Removing swirl using Meguiar Scratch X

apophis · Postby **apophis** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 1:18 am

The idiots at the car yard put on the "paint protection" coat on my car when i bought it, and they did nothing but scratched it with swirl marks...

I bought the Meguiar Scratch X today and after reading the Meg Forum, followed it step by step. Its like 200% improvement!

When I do the entire car this weekend, I will post some pics.

Here is the Know how page http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7011

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:05 am

terrific! thanks for that apophis. i was going to get some scratch x actually, i hear it worked wonders.

after looking at the before and after photos, i'll stock up on scratch x. :mrgreen:

philz · Postby **philz** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:13 am

LOL are you actually going to "scratch X" the ENTIRE CAR!?

Scratch X is good for small spots, but it isn't abrasive enough to "cut" down clear coat.
Actually....I don't even believe it even cuts. I'm pretty sure it only filler- filling the swirl marks, so it's only a tempt solution.

To remove swirl marks on your entire car, you need a good swirl remover and polish, and plus you'll need a Random Orbital Machine.

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 2:18 am

let's just say..... my car looks like a moving spider web.. :lol:

Garry · Postby **Garry** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:09 am

I've found that ScratchX does next to nothing on my car, even using a random orbital buffer.

Alex · Postby **Alex** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:15 am

I've used scratch X and it seems to work well but only in focus spots, I wouldn't try using it with a random orbital.
It's good for deep scratches that really show through or for removing paint transfer but I wouldn't use it on the whole car for removing swirls

Jimmy · Postby **Jimmy** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:19 am

I'm with Garry on this one. Scratch X does very lightly cut the paint (otherwise i wouldn't have had a green rag) but i've found that it just makes the swirls/scrathes shinnier. Who knows, maybe i'm doing it wrong. Either way, I reckon Autoglym Paint Renovator works a treat.

sliq · Postby **sliq** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:13 am

my mate has a spare bottle lying around of scratch x, i'll give that a go on my boot lid.. otherwise i'll give autoglym a go as well.. they're widely use on waxit.com.au so they must be good for something.

lionheart · Postby **lionheart** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:01 pm

for the long weekend i'm planning a wash, clay, scratch x, show car glaze # 7, nxt 2.0 wax, 12 hours another layer of nxt 2.0 wax.

will be bit of effort but hopefully look good at the end! all by hand too! will be nice and sore can't wait.

let me know how you go with scratch x entire car.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:58 pm

This Prima Amigo Glaze looks OK as a filler - http://detailparadise.com.au/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3447

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:23 pm

I've found Scratch-X to be really good on small areas, but after a week or so, and when you wash it again, the swirls and marks come back, so it isn't a permanent solution.

DaleZ · Postby **DaleZ** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 4:54 pm

i found the scratch X works great on swirls and my friend's car that got keyed (i've said this in another post here, dun wanna to repeat myself again).....

my own opinion, if u wanna the scratch X to work well, you really need to rub it in.... can't just do a thin layer on the car.... however, dun really need to do the entire car, really no need to..... Just work hard on the troubled areas... a few layers..... Then, must follow by polish and few layers of good wax..... This is to repair the clear coat after all the rubbing..... works well for me....

Alfadog · Postby **Alfadog** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 6:52 pm

Sounds like you should just use some cut and polish - be careful though not to rub too much.

ducktape69 · Postby **ducktape69** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:12 am

scratch X is useless to do a whole car with(especially dark colours like black that really outstand any defects like swirls)...
i found this out the hard way, and had a sore arm for 1 week after

get a GOOD 6" or 8" orbital polisher(not a cheapo $20 ones from autobarn) and some decent mild cutting compounds(brand doesnt really matter, it is all in the application) and practise practise practise!

apophis · Postby **apophis** » Thu Oct 09, 2008 5:41 pm

lionheart wrote:for the long weekend i'm planning a wash, clay, scratch x, show car glaze # 7, nxt 2.0 wax, 12 hours another layer of nxt 2.0 wax.

will be bit of effort but hopefully look good at the end! all by hand too! will be nice and sore can't wait.

let me know how you go with scratch x entire car.

Pretty much did that what lion heart said in my wonderful entertaining long weekend, Washed, Claybared, Scratch X, Meguire Polish, mmmm after much staring and inspecting, minor swirls/scratches gone, deerper swirls/scratches still exist, did another coat scratch X and polish......damn they are still there. With two really sore arms.

Day 2 of long weekend, bought 6"polish backplate + pad to mount it on the drill (I am experienced), more scratch X, its hell shiny at that stage but swirls appear to be resistent to my attacks.......more polish, wax......... if you dont look too close. Its Perfect and shiny, but i am too anal and I want all swirls gone. So i just waxed it a few more times and that was it for now. I will go back with a cut and polish compound or even a pure cutting compound. Will keep you guys posted.

Those who've never used the angle grinder backplate or drill backplate, DONT DO IT. You can easily burn or cut thru your clear coat.

Conclusion? Scratch X DOES work, but only in small area where you can burst out all of your KFC energy in a small area.
Scratch X vs entire car doesnt work.

The trick with Scratch X is, dont put the cream on the application pad, smudge the cream evenly over the paint with hand like moisturising the car, then you rub your pad into the cream covered area (as taught from the Meguire to-do forum).
You dont need circular motion, coz of the "diminishing abrasive beads" back and forth works as good, especially straight scratches.

Always clean your paint before doing any polishing or cutting work, you dont really want to rub the contaminant into your paint even more, henced i claybarred my car before i did anything else.

End result

My mate used to have a saying, looks good from afar, but far from good.