Ferris TMK

Yesterday I wash my car all pretty...Go out to this bar hang out, a couple hours later I come out to a hood Covered in Bird ****. Go home use some Mequires spray cleaner crap.....Go To sleep. Wake up to some nice scratches in the hood.

Anyway I'm gonna clay the car this weekend and was wondering if it'll get the scratches out, or does anyone have any other suggestions???

Chris

Huntter

Yes it does. BUT only by removing them with abrasion. ie by replacing one surface scratch with finer surface scratch. There is no miracle (apart form the marketing miracle), scratches can not be dissolved, only blended by lifting surface of paint/laquer to degrees. That leaves a residual of fine marks/swirls on paintwork.

Ferris TMK

That's what I was afraid of.....

SAR

I've been using clay for years, and found it to be a great way to clean paint.

No, it will not remove scratches, nor will it cause them.

It works by shearing off contaminants that stick to the paint. Much easier on paint than cleaners or other abrasive compounds, though those products certainly are useful too.

If you're just talking about a light swirl mark type scratch, polishes can fill them, as will waxing to a degree.

Deeper scratches have to be buffed out.

Good luck!

matthewk

Again the fact is that Clay is not abrasive.

Jim B

<p>Jim B
'01 S4
Black/Onyx
(UUC Short Shifter/RKII **** - on order)

S4Bloom

Clay is designed as a way to pull contaminants out of the paint surface. It can, as someone stated, do a little to remove some surface irregularities but it is not that effective. Another problem with clay is that it can easily "re-deposit" debris into the surface. You have to be careful.

For removing scratches and swirls you need a quality finishing compound such as 3M Finesse It II or 3M Imperial Glaze.

FI has a higher abrasive level and can be used to remove most bad scratches and all swirls. IG is less abrasive and cannot remove as much with deeper swirls and scratches but it has fillers that help hide what it cannot remove. These fillers are, however, not permanent.<p><img src=" http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/Faster.jpg">
<a href=http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=5245>My Ride.</a>

Huntter

..abraded pressure is the only way you can shear particles off since cutting is abrading and WILL leave a mark that is hopefully lesser than the marks removed.

You know action/reaction? Clay bars will mark paint albeit slightly compared to cutting compounds.

Huntter

But believe what you will. EVERY time you pass some substance or object over your paintwork, microscopic marks are left. These build over time and are generall cause of paint swirl effect of seemingly well-polished cars, when viewed under bright sun. this applies to sponges, chamois, wax, polish, clay. Most things except water and that is your best friend for cleaning paint.

matthewk

is to allow the clay to glide over the surface of the paint without leaving residue or scratching. I guess that my point is that clay is used to grab and remove surface scum and not to abrade. yes it is true that it will leave some abrasion on the paintwork but not like that of an abrasive.