Help me before I loose my mind!!!

4ord

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Hello fellow detailers,

A little background info-

My good weather car (1995 SVT Cobra) sits in the garage with a cover on it most of the time. Unfortunately I have to share a garage with my 3 cats, so the car has to remained covered at all times. Being that the car has 19 year old original paint, she has some toweling marks and light scratches, but nothing too bad (stayed in the garage for most of its life).

Anyways, The scratching appears to be getting somewhat worse, due to the cover coming on and off when I do get the car out. I suppose that is something that comes with covering a car, but the scratching on my bright rio red paint is seriously killing me. My only other option is to keep my car in a garage that is almost an hour away from my house and I really don't want to keep my car so far away so that I cant enjoy it when I want to!

I know I can remove the toweling marks and light scratches with some polishing, but what is the best way to keep the scratching at bay? I know its impossible to keep the paint perfect forever, but would a paint coating do what I want? Because waxing/sealing alone isn't doing it obviously. What coatings do you guys recommend? The thought of putting something semi-permanent on my paint somewhat scares me, as I have never done anything like it before. I was looking at the detailers paint coating, since it claims to be forgiving to beginners. Thoughts on this product? or any other recommendations for a coating that is around the same price point? Money is somewhat of an object, but I'm not exactly wanting to cheap out. Also looking for something that is somewhat simple to apply. I would say that I know a lot about detailing, but I have never worked with a coating before.


Please help me out you guys. I love my car to death but I hate the scratching!
 
How "soft" is the car cover?
I wonder if the cats can "scratch through" the cover?
Is the cover ever put on a: "not so clean" car?

Bob
 
How "soft" is the car cover?
I wonder if the cats can "scratch through" the cover?
Is the cover ever put on a: "not so clean" car?

Bob

It's fairly soft, but I always put a tarp on top of the cover just for the extra protection. And no, no part of the tarp touches the car. Cover always goes on first!

And absolutely not! I know better lol! I always give the car a good cleaning before it goes away in the garage. And I wash the cover whenever possible..
 
I have yet to use a coating, but I just ordered some (Cquartz UK). I do not know how much it improves scratch resistance.

Maybe you need one of those bubbles for your car: Car Capsule - Indoor Car Capsule

You know, I actually did think about a bubble, but due to space limitations in the garage that may not an option. Maybe a last resort though!
 
What brand and model of car cover are you using?

They vary greatly in price, quality and intended use.

There are very soft, light weight covers that are designed specifically for garages vehicles
 
Hey 4ord

I'm just now getting into coating's so by no means am I an expert just giving what little experience I have at using 3 different brands.

Used Ceramic Pro (nano/9H & Pro light- 3 step process) on a test scoop, pretty good but for first time use I run into a couple problems and it was to long of a process being my first time so I will give Ceramic Pro another try at a later date.

CAR Products first version paint coating on 2 different vehicles and really like the ease of applying and removing. And for being the first time using on a complete vehicle it was pretty easy and really looked great even on a white nissan, it had crazy gloss and slickness!

2nd was a silver ford truck, and man did it look fantastic! Was suppose to be able to get 3 to 5 vehicles out of one 2 oz. bottle but 2 was all I got with enough left over to coat a set of rims.

Now I've got 3 bottles of Detailers Paint Coating and almost through the first one. Use a foam applicator and it is wasting way to much product but used it on a black SL550 mercedes and man did it pop!!

Just got 3 50 ml. bottles of GTechniqs C1 (haven't used yet) and a 500 ml. bottle of C2v3 and have applied it to 2 vehicles so far. It's not scratch resistance but has hydrophobic properties and a produces a slick finish.

What little I know I would say get you a bottle or 2 of Detailers Paint Coating and read the instructions and find some of Mike Phillips instructions and tips and get all or most of the scratches out and then chemically strip the paint with ether IPA diluted at no more then 20% I have some mixed at around 17% but have been using klean strip orderless mineral spirits and going around vehicle twice with several micro fiber towels to spread and seperate to remove excess MS.

Then waiting about 20 minutes or so and then start applying the Detailers Paint Coating, when you finished applying to where you started off apply a second coat in the same manner. That way you will have 2 applications of DPC applied and help keep them scractches off your stang!

Hope I've been of some help! I think the DPC will be the best bet for you and easiest to start off with.:props:
 
One good thing about cats in the garage--it's unlikely that mice will nest somewhere in the car and chew through a wiring loom!
N.
 
I keep a car cover on my car with no scratches at all. Does your car cover have a flannel inner liner? If not, that may be your issue. If you keep your cars in a garage Car Covers Dust top is a good cover. I have another brand with more water protection but it still has a flannel inside lining. Good luck!
 
Hey 4ord

I'm just now getting into coating's so by no means am I an expert just giving what little experience I have at using 3 different brands.

Used Ceramic Pro (nano/9H & Pro light- 3 step process) on a test scoop, pretty good but for first time use I run into a couple problems and it was to long of a process being my first time so I will give Ceramic Pro another try at a later date.

CAR Products first version paint coating on 2 different vehicles and really like the ease of applying and removing. And for being the first time using on a complete vehicle it was pretty easy and really looked great even on a white nissan, it had crazy gloss and slickness!

2nd was a silver ford truck, and man did it look fantastic! Was suppose to be able to get 3 to 5 vehicles out of one 2 oz. bottle but 2 was all I got with enough left over to coat a set of rims.

Now I've got 3 bottles of Detailers Paint Coating and almost through the first one. Use a foam applicator and it is wasting way to much product but used it on a black SL550 mercedes and man did it pop!!

Just got 3 50 ml. bottles of GTechniqs C1 (haven't used yet) and a 500 ml. bottle of C2v3 and have applied it to 2 vehicles so far. It's not scratch resistance but has hydrophobic properties and a produces a slick finish.

What little I know I would say get you a bottle or 2 of Detailers Paint Coating and read the instructions and find some of Mike Phillips instructions and tips and get all or most of the scratches out and then chemically strip the paint with ether IPA diluted at no more then 20% I have some mixed at around 17% but have been using klean strip orderless mineral spirits and going around vehicle twice with several micro fiber towels to spread and seperate to remove excess MS.

Then waiting about 20 minutes or so and then start applying the Detailers Paint Coating, when you finished applying to where you started off apply a second coat in the same manner. That way you will have 2 applications of DPC applied and help keep them scractches off your stang!

Hope I've been of some help! I think the DPC will be the best bet for you and easiest to start off with.:props:

Thanks for the insight! I'm leaning towards the DPC, but still looking at other options!
 
One good thing about cats in the garage--it's unlikely that mice will nest somewhere in the car and chew through a wiring loom!
N.

True! My siamese/tabby mix loves to kill anything that makes it's way in. Lots of roaches and the occasional baby garden snake or mouse.
 
I keep a car cover on my car with no scratches at all. Does your car cover have a flannel inner liner? If not, that may be your issue. If you keep your cars in a garage Car Covers Dust top is a good cover. I have another brand with more water protection but it still has a flannel inside lining. Good luck!

Yeah now that I think about it, I'm 99% sure I don't have a flannel liner in there. So that could be an issue. I did see someone on another forum suggest laying flannel throws on the hood, roof and decklid before the cover goes on, so I may try that if a new cover is a little to spendy for my budget. One brand I looked at were about $255. I will look up the brand you suggested though!
 
Bump! Still open to coating suggestions!
 
Use the car cover you have and drape an old comforter or blanket over it.
 
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