Scratches on Black after claying

mpmiller37 · 10-13-05, 09:16

Have a 2 yr old Black car that I clayed. I couldn't see them in the garage, but the car
has fine scratches all over in the direction I was claying and the finish has been slightly dulled, even after I finished it with Z5.
I have looked at polishes by Menzeran, Zaino Z-PC, scratch-X etc. but am not sure what to use. I do everything by hand and am not sure I can get great polish results by hand. Black is very unforgiving and I'm not a professional. Can anyone advise what product and method would work best to make it look like black glass ?

Picus · 10-13-05, 09:56

Well, you might not want to hear it, but your best bet is to buy a Porter Cable. I've all but given up on doing things by hand, especially on black. You just spend more time marring the car than repairing the paint.

Just my $0.02 of course.

Luster · 10-13-05, 10:16

I also do everything by hand. It's just personal preference for me, mostly because I'm not looking for labor-saving tools... detailing is my excersize program!

Anyway. I've had excellent luck with 3M Swirl Mark Remover topped with Zaino.

Now, keep in mind that there will be people here who say, "No, you're only putting a band-aid on the problem"...

But my experience has been that the light scratches and swirls don't come back.

I usually apply this product two or 3 times a year followed by Z2 with Z6 touch-ups.

Here's your "Black Glass"...

mpmiller37 · 10-13-05, 11:04

The "black glass" does look great.
Why would some say "its a band-aid" ? I read that this product has no fillers or silicon or wax, so its not hiding the scratches, right ?

Luster · 10-13-05, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpmiller37

Why would some say "its a band-aid" ? I read that this product has no fillers or silicon or wax, so its not hiding the scratches, right ?

I haven't been on this forum for quite a while, but it seems like some people were saying that the 3M does have fillers. I haven't researched it...

Personally... I don't care if it has fillers or not... it works great for me!!!

mbjkiller · 10-13-05, 12:42

i used 3M SMR on my car... within months, the same swirls that i hid with the SMR came back! so its a filler product

jmsc · 10-13-05, 01:07

PC + Menzerna OR Z-PC OR Optimum polishes.

I too gave up by hand 3 years ago when I asked my doctor about tendinitis pain in both my hands. He put me on anti-inflammatories and told me to find a new hobby. After 3 years my tendinitis is gone and I detail more cars than I did before. Get the PC.

sharingan625 · 10-13-05, 01:43

so how do you guys use 3M SMR? do you put it on and wipe off after dry like wax? or do you have to work it in like polish?

i too thought this product was a remover not filler.

Black240SX · 10-13-05, 01:57

It has to be worked in. I tried using it once with a PC and had poor results. It seems you need a rotary polisher to get the abrasives to break down.

It does have fillers in it.

MikeWarner · 10-13-05, 02:11

Why does the 3M Swirl Mark Remover state "For Dark Cars"? Surely if it removes swirls, it doesn't matter what colour the car is? My guess is that it does fill.

Tanat198 · 10-13-05, 08:50

It has fillers alright. I tried it before and loved it. It gives the car black look. But as everyone says, the scratches come back.

mpmiller37 · 10-14-05, 04:52

Ok, if the 3M SMR has fillers so the scratches come back, then I need some ideas about what polishes would work best to remove these light scratches, by hand ??

Thanks