My car was washed by a couple of guys that come to our office building.

Now there are literally scratches ALL OVER my car (Polo Green). It looks like maybe there was sand or something on their towels.

They have not been back since, so I can't have them fix it. They must have done it to some other cars as well.

What's the best way to get these light scratches out? I searched for if people had used that Turtle Wax color treatment/polish, but it looks like everyone thinks it sucks.

What is the best thing for me to do or use?

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

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94 Z28 A4 Stock (for now)

[This message has been edited by SoCalMike (edited December 13, 2001).]

 

Mike, Can you post any pictures of it?

My first guess would be maybe some 3M Swirl Remover. It's an abrasive. That, plus a little elbow-grease might be a start.

Jeff


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1996 Black Z28 M6; Stock.
1994 S10 4X4.

"I can't believe I ate the whole thing."

 

98% of all cars have swirl marks and fine scratches including brand new cars.

Why? Because of dealer prepping and using an abrasive polish combined with the
wrong towels and incorrect washing of towels. Abrasives and Polyester in towels are
the most common causes of swirl marks and fine scratches, especially on brand new
paint finishes. The dealer is the first person to start the swirl process on a paint
finish.

Here's a way to check if your paint has swirls or scratches. Look at your paint finish
under fluorescent lighting. This will let you see every mark on the paint surface.
Then you be the judge.

Store bought Swirl removers are just a temporary illusion and a Band-Aid
approach to the problem.....

I am totally against using abrasives on paint finishes. Abrasives, no matter how fine,
create new scratches, they should be avoided and only used when absolutely
necessary. And then only by a trained professional. The clear-coat on today's paint
finishes is very thin and abrasive products will thin it even further and hurt it, in
the long run creating many more swirl marks and fine scratches.

All swirl removers contain abrasives and are loaded with silicone oils and other oils.

Zaino Show Car Polish contains no Abrasives or Silicone oils. Although abrasives
remove scratches they create new scratches and swirls and they thin out the
clear-coat. Silicone oil camouflages swirls and scratches, temporarily, as soon as the
oil washes away or evaporates the swirls are visible again. Kinda a Catch-22. Z-5
fills swirls and scratches and does not create any new scratches. Because Z-5
durability is so high and will not wash away. The scratches will stay filled. That's
the hot ticket to a flawless paint finish.

The Z-5 is applied, as per directions, and will fill swirls and scratches in stages. One
to three coats of Z-5 depending on the amount and degree of scratches. Z-2 should
always be the last coat of polish on the car. Z-2 has higher optics than Z-5. You can
go from Z-2 to Z-5 and back to Z-2 anytime you like. Always use Z-6 "Gloss
Enhancer spray between each and ever coat of Z-5 or Z-2.

With deeper swirls and fine scratches sometimes the use of an mild abrasive product
like 3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze Swirl Mark Remover #39009 is necessary.. I try
to avoid the use of abrasives and would try my best with Z5, to see if it will correct
the problem. However if you don't see a visible difference after 1 or 2 coats of Z-5.
Waiting 6 to 24 hours between coats of Z-5... Then you need to use the 3M Foam
Polishing Pad Glaze Swirl Mark Remover #39009... see following tips...

3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze use By hand:
Simply apply a small amount (about the size of a quarter) to a cotton diaper or piece
of cotton towel and rub back and forth into about a 1'X 1' section using light to
medium pressure until it starts to dry out. Then take a second towel and lightly rub
back and forth until the polish residue disappears and the gloss comes up. If there
are still some swirls visible you can repeat this step until they are minimal. I prefer
using a less aggressive product a couple times instead of using a more aggressive
product once. After you have done the entire car you can Dawn wash and reapply
your favorite wax/polish or Zaino Z-1 and Z-5/Z-2.

3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze use By orbital:

Use a 100% cotton bonnet or a foam bonnet and apply the polish in a thin lined
growing circle starting from the center and spacing the growing line about an inch
from the last round all the way to the edge. Place the bonnet flat on a panel and
activate the polisher and begin working the entire panel using light to medium
pressure. When you have worked the panel thoroughly then take a clean towel and
wipe the residue off in a back and forth motion using light pressure. Then simply
move to the next section. When the entire car is done do a Dawn wash and Zaino.


DO NOT ever use cotton T-shirts on your car. They contain polyester and will cause
swirl marks and scratch your paint finish. Use my #314 applicator pad for applying
my polish. Read my Tips & Tricks sheet. www.zainobros.com

Towels must be 100% Made in USA. Name Brand(Cannon or Fieldcrest Towels).
These towels are always 100% Cotton. Most other Brand name towels I've analyzed
are not 100% Cotton but a blend of cotton and polyester. The cotton material is
from overseas and is not federally regulated. Even though they say 100% Cotton
they are not.

You must use only white. Not colored towels.....Colored towels are not to be used
because the dye leaves a chemical residue on the paint finish. Always wash your
towels first before using. Use Liquid detergent and rinse twice. Do not use Powdered
detergent, Bleach or any type of Fabric softener. Make sure to run rinse cycle twice
to remove all detergent.

You should cut the selvages(borders) off the perimeter of the towels. This selvage
contains nylon and polyester stitching that could possibly scratch your paint finish.
The towels will fray a little once this is done. But it's better to play it safe.

Drying the towels on high heat will make them hold a static charge. I use the regular
heat setting and remove them a little damp and let them air dry. You can fluff the
towel real good when it's dry to make it softer.

As the towels get older they will lose there nap and absorbency and will have to be
replaced.

I don't like sponges natural or synthetic, they all can scratch...

.


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96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com
Remember #3

 

Thanks for the replies.

Captain Jeff, they are definitely scratches. They look like a light white color. They are not deep, so I think that they are just light scratches in the top surface of the paint. But they are definitely not swirl marks. Sorry I can provide any pictures. I know that it would help.

KevinSS, thanks for the, um, short novel .

I think I'm going to try your 3M approach by hand in a small section to see if it works. If it does, then I think that I'll use my orbital polisher on the rest of the car. Unless I decide to work out my increasingly flabby arms. Age.

I've been thinking about Zaino after seeing all of the comments on this board. If I opt not to use Zaino, do I still want to wash with Dawn before using some other Gold product?

I read somewhere here (or maybe on Zaino's web site) that if you do wax by hand, you want to use a back and forth motion towards the windshield or the top of the car. Is that correct?

Thanks again for your help.

Mike

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94 Z28 A4 Stock (for now)

[This message has been edited by SoCalMike (edited December 14, 2001).]

 

yes on the top of the car use a back and forth motion towards the windshield. and on the sides use an up and down motion. with Zanio you apply and remove the polish by hand. if you use a buffer, to apply, you will waste a lot of polish. and using a buffer to remove Zaino is just over kill because it is so easy to remove.

hope this helps.


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2001 SS SOM Black Leather M6 w/Hurst. #4246 of 6332.

All GM optionexcept cd changer.
SLP Options - SS Grill, SS mats, deck mat, key fobs and dash plaque, and car cover.
Mods: SLP lid, K&N, !CAGS, Lou's short shift handle.
Pictures of my SOM SS

More pics