Light scratches on my baby!!

R

Redneck Jedi

New member
My black Maxima has some light scratches on it. I can only see them in broad daylight when the sun hits the car just the right way. Right now I'm using 3M IHG and 3M Liquid Show Car Wax. Pretty happy with the shine but the Show Car Wax doesn't seem to last that long. Here's my questions:

1) Has anyone used 3M Cleaner Wax for Light Oxidation. Is that any good at removing the small scratches? (Follow up with more Show Car Wax)



2)I'm moving north soon, so I'm going to make a switch to Zaino or Klasse before winter. From everything I've read here they seem to be pretty even on protection and on durability. Which takes care of small scratches better? That will make my decision



3)I love my black car but I now find myself in envy of the sterling mist maximas I see. Why was I crazy enough to buy a black car???





Thanks for any help. I've been reading this forum for a while and I've learned a ton. Keep up the good work!!
 
Welcome to the forum. This is a problem that can be attacked at two different angles.



If the scratches are light enough, you might be able to take them out using Klasse All In One or a similar polish. But if they are more severe, I would recommend 3M's Swirl Mark Remover.

If they are more severe than that, you would then have to use 3M Perfect II, then Swirl Mark Remover to get rid of any hazing that the PI might leave.



I have some light swirling on my 2002 Maxima and I am going to attack it using SMR and then Klasse it after I get my PC 7336.
 
some people have vouched that Klasse does a good job of preventing further marring on the paint, by "taking" the marring and scratching.



Don was the one who said bird crap was easier to remove on his Klassed car over his Zainoed car.
 
My method of choice differs just slightly from Prinz's. A lot depends upon what products are available to you and what you grow comfortable with. The key is to start with the LEAST abrasive product first and work to the most abrasive until the scratch is removed and then finish with the least abrasive again.



I like Pinnacle Paint Cleanser, 3M Swirl Mark Remover, 3M Finesse It and 3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound to cover all my paint damage needs from tiny imperfections to the worst damage. That's my main arsenal.



Do a search for many informative threads on the subject. Also, as I'm sure you know, the proper towels and applicators are super important!



Have fun!



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Forget the light micro scratches, I've got a new problem.

I removed the Sunroof Wind Deflector since it had cracks all around the base and I was worried about the paint underneath. When I lifted the deflector off, I have a scracth in the shape of the deflector running the width of the car. Not to deep, I can't feel it with my fingernail. After I initially panicked, I picked up the bottle of 3M Cleaner Wax (light action) I use on my wifes Cherokee and went to work. A little better, but still there. Then I went over it a couple of times with some 3M IHG mainly to hide it a little and feed to paint in that area. Finally I covered it with 3M Show Car Wax (same as on the rest of the car). So for now it is at least protected. Today I bought some 3M Rubbing Compound (fine cut). My plan is to go after it with this then follow behind with a couple of passes of IHG and seal it all in with the Show Car Wax. How agressive is the Fine Cut compound. It say on the bottle that it is safe for clear coats, but is it really? Will IHG cover take care of any compound hazing or do I need to get SMR for Dark Cars? Should I just let a body shop do it since I'll be real ticked if I screw up the paint?

Appreciate any help!!
 
NO. IHG is just oils and fillers and is a temporary fix. That's the way it was designed. Even under a wax, IHG will dissipate quickly. Get something finer for a finish product to use after the Rubbing Compound. The Rubbing Compound, even the Fine Cut, is still quite coarse and you need to use the SMR or the Finesse It to get a better finish. You can do it. Don't pay the body shop bills. This is a piece of cake!:up
 
Allright, the place I get my 3M stuff is out of SMR for Dark cars. So, I have gotten my hands on some Meguiars Scratch-X. Will the scratch-X or Fine cut Compound take off the wax on there? Or do I have to remove it differently? Anyway, I'm going into battle tommorow after work. The plan is to first try the Scratch-X on a part of the scratch. If this doesn't work, I'll try the 3M Fine Cut compound. Then follow that back up by Scratch-X, maybe one time over with IHG and then lock it up with Show Car Wax. If this doesn't work, or makes things worse, it's off to the body shop I go for some buffing. (Refuse to replace wind deflector, and refuse to have marks left by it)



Is this a decent plan? Thanks for any advice.
 
ScratchX and Fine Cut Polishing Compound are similar in grit. Don't buy both. Frankly, the 3M product is a higher quality product, better consistancy, but good enough for most do-it-yourselfers.

But again, you need have at least two, preferably three levels of grit in your arsenal. fine medium and heavy.

For touch up work 3M Fine Cut Polishing Compound or Scratch X is considered <strong class='bbc'>Heavy[/b]. Use this step if the scratch or abrasion is deep.

Finesse It or SMR is considered <strong class='bbc'>Medium[/b] Use this as the intermediary or sometimes last step.

Pinnacle Paint Cleansing Lotion is <strong class='bbc'> Light[/b] Use this as a last step if any hazing is left.

If you are not using this progression you really are not doing it right. You should be using pure foam (not terry covered) pads if doing this by hand.
 
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