Preview: 2003 Black Audi S6 Avant

Z

z driver 88t

New member
Hey guys. Your advice, please.



I am obsessively trying to eliminate all scratch/swirl marks from a grey-silver (lunar mist) finish on a 1 year old Toyota. Started with Griots machine polish #3 applied with DA.



It is working a bit, but I have gone over it 4 times now, DA at speeds around 4-5. Using Griots orange pad. I get the sense that maybe I should try their #2 machine polish and then go to #3 for finish. These polishes can also be combined to create "custom" grit.



Anyway, while on this subject I would like to know what polishes would be similar to these in abrasiveness, and could you rank them this way? Do you have a favorite order of products that would be used with DA? (please also mention foam pad used)Also, I don't want filler products as I want to eliminate the scratches, not cover up.



Thanks.
 
To get rid of swirls and light scratchs you want to start with the mildest abrasive. Only if the mildest doesn't work will you need to go a step more abrasive.

Lighting can make a HUGE difference in what you can see. Try to work under flourescent or halogen lights. That way if your lighting is constant you will be able to make a more scientific comparison of different products.

When you get to a level of product that removes the scratchs then use that product followed by the next mildest and the next mildest. For example if you had to start at the bottom of the list of products in this post, you would then work your way up to the top, before waxing or sealing the finish.

I like 3M Products for tasks like this because they have a graduated scale of abrasive products which will allow you to choose the right product for the job. The first item the SMR is not classified as a rubbing compound because it is so fine and it has the added benefit of leaving a very smooth glazed looking surface.

From mild to abrasive here's a list of 3M's products.

<em class='bbc'>clic pics[/i]

 
Thank you for the suggestions, Short Cut. I appreciate it. Especially about the lighting. I have noticed that in normal light all looks great, but come twilight or under some parking lot lights, what a mess.



I don't have access to a garage with this car, it is under an outside carport. Is there any kind of lighting set up you know of that is portable and would be best suited to uncover paint scratches/swirls - how powerful, etc?
 
I suppose I would look for a place with: <ul class='bbcol decimal'>[*] Accessable water[*] Electricity[*] Shade[/list]
Some newer apartment complexes have car wash stations maybe you could smooth into one of those. Maybe the back side of a strip mall or Wal-Mart? Have you got one of those hose bib keys? Ok, you've got me thinking here I'm down with the concept of the renegade detailer :-) Have tools will travel. One of those coiled hoses would be great. I'll show you a pic of what I mean but you can probably do better price wise if you shop around.

<em class='bbc'>clic pic[/i]


Do you live in? <ul class='bbcol upper-alpha'>[*] A city[*] The burbs [*] The sticks[*] None of the above[/list]
 
I live in Sacramento and have an electical cable that I can run out to where the carport is. So I could work at night on those swirl/scratch things with the proper lighting. There is a car wash area here but no electical outlet there. What I usually do is wash/dry there and bring car back to my carport, then run my electric cable to the car and do DA stuff, etc.



I do all my DA work under the carport and periodically move out to the sun to check my work as I go along. I put microscratches in finish last year by not checking progress of claying in sun. Could not see damage I was doing under carport. Now I know that you have to not only get in the sun, but check from 72 angles to see!!!!:eek: Ah, the pain of perfectionism. Somehow I think you understand. :D



So that is the setup, my friend. Any recommendations on lighting set up and how powerful?
 
One mobile 500 watt Halogen light would do the trick. Brace yourself before you turn it on and point it at your paint though because it will reveal things that you hadn't seen before gauranteed. All the home centers have the 500 watters that are on tri-pod stands that would probably be the best bet for positioning the light just right.



I lived in Sac for a year and a half and Chico before that so I know how HOT it gets up there in the summer! :cool:
 
Hey Short Cut. At the risk of sounding stupid - Lizards aren't too bright - would that halogen light show stuff up even in the daylight? If I am in the shade of a carport, do you think that thing could reveal some of those elusive scratches by angling it right? Is 500 watts powerful enough to do this? As you know, the angle of the light is everything....
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by The Lizard [/i]
<strong class='bbc'> would that halogen light show stuff up even in the daylight? If I am in the shade of a carport, do you think that thing could reveal some of those elusive scratches by angling it right? [/b]</blockquote>
<em class='bbc'>clic pic[/i]


Yes a 500 watt light will work in shaded daylight. Check this one out for $23.
 
$23!!!??? That is so cool, where can I get it and do you think 500 watts is enough? I just went out and had to get the car angled in the sun just right so I could inspect the scratch removal polishing I had done. Got a lot of spider webbing out but it took many passes with DA and Griots #3 machine polish. These things come back anyway, don't they? They are all over the car. Am I wasting my time trying to fight this? Would a could sealant protect against this (Klasse, etc.) once applied?
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by The Lizard [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>$23!!!??? That is so cool, where can I get it ? [/b]</blockquote>
Click on the picture of the light for info on where to purchase it. :cool:
 
Short Cut:



Thank you. I saw pictures of your car - beautiful and lush looking finish - while doing a search on scratch and swirl removal. Found this post by you:



Hey that's cool if you want to use a good detailer in your area. However you can do so much yourself armed with Autopian knowledge and a few tools you can work miracles. You CAN do it. Before I found this forum I would never have used a powered machine to polish or wax my black Porsche. After learning more and more and even watching online videos that Mayor David created, I gained the confidence to purchase a PC machine and use it for 3M's FI II and SMR. Wow was I ever impressed with the results. I take a lot of pride in getting those kind of results myself.



For the cost of a high end detail you can built a really useful arsenal of cleaning products. Here's a few things I'd recommend:





Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher with asst. pads

3M Finnesse It II & SMR

A good wax or sealant

Micro Fiber or 100% Cotton terry towels (prefer MF)

Quik Detailer

Glass Cleaner

Vinyl/Rubber protectant

A big wash bucket w/ a quality wash mit & car wash soap

Carpet cleaner

Leather cleaner & conditioner

A dozen foam applicators

A poly clay bar

David's ebook



:confused: I wonder if I am fighting a battle that cannot be won in that the things I am trying to remove from my surface are those that everyone seems to have - those spider web swirl things that look so symetrical and perfect - seems like they were intentionally put on the car. You know, in the sun - at the right angle - they appear to be perfect swirls of microscratches.



Can these, once removed, be prevented from coming back? They are all over my car and I spent about an hour - 7 appications or so - with griots #3 machine polish and DA removing them from half my trunk. Perhaps I should have started with something more abrasive and ended up with the #3?



Have you eliminated this problem from your vehicle with the above regimen or do you have to live with it? Thanks.
 
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