Its all in the details

[jackhammer]

Welcome to the unofficial "Official car detailing thread"

I need to get rid of some scratches, will claybar work?

My paint is "metallic black"......do i dare use black "color wax" on it?

[jackhammer]

[rant]If this thread dies, ill be forced to post on 3si[/rant]

[Terry]

Have any pics of the scratches? If they're really fine something like meguiars Scratch-X and a good wax might help. If not they you'll have to buff it. Here's some before and after pics I took the other day on my parts care...

Before:




After:

[jackhammer]

Scratch-x huh? sounds like a plan

[Terry]

You can find it at most parts stores. Does a decent job of getting out the shallow ones but if they're deep forget about it....you'll need a buffing. Just go over it with the scratch-X a few times (works just like wax) then put a good coat of wax on it. It should at least make the scratches shiney.

Terry

[Zentelis]

claybaring is only good for getting the paint smooth..removing microscopic dirt and "burs" in the paint.

So it won't help with scratches, but i still strongly recommend you claybar it after you buff it

[Daetlus]

Clay bar won't fill anything in, it just pulls stuff off.

[Terry]

[quote=""Zentelis""]So it won't help with scratches, but i still strongly recommend you claybar it after you buff it [/quote]

I would do it before...if the clay bar leaves scratches (which it can) then the buffing will get them out.

Terry

[jackhammer]

I guess i have my work cut out for me.

[Daetlus]

Am I the only one that finds "I guess I have my work cut out for me funny?

[jackhammer]

[Overtaker]

Claybar removes above surface contaminants that are bonded to your paint that regular washing will not remove (fallout, overspray, sap...).

The easiest way of removing scratches without a machine would be Meguiar's Scratch-X. Like any hand-applied product, it works best on light scratches.

[Zentelis]

[quote=""Terry""]I would do it before...if the clay bar leaves scratches (which it can) then the buffing will get them out.

Terry[/quote]

ack! you're right..
I got the order backwards..it's been a while since i detailed a car