Micro scratches on black Camaro ???

[kchisarik]

So I have a 2011 black Camaro that has some very minor micro scratches. I take good care of her (two bucket wash twice a week, etc) but I guess it just happend with a black DD.

 

Also my wife hit it the other day with a kids toy in the garage, the scratch is invisible EXCEPT to me.

 

I ordered some S&H and the orange pad.... just got it today. The directions say to use it then "DO NOT REMOVE S&H RESIDUE, Apply Revive..."

 

I dont have Revive in my current aresenal, is it necessary?

 

Can I just wash, clay, S&H, then brilliant, and buttery? or do I really NEED to add in the Revive step?

 

Thanks for the help here.

 

Also, I know a PC would be best but it isnt in the budget after paying for prom recently

[kchisarik]

or after poking around here some more should I start with Revive, these scratches are super super fine micro's only visible in bright bright sun or under a lamp..is S&H overkill perhaps?

[Zman12]

I am pretty sure you would have to follow SHR with Revive or it will be a little hazy.

[BlueGenCoupe]

any time you use SHR or SSR, you must always follow up with with a least aggressive pad/polish. So if you were planning on using SHR, the next step would be FMP. after FMP you can follow it with MSS or Spray sealant then BG and Americana.

[mc2hill]

Are you doing this by hand or with a machine?

 

With a PC or Flex you will need to follow up the SHR with FMP to complete the polishing.

 

If you are doing this by hand, Revive is recommended, but may look OK without it.

 

The polishes & pads are similar to sandpaper, you want move to a finer grit paper to complete the process. The polishes in order of 'grit' are:

• SSR/green pad - most coarse
  
• SHR/orange pad - meduim grit
  
• FMP/white pad - fine grit
  
• Revive/blue hand pad - mostly a paint cleaner
  

[07RS4]

He said he is doing it by hand....and I agree, hand application will look OK without the revive, but the results won't be maximized. I wouldn't do a whole car if I didn't have revive, I would wait, but in isolated area's there is no harm, and you could always touch up later.

[kchisarik]

thanks all much appreciated. Going to get some Revive. Ill post some pics of how she comes out

[Chris@Adams]

You will love Revive!!

[kchisarik]

ok so I got my Revive and went at doing a test spot on my black Camaro.

 

I feel like I must have done something wrong because the result was it actually made it worse. My test spot on my hood now has significant swirling under direct sunlight and I am SAD.

 

Maybe I did something wrong?

 

Here is what I did.

 

1) Two bucket wash, twice

2) Claybar until smooth to the baggie test

3) Revive - (wanted to see if this alone would remove the micro swirls, it didnt)

4) So then I hit a small spot with the Swirl and Haze, following the directions by not removing, and then did a pass with Revive

5) The result was significant increased swirling

 

now I am in panic....

 

6) Did another pass with Revive a few times not using a circular motion but back and forth strokes in alternate directions.

 

7) Brilliant Glaze

8) Buttery Wax

 

It looks better, but I still have swirling worse than when I started.

 

Did I do something wrong, where do I go from here?

 

Do I need to invest in a PC to correct this and fix my original problem? I am now more scared than ever that the PC will swirl my paint... as I did my hand passes with the S&H I could feel the grit and it made me cringe but I figured the result would be OK. It wasnt.

 

Later in the day I went to a Camaro show (Delaware Riverfront) and was picking the brains of some guys that had nice black paint. They all said different things, the one guy that had the "best" black paint told me I would have to wet sand with 2000 grit sandpaper!!!!

 

Frankly all the black cars there had imperfect paint with micro-scratches, maybe I am just not being realistic in thinking I can keep her "like new" after a year??

 

HELP!!

[kchisarik]

Maybe it was too hot? It was 10AM, but the sun was hot. I figured that washing twice would have cooled the paint enough but I just read another post that says not do do this in direct sun or if the paint is hot as it will make the paint "soft" and increase the chance to swirl? True?

 

Should I hit the spot again on a nice cool evening or with it in the garage?

[Fit08]

ok so I got my Revive and went at doing a test spot on my black Camaro.

 

I feel like I must have done something wrong because the result was it actually made it worse. My test spot on my hood now has significant swirling under direct sunlight and I am SAD.

 

Maybe I did something wrong?

 

Here is what I did.

 

1) Two bucket wash, twice

2) Claybar until smooth to the baggie test

3) Revive - (wanted to see if this alone would remove the micro swirls, it didnt)

4) So then I hit a small spot with the Swirl and Haze, following the directions by not removing, and then did a pass with Revive

5) The result was significant increased swirling

Bingo.... you need to use Fine Machine Polish after swirl and haze NOT revive!

 

now I am in panic....

 

6) Did another pass with Revive a few times not using a circular motion but back and forth strokes in alternate directions.

 

7) Brilliant Glaze

8) Buttery Wax

 

It looks better, but I still have swirling worse than when I started.

 

Did I do something wrong, where do I go from here?

 

Do I need to invest in a PC to correct this and fix my original problem? I am now more scared than ever that the PC will swirl my paint... as I did my hand passes with the S&H I could feel the grit and it made me cringe but I figured the result would be OK. It wasnt.

 

Later in the day I went to a Camaro show (Delaware Riverfront) and was picking the brains of some guys that had nice black paint. They all said different things, the one guy that had the "best" black paint told me I would have to wet sand with 2000 grit sandpaper!!!!

 

Frankly all the black cars there had imperfect paint with micro-scratches, maybe I am just not being realistic in thinking I can keep her "like new" after a year??

 

HELP!!

 

The BG and Butter would HIDE some of the swirls hence why you seen some improvement.

[mc2hill]

Unless you had something on the polishing pads, you would not have created the swirls with SHR or Revive.

I would suggest attending the http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/upcoming-detail-clinics/18197.htm with your car and have Adam or Phil take a look at it. You would also get the chance to try out the PC and see for yourself how it can correct your paint, and how easy it is to use.

[kchisarik]

Bingo.... you need to use Fine Machine Polish after swirl and haze NOT revive!

 

The BG and Butter would HIDE some of the swirls hence why you seen some improvement.

 

Well that is both very annoying (since the bottle clearly states to follow up with Revive) and comforting that there is hope.

 

Thank you for the reply.

[kchisarik]

Unless you had something on the polishing pads, you would not have created the swirls with SHR or Revive.

I would suggest attending the http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/upcoming-detail-clinics/18197.htm with your car and have Adam or Phil take a look at it. You would also get the chance to try out the PC and see for yourself how it can correct your paint, and how easy it is to use.

 

I'm there!

 

They were new pads, I am befuddled. I know the S&H created the swirls becase I never uses a circular motion when washing or at any other time.

[mc2hill]

Well that is both very annoying (since the bottle clearly states to follow up with Revive) and comforting that there is hope.

 

Thank you for the reply.

 

For hand polishing in order of aggressiveness is SHR (most aggressive) then Revive (least aggressive). If you use SHR, then you have to follow-up with Revive. Sounds like you have that part correct.

When you move up to the PC, FMP will follow the SHR.

[K5/TBSS]

Bingo.... you need to use Fine Machine Polish after swirl and haze NOT revive!

 

 

 

The BG and Butter would HIDE some of the swirls hence why you seen some improvement.

 

For hand polishing in order of aggressiveness is SHR (most aggressive) then Revive (least aggressive). If you use SHR, then you have to follow-up with Revive. Sounds like you have that part correct.

When you move up to the PC, FMP will follow the SHR.

 

Yeah I'm confused... OP stated clearly that he's hand polishing, which process includes S&H, then Revive. Only with a machine do you use Severe Swirl, then S&H, the Machine Polish.

 

What am I missing? OP I'm not sure what's wrong with your process... All looks good to me.