Advice: Paint swirled after claying

[Eidolon]

So I'm claying my 2009 G8 GXP which, unfortuantely, has a really soft clear coat. Using the baggie that one of my polishing pads came in, I can run my hand over parts of it and it feels like sandpaper. The car is three months old.

 

This is not a good sign.

 

So! Time to clay it.

 

Problem.

 

Claying it with an Adams Clay Bar leaves the paint looking like this:

 

It's... pretty heavily scratched. Polishing is now a must. Thankfully, I DO have the D/A Polisher Kit.

 

Any suggestions, though, to reduce the scratching? I'm using Adams Detail Spray, and I'm pretty sure I'm using enough. Should I knead the clay FAR more frequently, to make sure I'm not sanding the paint with the bar?

 

Thanks for any tips.

[Chris@Adams]

I would say that the scratches were already there, you can see them better now that you clayed and cleaned the surface! Not to worry they will come out.

[Eidolon]

I would say that the scratches were already there, you can see them better now that you clayed and cleaned the surface! Not to worry they will come out.

Problem is that they match pretty closely with the motions I was making with the clay. I'm literally in the process of doing all this right now. At 9:30 at night. I'm smart!

 

I'm continuing, but using more detail spray. It seems to help. *nods*

[Chris@Adams]

Make sure you start naturally with a clean car, if the clay looks dirty keep kneading and folding the clay! Good luck! I clayed my G8 when I brought it home new!

[Eidolon]

Make sure you start naturally with a clean car, if the clay looks dirty keep kneading and folding the clay! Good luck! I clayed my G8 when I brought it home new!

The only thing that touches my car is made by Adams.

 

I gave it a quick bath first. Looks like it's going to be a late night. I want to clay it, then give it a polish. Then FINALLY get some wax on it. I might not have time to get the Americana on it, but I can at least get the Machine SuperWax on it.

[Chris@Adams]

You probably have to go over the car first with Swirl & Haze Remover after claying then Fine Machine Polish, then follow up with Machine Superwax or Americana!

[bigred vette]

Make sure to only work one small section until you have your technique perfect. If not it can be discouraging and will be a waste of time and product because it will not be the level of correction you desired.

[mikegeaney]

I just used the Machine Superwax for the first time on Tuesday. The buttery wax had always served me well....but I tried something new and am happy with the results. From what I have read on this forum the MSW is actually a sealant and not a wax. As a result I allowed it to set up for 20-30 minutes before removing. The next day the car did need another wipe down as there was some hazing/residue that needed removing. I did that about 24 hours post application and it looked mint. I will hit it with the Americana this weekend. My rambling point it that you might want to hold off on the Americana a day or so after applying MSW.

[Bill-V8V]

That really looks like you were not using enough DS while claying. And as a rule of thumb you should always polish after claying

[Eidolon]

Well, thanks all for the tips. In the end, I have good news and bad news.

 

First, the bad news. I didn't have time to hit the car again with the Fine Machine Polish and then the superwax. So, unfortunately, all it's got at the moment is a wash, clay, and then FMP/SHR mixed polish job.

 

The good news? It looks GOOD. I used VRT on the tires, buffed the polish off with the super plush towel, and then went the extra mile afterward and used the leather conditioner to treat the interior. The car looks ... amazing.

 

Pictures!

 

 

Obviously there's still some spots I will, unfortunately, have to go back and hit later. The swirls are gone, but there are some deeper scratches remaining here and there that could use the attention. It still looks better now, though, than it has since I first brought it home.

 

So I'll be taking this thing on a 600 mile road trip to Tennessee tomorrow, so I REALLY wish I'd had the time to get the wax on it. That said, what do you guys recommend I do to it next chance I get? This is a clay and polish job. Would I be clear to move on to a wash, fine polish, and finally a wax next time?

[rb11701]

Have you felt the paint with a plastic baggie after the clay job? If it is still gritty, I would opt to clay again. (I know that sucks, but will be well worth it). For you scratches, I would say that not enough lube was used and the clay 'dragged' or you might have had some grit in the clay. This happened to me once, (before I came to see the Adam's light) clayed the car with dirty clay and installed some nice scratch marks. Lesson learned. Clay is cheap, so I always use a fresh piece. I leave the old ones for rims, glass, tailpipes.

 

To polish, I would do SHR on a orange pad primed with detail spray. Watch Junkmans 'Slow Cut' video. Good stuff there for soft clear. I would then follow with FMP on a dry white. Perhaps two passes. If you really seem motivated, perhaps some revive. Then give it the SMW, followed by Americanna 12 hours later. 2x coats.

 

You should drool over your finish when you are done. Then, to maintain is the easy part. A full correction is always a day-killer.

[Team Adam's]

Properly used, clay itself could not have done that much damage, either there was some large particulate stuck in the bar and you didn't rotate the surface or you were using way too little lubrication. In either event it looks to be easily correctable.

[GXPaycheck]

Looks good so far, Kevin!

[Superdutytd]

before you leave put some wax on it for Protection!!!! Don't leave naked paint out there to get hit with all sorts of contaminants. Next time you can simply wash and start FMP'ing and you would be fine but make sure and put a coat of wax over it before driving 600 miles.

[Eidolon]

before you leave put some wax on it for Protection!!!! Don't leave naked paint out there to get hit with all sorts of contaminants. Next time you can simply wash and start FMP'ing and you would be fine but make sure and put a coat of wax over it before driving 600 miles.

I unfortunately literally do not have the time. It's just not an option. I'll have to clay it again next time.

[Bill-V8V]

Shane is right, it really doesn't take long to put on a quick coat of wax. You really should get some protection on there.

[jjwvette]

Looks good Kevin:cheers: