Correct the localized scratch or redo the entire hood?

[gapwedge]

I had just finished detailing my Lexus earlier this week and it was scratch-free. After driving around town this weekend I decided to spray it down with detail spray. The car was nearly dust free. Sprayed the hood with detail spray and used a clean MF towel. When I finished I discovered 2 nice 12" light scratches that could have only come from the wipe down.

When that happens do you guys do a local correction on the hood where the scratches are or re-detail the entire hood? A newbie question but wanted to know. Thanks.

[Tim]

I'd go with the least aggressive method.  If they are light scratches, try some revive on the scratches only.  No need to do the whole hood.

[RodneyPierce]

Agreed, just hit the areas where the scratches are.  Then re-seal/re-wax the entire hood.  Wont be able to tell any different.

[gapwedge]

My thoughts as well. Thanks.

[Chris@Adams]

I agree just address the scratch.......

[Adam]

Sorry to hear you got a few scratches Gary, which towels were you using?  How dirty was the car?  Any pics of the damage?

[GXPaycheck]

Con you catch a finger nail on it? If not polish will work.

[Ricky Bobby]

You will always have the most dust/dirt settling on the horizontal surfaces after driving around.  Hood, roof, trunk lid, etc.

 

You should do two wipedowns in that scenario and switch your product order up in your regimen.  For truly encasulating any dirt particles and helping with lubricity on the surface, I recommend Rinseless diluted to Waterless at 1:16 ratio or higher.  Give the panel a good soak down, and take a dry, plush towel (single soft, borderless blue, etc), and give a gentle wipe to take up the dirt and most of the product, flipping the towel to a clean edge often.  I say plush as opposed to the Waterless waffle towels Adam sells because you really want that dirt and product soaking into the nap of the towel as you are wiping it, not keeping on the surface of the towel.

 

Then take a clean towel to wipe down the residues and leave a flawless finish.  NOW THAT THE PANEL IS CLEAN, hit it with a couple spritzes of Detail Spray for some added gloss, again with a fresh towel (no cross contamination).

 

 

Literally the only time I would give a dry wipe down (quick detailer/Detail Spray wipe only) is if I just drove around for the day after the car was spotless, and knew I wasn't in a highly dusty or dirty area, and even then I err on the side of caution and would rather heavily lubricate the area with diluted Rinsless in order to lift that dirt away, before giving a Detail Spray wipe.

 

 

 

Does that help for future reference?

Edited August 18, 2014 by Ricky Bobby

[gapwedge]

Sorry to hear you got a few scratches Gary, which towels were you using?  How dirty was the car?  Any pics of the damage?

 

I used a new Adam's MF Waterless blue towel. The car was not visibly dirty at all. No visable dust, etc. That is why I didn't use the Waterless product first to rinse the hood before I applied the Detail Spray, but I did liberally use the Detail Spray so I would not rub the towel on a dry hood.  The towel must have caught a couple of small particles.  The scratches were light, but there.  I removed the sealant and polish around the 2 scratches and used a little of the Adam's finishing polish on a hand foam pad I had with a white cutting side and and black finishing side and worked the finishing polish in by hand.  Problem solved.  Reapplied my sealant and back to a scratchless hood.

[gapwedge]

You will always have the most dust/dirt settling on the horizontal surfaces after driving around.  Hood, roof, trunk lid, etc.

 

You should do two wipedowns in that scenario and switch your product order up in your regimen.  For truly encasulating any dirt particles and helping with lubricity on the surface, I recommend Rinseless diluted to Waterless at 1:16 ratio or higher.  Give the panel a good soak down, and take a dry, plush towel (single soft, borderless blue, etc), and give a gentle wipe to take up the dirt and most of the product, flipping the towel to a clean edge often.  I say plush as opposed to the Waterless waffle towels Adam sells because you really want that dirt and product soaking into the nap of the towel as you are wiping it, not keeping on the surface of the towel.

 

Then take a clean towel to wipe down the residues and leave a flawless finish.  NOW THAT THE PANEL IS CLEAN, hit it with a couple spritzes of Detail Spray for some added gloss, again with a fresh towel (no cross contamination).

 

 

Literally the only time I would give a dry wipe down (quick detailer/Detail Spray wipe only) is if I just drove around for the day after the car was spotless, and knew I wasn't in a highly dusty or dirty area, and even then I err on the side of caution and would rather heavily lubricate the area with diluted Rinsless in order to lift that dirt away, before giving a Detail Spray wipe.

 

 

 

Does that help for future reference?

 

Yes.  Thanks.