"Scratch Remover" not "Swirl Remover"

Fleet

Fleet

The Man With The Plan
I have some microscratches on the bumper of my black Envoy that I cannot get rid of. I've been using the Poorboys products for over a month now, and I am disappointed by the performance of the Swirl Removers. The first time I tried, I used SSR1 with a Polishing Pad followed by SSR2 with a Polishing Pad followed by SSR1 with a Polishing Pad. It didn't work. 2 weeks later, I tried SSR2 with a Cutting Pad X 3 Followed by SSR1 with a Polishing Pad x 2. This past weekend I repeated that process. Those microscratches are still there. They are not deep enough to be felt with a fingernail. I also have this issue on a couple of spots on the hood and roof, but haven't gone through the procedure there for fear of destroying the clearcoat.



I've put a lot of effort into this with the SSRs, and have not had the results I want on the bumper. Perhaps these are the wrong products for microscratch removal.



In all fairness, I feel that SSR1 does a great job of polishing the paint before sealing. There are no swirls, either. However, the SSRs are not touching the microscratches. Also, I am VERY impressed with EXP and EX sealants. They are incredible, really. I've never seen water bead in the rain like it does on my vehicles. EX and EXP get a big :up



Anyways, since SSR2 and SSR1 are not removing the microscratches, what product should I try? I'd like to remove the microscratches, not fill them if possible. I have a PC and a good set of Lake Country Pads. I was thinking of trying SSR2.5, but after the failure of the SSRs, I don't want to waste money on another swirl remover when I need a "scratch remover". Would DACP be appropriate? Maybe I should buy the 1Z Polishes? Vanilla Moose? Menzerna? Maybe I should fill them with a glaze?



What do you experts recommend for removing the microscratches?
 
Depending on the depth, you may need to step it up a notch to a cutting compound or even a rotary. Hard to tell without being able to appraise it in person......
 
I do not have a rotary, so SSR3 probably wouldn't do me much good with just a PC. Even if I ran it at 6, I don't think it would break down properly.



Surely someone has a recommendation for a good polish/compound to get out microscratches with a PC...
 
Fleet- The unfortunate truth of the matter is that some marring just won't come out without a rotary. I've tried the "take more time with the PC" approach, and used some pretty aggressive products with it (and a wool pad). Didn't work. I've spent literally *hours* on one panel, trying to do it by PC. I figured that milder methods would just take longer, but it doesn't seem to work that way.



The Cyclo works better, but sometimes you just have to use a rotary. I don't really know why, but I'd guess it's the heat and direct application of force.



Even with a rotary, sometimes I'll decide that there's marring I just have to live with (even on the freshly repainted hood of my S8 :( ). I'll only work the paint for so long; I want it to last more than I want it to look perfect.



But...using the SSR2 for three passes doesn't sound like all that aggressive an approach to me. Again, when using the PC, I've worked an area for a *very* long time. But remember that the paint on your plastic bumper covers is a bit more fragile than the paint on the metal parts.



Of the other products you mentioned, the 1Z Ultra/Extra is probably the most aggressive. It *might* work, but you'll have to follow up with something milder (like your PB's stuff). The VM is *very* mild and I don't think the Menzerna IP is strong enough either. The DACP might do it, but I dunno...word has it that the 1Z Ultra is stronger, so I'd go with that. It works pretty well for me and is about at the limit of what you can do with the PC.
 
Thanks Accumulator - you know, I should have just taken your advice a couple of months ago and just bought a Cyclo. The reason I bought the PC because I was able to convince the wife I needed a sander for working on the deck. :p



Anyways, I may try out the 1Z Ultra polish. I read a lot of good reviews here at Autopia. DACP is a little expensive to just try out on a whim.
 
Hmmm...I think I paid close to the same for both DACP and 1z, aren't they generally in the $13 range or so? That said, 1z Ultra tends to go on sale, look around on Autopia and Detailers Paradise.
 
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