Working on a black car, 2003, Orange pad with Machine Polish 2 (Griot's garage) removes swirls, making these scratches stand out even more. How should I proceed with removing this mess?

Thank you!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y219/kazakovi/xy096.jpg

If you don't have a rotary you can try your favorite polish by hand. By using your finger tips and cotton terry cloth (the nap of the cloth gives the product more bite) you can remove deeper scratches then a PC. Can you catch those with your fingernail? If you can, its gonna take a huge amount of elbowgrease.

I have remove pretty deep scratches using Meguiars' ScratchX and cotton terry cloth, when I didn't feel like going to the rotary buffer. I takes several applications, and alot of manpower when working the product.

I agree. Spot application of Scratch-X works well to reduce these kinds of scratches. I used it in many places on a car we were preparing for sale.

Be sure to finish with a fine polish to remove any micro-marring caused by the Scratch-X.

I do have porter cable. The whole car is covered with these, bumper to bumper and bumpers are bad too. Do I use Scratch "eliminator" before or after polish?

Thanks!

Before, esp. if your using a terry cloth to work the product against the car's surface, as this will leave micromarring over every area you treat. If its over the whole car, you might wanna skip it and just get a rotary..ha. Thats ALOT of work...

If you need to go over the entire car, you might just want to drop down to Griot's Machine Polish 1 (the most abrasive) and finish with Machine Polishes 2 and 3.

Stupid me didn't buy # 1, only 2 and 3. If going ScratchX, can I use my porter cable?

I vote wet-sand --> polish --> Miguire's wax.

How does a 2003 have such a bad finish?

Stupid me didn't buy # 1, only 2 and 3. If going ScratchX, can I use my porter cable?
You can't use ScratchX with the PC...I'd just buy a more abrasive polish online like Griots 1. No need for wetsanding...Good luck

How does a 2003 have such a bad finish?
New paint can get scratched up in a hurry if you use automatic car washes or the soapy brush at the coin-operated washes.

ScatchX has recently been reforumlated for use via PC, however, I think there are better alternatives if you are gonna go the PC routte.

How does a 2003 have such a bad finish?

Honestly, that's what I am trying to figure out myself! My 1987 bmw looks better! Oh well, I will work on them tomorrow and update with results. So far, thank you to all members who are helping me! :alright

Tried ScratchX today, absolutely no results. Tiny scratches more like swirls went away, the big ones stayed. I guess I will be getting something like Griot's # 1.

Thanks!

Sorry it didn't work, how did you apply it and how many applications did you use. I have seen scratchX remove deep (nail catching) scratches before, so I"m just curious. The directions on the tube are horribly wrong.

Don't give up on Scratch-X. It needs a fair amount of pressure and multiple applications to reduce the appearance of scratches. Be sure to rub perpendicular to the scratch so that you round it off.

Thank you Gents, I will try once again.

Thank you Gents, I will try once again.

Scratch X will only go so far for that scratch. I would really try 3m Perfect it Rubbing compound (from pepboys), Poorboys SSR 2.5 (ocd garage), Menzerna Intensive Polish (top of the line), or even topoftheline.com heavy cut compound.

I would then go over it with a finer polish such as Menzerna Final Polish II, or Poor boy SSR 1, or Top of the line.com Light cut. It shoudl get rid of most of it. Make sure you break in the product if you use these. I had trouble the first couple of times, but i figured out i wasn't going over them enough times.

http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/ this is a GREAT websie of the different stages and products that you can use. Great detailed picutre of the break in. Try it out, I don't believe Scratch-X will be able to remove those deep scratches.

Thanks, I am getting ready to order Poorboy's along with some other bits and pieces.

Thanks for the link, I've been there already.

I agree with artixscout... But if you want to do it by hand and not PC, IVe had much better luck using 3M Moderate Strength Cleaner Wax than Scratch X for removing micromarring and light swirls and scratches.. On deeper scratches, it rounds them off, and eliminates those not so deep.. And what I like best about it is that, by hand, it removes the scratches without introducing micro marring. I use it as the all purpose hand polish in my scratch attack toolkit.