Scratch X and very light swirls

I

imported_Faceman

New member
Hello,



Do you guys rate scratch X very highly?



My metallic black car has fine swirls all over it, so fine that if I run my fingers over them the natural grease from my fingers fill them in!



I bought some scratch X and applied it using the meguairs application pads, but it doesn't seem to have had much effect.



Could you guys pass on your tips for getting the best from scratch x please. I don't mind putting to time in if I can get the results.



I have seen two other products called gs27 scratch remover and a turtle wax swirl remover - does anyone have any experience of these?



Many thanks,



Matthew
 
I don't know why people still try to use those products on their whole cars. If you read the instructions on the tube it tells you to apply a bit to a clean towel and then rub it in the direction of the scratch. That doesn't sound like a product for total car coverage to me. :nixweiss



ScratchX is a good product. I've got a tube of that and a couple tubes of GS27. I think they are excellent for what they were meant for. They are just for small scratches in small areas. They aren't for swirl removal or anything else. They will help with scratches from parking next to a bush or from some paint swapping in the parking lot and stuff like that. These are some pictures of what GS27 was able to do for me. I could have gotten better results with a PC and some more polish but my resources were limited where I did this car at.



Before: After:



Click for larger views



You can tell that it made a huge difference. It didn't fix all the damage but that was pretty much all I could do by hand with just the GS27. It works well on stuff like this but I'd never try using it for swirl removal. That's what #9 and SMR are for. :xyxthumbs
 
If you are just trying to hide these swirls in your black paint a glaze type of product may alleviate some of the imperfections by filling them. Products such as 3M IHG (imperial hand glaze), Megiuar's #7 will serve this purpose. If you are willing to maybe change the optics ( rounding sharp edges) of the swirls and filling at the same time, you may try a paint cleanser prior to the glaze ( P21S GEPC, Clearkote's Vanilla Moose (polish/wax) or Meguiar's #9) Follow these steps with a pure carnuaba (no abrasives).

Of course the best method is to eliminate the swirls with a SMR and PC ( or by hand and a lot of elbow grease) followed with the protectant of your choosing.



There are also some system products that will improve your finish.

Klasse AIO/ SG and Mequiar's 3-step system ( cleanser,polish, wax).



Do a search and read about swirl removal. Also the E-book has some wonderful infomation concerning paint care and repair.:wavey
 
Thanks for the replies guys...



JNRBRDMAN: The reason i tried Scratch X on the swirls was because in the Meguairs catalogue I have it describes scratch x as "Eliminate fine scratches and swirls with ease. This advanced formulation removes scratches and swirls while enhancing the paint colour." Therefore, as I wanted to remove my swirl marks I thought this to be the ideal product.



BLKZ28CONV: I d/l the e-book, but unfortunately it's only for the pc, and I have a Mac. Never mind. Perhaps someone could send it to me in .pdf format.



Thanks again,





Matthew
 
I would definatly try something else for total surface use. #9 might be your next product to try. Are you doing this by hand or by machine? If by hand then you'll find that #9 is about 100 times easier to work with than ScratchX is. GS27 is basicly the same thing as ScratchX but at twice the cost. I wouldn't bother with it really.



The other problem with both ScratchX and GS27 is that it leaves massive hazing and streaking. I always have to wipe down the surface with a QD and a towel after I'm done. I can only imagine the kind of mess is it would be on the whole car. You'll enjoy something like Meguiar's #9 much much more I think. :up
 
Don't forget you have to really rub it in (not your whole body weight of course :p) and work it for a while like any abrasive product. I spoke to someone not long ago who simply lightly applied Scratch-X to the surface like it was a wax and then buffed off. I think part of the problem is that the Scratch-X directions don't explicitly tell you to use pressure and rub it in.
 
i've tried scratch X on my hood with my pc, and I came away with the impression that its very mild, and contains fillers, it noticeably removed the light swirls, but left the real scratches there. next step for me will be 3m SMR and then if that doesn't work....dacp
 
I love this forum.. all this advice - I really appreciate it, guys.



JNGRBRDMAN:



I e-mailed Meguairs UK recently, and the reply I got regarding the No.9 vs Scratch X was, and I quote:



"The #9 Swirl Remover is designed for machine application with a high speed rotary buffer. If you have this kit and the necessary experience the product will be great to use before the #7. Scratch X G10307 would be a far better product for hand application."



So now I am really confused ;) You think I can get away with No. 9 applying it by hand then? I'm willing to give it a shot it it will work, even if it means lots of effort!



Someone needs to invent a miracle all-in-one swirl remover/paint cleaner/glaze/wax/protectant that reallly works, all for less than a tenner!!!



Look forward to your reply,



Face
 
I have a black car, too, and I use MG#9 with a PC and a white pad. If I need more power I'll use a yellow pad.

Then I use MG#7.

Then wax with P21S.



With a PC, #9 and #7 are a great combination. You can use ScratchX on AREAS, but I'd still then go over that area with #9, then #7, then a wax.
 
unfortunately, i don't have a PC - only my two little arms ? so do you thinnk I can get effective results using the no.9 by hand and loads of elbow grease?
 
Faceman said:
I love this forum.. all this advice - I really appreciate it, guys.



JNGRBRDMAN:



I e-mailed Meguairs UK recently, and the reply I got regarding the No.9 vs Scratch X was, and I quote:



"The #9 Swirl Remover is designed for machine application with a high speed rotary buffer. If you have this kit and the necessary experience the product will be great to use before the #7. Scratch X G10307 would be a far better product for hand application."



So now I am really confused ;) You think I can get away with No. 9 applying it by hand then? I'm willing to give it a shot it it will work, even if it means lots of effort!



Someone needs to invent a miracle all-in-one swirl remover/paint cleaner/glaze/wax/protectant that reallly works, all for less than a tenner!!!



Look forward to your reply,



Face
Click to expand...





Now that is interesting... I still stand by what I've experienced though. ScratchX would be much harder to use by hand over the surface of your car than #9 would. I've tried using both of them by hand on the insides of my doors and the #9 is a much easier product to work with. So Meguiar's actually says that ScratchX can be used on the entire car? That is really interesting. I would never have considered using the product that way. I still think there are better products to use.



Personally I don't think that any product is appropriate for removing swirls by hand. There are a few very experienced detailers who can do it, but not too many. If you want to eliminate swirls then prepare to either put a ton of work into it and probably several hours or get a machine and do it that way. Doing it by hand is just really tough work. If ScratchX will remove swirls then its news to me. I've never had any success with swirls and ScratchX. :nixweiss Everybody's results vary though.
 
Faceman said:
Someone needs to invent a miracle all-in-one swirl remover/paint cleaner/glaze/wax/protectant that reallly works, all for less than a tenner!!!
Click to expand...



Babe, truer words have rarely been spoken!! lol



Faceman said:
unfortunately, i don't have a PC - only my two little arms ? so do you thinnk I can get effective results using the no.9 by hand and loads of elbow grease?
Click to expand...



Only if you're built like Scottwax!



Here's a link to a post with his gorgeous pic! LoL LoL



http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15385



I think it's time to move up to a stronger abrasive....like Meguiar's DACP, 3M Finesse-It II, or 3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound. Then follow it up with a swirl remover like Meguiar's #9.
 
Jngrbrdman said:
Now that is interesting... I still stand by what I've experienced though. ScratchX would be much harder to use by hand over the surface of your car than #9 would. I've tried using both of them by hand on the insides of my doors and the #9 is a much easier product to work with. So Meguiar's actually says that ScratchX can be used on the entire car? That is really interesting. I would never have considered using the product that way. I still think there are better products to use.
Click to expand...



I have done a car by hand with scratch X, and I have done my own car with scratch X with the pc. I can say that in order to get best results with scratch x, it's best to use a buffer(pc is what I used). By hand, it takes effort before the scratchx starts to visibly clear up a bit, while with a pc, it gets worked out in a few seconds.



Btw, is it just me or does scratch X leave the surface feeling a bit oily? the feeling dissappeared after i put the wax on so i didn't think anything of it :nixweiss :confused:





Intermezzo: what would be the aggressiveness of those compounds? from what I've read I think its FCRC>DACP>Finess-It am I correct? I just recently ordered 3m FCRC and SMR, I'm hoping to be able to remove all the swirls from my car with that combo.
 
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