I "thought" I had triumphed, it turns out the Scratchx just covered the scratches up (doesn't it have SMAT technology, or something?). I'm simply not ready, poses the time or have the means to start getting into learning how to use a buffer. I'm still trying to find a detailer in my area that specializes in paint correction and then do my own maintenance from there, but everyone I have called simply does not want to get involved in the process. There is not much of a demand for this skill probably because of the weather and where I live it may not be much of a hobby.

[conthedon]

Yep, that's what I thought. I gave up after a few attempts on my vehicles and even when I "thought" I had triumphed, it turns out the Scratchx just covered the scratches up (doesn't it have SMAT technology, or something?). I'm simply not ready, poses the time or have the means to start getting into learning how to use a buffer. I'm still trying to find a detailer in my area that specializes in paint correction and then do my own maintenance from there, but everyone I have called simply does not want to get involved in the process. There is not much of a demand for this skill probably because of the weather and where I live it may not be much of a hobby.

You wont get your paint 100% but you can get it to something that you can be proud of and not swirled out in the sun. try ultimate compound with some euro foam pads. Check out mike p's "man vs machine thread". Do a couple of panels a day. Finish it over a weekend. or buy a fool proof buffer da.

[hernandez.art13]

To MyFirstES300 I wonder if there are inexpensive DA's that you could attach an orange pad to, so you don't have be out there sweating like crazy. It won't be true paint correction but if used with Meguiar's Ultimate compound followed with a polishing pad with Meguiar's ultimate polish. It won't break the bank and make the job a lot more enjoyable and will do "some" correction. (I think)

[hernandez.art13]

I do everything by hand. I tried both variations of Meguiar's ScratchX and it did absolutely nothing. It is my understanding that unless you plan on using a rotary or orbital buffer, you cannot remove any scratches/light paint defects by hand. Someone correct me if I am wrong on this one, but I have had zip luck. -Ed

Also doesn't auto geek sell 3" pads for a small backing plate, so couldn't you jist buy a yellow, orange, white and black 3" foam and just do them by hand?

Also this:
Meguiars Drill DA
http://youtu.be/sX0uDK_NRfU

Seen the kit at Pep Boys, you could by the compound and polish kit and do it by hand using the foam pads it comes with, if you don't have a drill

[swanicyouth]

Yep, that's what I thought. I gave up after a few attempts on my vehicles and even when I "thought" I had triumphed, it turns out the Scratchx just covered the scratches up (doesn't it have SMAT technology, or something?). I'm simply not ready, poses the time or have the means to start getting into learning how to use a buffer

You have 3 cars (two of them 2013s) and don't have the means to get a buffer? For half the price you would pay someone once to detail one of them correctly, you could buy all the stuff and do it yourself.

[civdiv99]

XMT line except , paste wax , clay , car wash

XMT 360. really think I followed the instructions. I liked the buff until it disappears idea. So a very little bit on the pad, and I buffed. And buffed. And then buffed some more. And ratcheted up the da to more power from Scotty, and buffed some more. After awhile I gave up, shut it down, wiped away the still smear able thin coat of 360, grabbed the DG 501, and took care of business.