okay here is the deal! welp i have had a car cover on my car all winter and while i have been working on it since february in the garage. well my moms lovely cats i guess have liked to jump up onto it alot while i wasnt around! so i finally almost have my car done and off jackstands, and i take off the cover. well news to me there are kind of alot of very tiny surface scratches on some of the quarter panels, i take it from the weiners jumping up there, because my paint was flawless until i saw this!! i about flipped. well anyways they dont look really that deep at all, most i cant even feel with my fingernail if i rub it across. well anyways i purchased every Zaino product basically a couple months ago and i am gearing up to wash the Z and Zaino away! well i was just wondering what you guys recommended me doing to prep the paint with those before i Zaino. do i need to do any buffing of any sort, or will enough layers of Zaino fill in the minor inperfections? i got the clay bar and the whole works and i am so anxious to use it all, just want to make sure everything is done right so my finish will look awesome in the end! oh yeah and i just ordered the Microfiber towels from microfibertech.com after having them recommened to me by MikeLS! thanks again man for all your help anyways if anyone could please let me know i would very much so appreciate it! thanks

 

3M Scratch and Swirl Remover for the light scratches, this product works best when used with a buffer, I can be used by hand as well. In our 4 years of testing MF towels we have yet to find any that will not scratch at some point.

 

Doh, darn cats!

If the paint is already in good condition, you probably won't need to do much prep, other than a claying. For those light scratches you will need a light swirl remover, like Meguairs #9 or 3M SMR. You might even try something like Meguiar's Scratch X or Eagle One Scratch Remover. Touch up those areas with your scratch remover of choice until it looks perfect. Then, mix up a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water in a spray bottle and spray over the area that you used the SMR, and wipe clean. The alcohol will remove any and all fillers from the SMR that might have temporarily covered up the scratches. This basically will show you whether or not you actually removed the scratches or just covered them up temporarily with oils and fillers. If you can still see them, you will need to reappy the swirl remover unitl the surface is perfect, even after stripping the fillers. Follow up with the Z5 after doing all the proper prep and admire the shine!

You'll love the clay too! I'm always so impressed with the clay after every use. It's one of the best and easiest prep products that make a world of difference in smoothness and slickness. And, I think it helps in the clarity too!

I think you'll love the Elite MF towels!! I was just polishing a delicate finish on one of my new guitars the other night. I used Z2, Z6, and the Elite MF. Turned out great and the MF didn't harm the finish at all. These particular towels seem very safe. I snapped some digital pix of it afterwards that I'll try to post sometime.....

 

well i just got back from the 3 local parts stores, and none of them carried the 3M SSR, nor the Meguiars #9, or Eagle One SR. the last stop at Autozone only had the Meguiars Scratch X so i picked that up and ill give it a dry. should i be buffing this stuff with my electric buffer, of should i do it by hand. the directions do not mention anything about using a buffer, but i would think it would work better using one IMO. anyways if anyone could let me know if i can use the buffer let me know please! thanks guys

 

The Scratch X is designed for hand use, but there shouldn't be any problem using it with a buffer. If you've got a somewhat small area to touch up, I'd go with hand application first and see if you notice any improvement. If hand application isn't working to your liking, try the buffer. If the buffer doesn't work, you'll need a more aggressive product.....

 

NAPA auto parts usually carries or can get over night any 3M product.

 

I would suggest for any deeper scratches that Z5 won't fill in to use a power buffer with some 3M fine cut rubbing compound and/or swirl mark remover. Wash the surface with Dawn next and then apply the Zaino. I had that problem with my hood after it was repainted under warranty and it has virtually no scratches/swirl marks on it now.

 

I can't just use the clay and Z5? Could I use the Z5 instead of using the #9, 3M SMR, Scratch X or Eagle?

 

Well, it depends.....

It depends on how deep or severe your scratches or swirls are. I've found that Z5 will work, usually in multiple coats, on fine swirls or scratches. Since Z5 is completely nonabrasive and does not physically remove a minute amount of the paint, like a true swirl remover, it will have limitations on what it can fill. For light marring, usually multiple coats of Z5 will help. For anything heavier, you will need a swirl remover (abrasive) to actually remove the swirl or scratch.

Since you already have Z5, try 1-5 coats of it on a small area and see how it works for you. The clay will do nothing for scratches or swirls. Clay basically picks up contaminants to restore that buttery smooth feel. If Z5 does not work, you will need an abrasive to make it look perfect.

I would always prefer the nonabrasive methods first, to preserve the paint finish if possible. So, I would try the Z5 first just to play it safe, unless you already know from looking at the scratches that they will require an abrasive, in which case you would be wasting the Z5.

 

The neighbor saw me messing around w/ my car outside and made a suggestion that I use this stuff that he has. Its called "Reflekt - Liquid Micro Finish" to take out swirls and small scratches...would that work?

 

I honestly have no idea about that one, I've never heard if it. I mainly stick with the tried and true prep products like 3M and Meguiar's for restoration and prep work....

Do you know who makes that product?

 

NAPA Martin Senour Paints...

Its a two step phase...

First theres the Reflekt - Hand Glaze Final Finish Treatment RF-100 (contains no harsh abrasives, waxes or SILICONES), then the Refleckt - Liquid Micro-Finish RF-300

And this may give you an idea of what I'm working w/...

 

well i didnt end up using the Meguiars Scratch X yet, and i drove to Napa today and low and behold they had one tube of 3M sratch and swirl remover for light colors! so i excitedly picked it up bought it! i figure i will try it with my orbital buffer and see if i can just get those minor scratches out then its Zaino time! thanks again everyone for all the help! oh and MikeLS my Micro fiber towels came today from microfibertech.com and i must say they look sweet and i cant wait to use them, thanks for leading me in that direction! laters

 

Yeah those are very nice towels....I absolutely love mine! Even on the most delicate finish they won't scratch, marr, or leave nasty fibers or lint. The microfibers are very "grabby" too and pick up residue like a champ. The towels are a perfect buffing size for me and it usually only takes my one of those towels to completely buff the car. And, of course another for Z6 too! I'm sure you'll really like them!

Glad you found the 3M. Both 3M and Meguiar's make fine prep products, but it seems like 3M is more consistent in its results and their formulas don't rely as much on oils (fillers) as the Meguiar's. It should turn out great!