correct every small scratch?

marjen

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So I was just doing some light cleaning and notice a couple small scratches. Should I correct them right away? Is there any harm in working each and every minor issue? Like are there only so many times I could do that before i cant anymore.
 
Hi,

The answer to your question depends on different variables, but I think that the most important one is whether or not your car is a daily driver. If it is, then the answer should probably be no - Don't correct each and every small scratch (also known as RIDS - Random Isolated Deep Scratch), as by doing so, you will be removing more and more clear coat from your paint.

Since it is a daily driver, this will harm the paint as time goes by and could result in clear coat failure. You should just learn to live with the scratches, as hard as it sounds :)

However, if this car is a garage queen, only taken out occasionally and doesn't get much sunshine - then correcting each and every scratch to keep a show car finish should probably be okay.

Hope this helped :)
 
I would have to agree. Most important thing I think if its a DD is to get the majority of them each time you polish and then make sure there is a good coat of wax/sealant on it.
 
I guess I should not have gotten a black car :( I think I might opti coat the thing soon, as I here that would help. Yes this is a daily driver and it will be lept out doors (no garage).
 
As a fellow owner of a black car (and mine has been neglected...by me) I feel your pain. I knew that there was no way for me to correct my neglect but I am happy with the result and what I am moving forward with. Just last night my wife squawked at me for grabbing the quick detailer to remove bird doo doo right before trick or treating. I probably gabbed the wrong stuff but that's what I have.

Enjoy the overcast and nightime with your swirl free paint and forget about it the rest of the time! LOL
 
How long are you keeping the car, you can polish every year or 2 if you keep it 10 years or less.
 
Just remember that your cc is about as thick as twice the thickness of a celophane wrapper on a cigarette pack. That's all. Live with what you can. OG or OC (OG is thicker) will definitely help you out there. In my opinion, you should only chase scratches you can see in the sun or under CFL's. To chase stuff only visible with LED's is to thin out your clear needlessly. That's my opinion.
 
RE: Small (Med., Lg., X-Lg., Jumbo, etc.):

(Except when someone is brave enough to ask me what size my wife is...
to which I’ll either reply by saying: 5'10" tall; or, Firm---as in hard-body firm)

-I think more in terms of length/width.


RE: Scratch(es) I ask myself: Are they among any of these types, of what I'll denote as "blemishes":
-Swirls (of varying degrees), holograms, haziness, marring, R.I.D.S<<<(M.P.), etc.


And then I will use:

Depth---How deep has the top-coat paint-film (for this purpose: CC) been penetrated/compromised...
by whatever means…as a barometer of the blemish(es)-removal-processes, if any.

-In conjunction with a blemish’s length/width, its depth will determine the volume of CC that’s been
removed, causing said blemish to be "seen". I&J-MHO…It had to go somewhere!


Dependent upon the volume of CC removed…

Can that removed CC be replaced…Or must it be?

-Depending on a person’s skill-level, perhaps:
1. Wet-sand; fill-in/blend-in; or a re-spray
2. Leveling, so to speak, to the surrounding areas; "rounding-over the edges"
3. Using the: "if your fingernail catches in it"...approach:
Even moreso…just the rounding-over the edges of the blemishes…
4. Other methods.

One such other method may be:
"Spot-Buffing"…by hand or machine.
-Care/caution should be utilized when doing so, especially by hand.
-Being over-aggressive by the user/products/applicator can often lead to less than stellar results.


As such, then...
I can only suggest in your situation (and in order to maintain/preserve as much CC as possible)…

-To polish the 'scratch'…while keeping the: just-rounding-over the edges/aggressiveness...in mind;

-Then use a light-source to see what degree of 'scattering-light': 'bounces back' to your line of vision.

Too much 'scattering' for your taste…polish a "little" more (subjective).

If satisfied…LSP it and Enjoy your ride. Because:

-Unless a vehicle is a bona fide Show Car, with an undeniable Show Car-Finish…
A person could otherwise go berserk!!

Again...I&J-MHO…

:)

Bob
 
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