Meguiars' "Scratch X" Isn't Really Working...Any Suggestions? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

OsageWinterTRD · 06-24-2010, 09:57 PM

There appear to be beyond-fine scratches in varying spots on my '08 Camry SE, which is in the annoyingly hard to maintain Blue Ribbon Metallic. The wife and I attempted to apply the Meguiar's Scratch-X product, but it didn't remove any of them. I suppose many of them are deeper than we thought, so some of them she touched up with the touch up paint (although the longer ones ended up coming out like blue lines on the car; I wasn't happy), but can anyone recommend a good compound or something that can get moderate scratches out?

eyezack87 · 06-25-2010, 01:11 AM

Porter Cable 7424XP is your best bet to maintain a swirl free finish unless you want to spend days doing it by hand

***PhatRoyale*** · 06-25-2010, 11:38 AM

You never get noticeable results by hand.

Get a variable speed random orbital buffer and foam polishing bonnet and go to work.

Check out Poorboy's polishes. You might need the heavy cut compound to get out deep scratches.

OsageWinterTRD · 06-25-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyezack87

Porter Cable 7424XP is your best bet to maintain a swirl free finish unless you want to spend days doing it by hand

Thanks Zack,

But I was specifically referring to scratches on the paint...

OsageWinterTRD · 06-25-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

You never get noticeable results by hand.

Get a variable speed random orbital buffer and foam polishing bonnet and go to work.

Check out Poorboy's polishes. You might need the heavy cut compound to get out deep scratches.

Thanks 'Phat.

Is Poorboy's a brand? Is there anything else you can suggest outside of using a buffer or orbital device? No "over the counter" cream that's more like the Meguiar's product I had tried?

eyezack87 · 06-25-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsageWinterTRD

Thanks Zack,

But I was specifically referring to scratches on the paint...

You'd be surprised at what a PC can do when dealing with any scratches or swirls

. Though if you insist on doing it by hand, I'd recommend some 4000grit sand paper and a bottle of Ultimate Compound. Work slow and check your work on the touch up portions. Just be careful and you should be fine

***PhatRoyale*** · 06-26-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsageWinterTRD

Is Poorboy's a brand? No "over the counter" cream that's more like the Meguiar's product I had tried?

Yes Poorboy's makes some good cream polishes. Google them up. They are better than the Meguiars IMO, because they make different types which are most specially suited to the severity of the scratch. Scratch-X is only good for minor swirling caused by hard water or an improper wash technique.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsageWinterTRD

Is there anything else you can suggest outside of using a buffer or orbital device?

Honestly, no.

Reason because there is no way that the human hand can work fast enough to break down the polish and push it into the scratch for it to work effectively.

If you're on a budget, just goto sears and grab a cheapo buffer like this:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...18000P?prdNo=1
But make sure it has a variable speed option.

It's a good long term investment and will easily pay for itself in the end. Professional detailing services aren't cheap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsageWinterTRD

Thanks 'Phat.

No need to thank me, just hit the blue thanks button under my post.

OsageWinterTRD · 06-27-2010, 02:13 AM

I'm going to have to Google some of Poorboy's stuff...

glenn14 · 08-04-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsageWinterTRD

I'm going to have to Google some of Poorboy's stuff...

I have the Porter Cable 7424XP DA polisher and pads. I buy all of my detailing supplies from www.autogeek.net They are very good and ship the sameday. They also have videos posted up and an online forum on detailing IMO I think that they are a great operation and are very helpful.
And I recieve all of my orders within 3 days of purchase.

Glenn

OsageWinterTRD · 10-04-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenn14

I have the Porter Cable 7424XP DA polisher and pads. I buy all of my detailing supplies from www.autogeek.net They are very good and ship the sameday. They also have videos posted up and an online forum on detailing IMO I think that they are a great operation and are very helpful.
And I recieve all of my orders within 3 days of purchase.

Glenn

Thanks, Glenn; I haven't even been able to get around to looking at any of their stuff, but doing the mechanical polish thing just isn't for me. I'll have to continue trying hand polishes or waxes to try and get my scratches out...

Tydog07 · 11-16-2010, 08:58 PM

Could I buy a drill attachment and use swirl remover/swirl x/scratch remover with it, could that sub in for a random orbital polisher?

glenn14 · 11-17-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tydog07

Could I buy a drill attachment and use swirl remover/swirl x/scratch remover with it, could that sub in for a random orbital polisher?

I would be very careful with a drill because you could burn through your paint. A random orbital buffer makes a hand like motion but at thousands
of rpm's faster, plus with a polisher you can adjust speeds. If you have a battery operated drill I think that would be safer !!!

Glenn

***PhatRoyale*** · 11-17-2010, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenn14

I would be very careful with a drill because you could burn through your paint. A random orbital buffer makes a hand like motion but at thousands
of rpm's faster, plus with a polisher you can adjust speeds. If you have a battery operated drill I think that would be safer !!!
Glenn

I agree for the most part except the last bolded statement.

While in theory it's safer, in that most battery operated drills usually offer slower rotational speeds, it can still do more damage to paint more quickly than a random orbital buffer in the hands of an inexperienced person.

A random orbital buffer isn't all that expensive, it's a small investment that will offer many years of usage and will save a lot of elbow grease.

glenn14 · 11-17-2010, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatRoyale

I agree for the most part except the last bolded statement.

While in theory it's safer, in that most battery operated drills usually offer slower rotational speeds, it can still do more damage to paint more quickly than a random orbital buffer in the hands of an inexperienced person.

A random orbital buffer isn't all that expensive, it's a small investment that will offer many years of usage and will save a lot of elbow grease.

I would agree with you that is why I bought the PC7424 from autogeek and said "I think" that it would be safer, I would not want to risk my paint
to a drill and buffing attachment.

Glenn

hairball · 11-17-2010, 05:33 PM

I've never had any luck at all with Scratch-X on cars. I have a full tube on the shelf in my garage! About the only thing I've noticed it helped on is plastics, believe it or not. On motorcycle parts and helmets it works great. Not for huge scratches, but for slight scuffs it works awesome! Sure worked on THIS: