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Alternative to Scratch X?


DHA
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Got a few surface scratches that need removing, cuased by coats and bags brushing against the car. Scratch X doesnt make any difference no matter how many times I use it. Is there an alternative out there? The paint has not been damaged, just the laquer.

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I was about to post this story anyway but I thought that this thread would be as good as any to tell it! 169144-ok.gif

What you are about to read is genuine! I promise you this is NOT a wind-up! shocked.gif

The 18 year old son of a very close friend of mine turned up on my doorstep just over a week ago looking somewhat worried. After "she-who-must-be-obeyed" had calmed him down and made him a cuppa he told us the reason for his distress.

His old man had recently bought him his first car (Corsa) and the previous night the lad had parked it underneath some trees while at his girlfriends house. As you can imagine the local bird population had a field day and upon the young lads return he found dung.gif all over his beloved little vauxhall! frown.gif

Anyway, the following afternoon he set about removing the offending deposits with......get this.... A PAN SCOURER!!!! suicide.gif

He'd come to me initially in the vain hope that I would stand between him and his old man in order to prevent him from getting a good kicking. I looked round the car and found eight huge swirls in various positions on the bodywork.....yes, it was as bad as you're imagining, in fact it was probably even worse than that.

Anyway after a good clean with some Meg's shampoo I attacked the swirls with some Scratch X. Don't get me wrong it was bloody hard work, and you should've seen the size of the blister I was left with on my index finger, but after a coat of polish and then a coat of wax I'd got rid of the lot! laugh.giflaugh.giflaugh.giflaugh.gif

Awesome stuff I have to say! 169144-ok.gif

And if I'm really honest it's thanks to the knowledge of the guys and gals on TSN that I even knew about it! notworthy.gif

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The trick apparently is to work it till nearly all the residue is gone and repeat several more times. Worked for me on bird etchings and assorted marks on my paint that nothing else would remove......however, no matter how long, how hard or how many times I work it on sctraches on my 04 A3, the scratches just wont budge. These are merely lacquer scratches that can't be felt with the fingernail test. They just won't go. According to the Mequairs and Autopia forums, Audi's have notoriously 'Hard' paints. The paint apparently doesn't scratch quite as often as 'Softer' paints used by other manufacturers but when you do get a scratch its much harder to get out.

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Chilli, I think the first thing I would check is what you used to apply and wipe off the product. Cloths or rags with nylon in will make things worse, as will any cloth with fine grit on it. You should be using 100% cotton terry towels or microfibre. Cant comment on the turtle wax, but scratching is more likely the applicators I think.

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I note you have an audi A3 as someone else said very hard clearcoat whereas vauxhall is very soft in comparison. What works for one may not work for another!

Find someone who knows their way around a rotary polisher is your best (only) realistic bet!

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[ QUOTE ]

I note you have an audi A3 as someone else said very hard clearcoat whereas vauxhall is very soft in comparison. What works for one may not work for another!

Find someone who knows their way around a rotary polisher is your best (only) realistic bet!

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently the guys on Meguairs and Autopia often have problems removing defects on their audi paints with the ubiquitous Porter Cable random orbital p[olisher never mind with scratchX by hand. They too recommend getting a pro with a rotary to work on the Audi's if the owner wants a perfect finish.

I've given up trying to remove the scratches on my 04 A3, not that I have that many. The filling properties of the Deep Crystal Polish and Carnuba Wax make most if not all my scratches and swirls invisible anyway. I polish and wax often enough (3-4weeks) that its only the last week before a wash that I start to see the swirls making a reappearance. Thats the que for my to set aside some time that week to wash, polish and wax the car.

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