Ok, after claying, there was some white residue left on the paint that looked like it was the same color as the clay bar I was using. No problem. It will wash right off when I do my post clay washing. So I am washing away and the stuff isn't going away. Upon closer inspection, it looked like scratches. They were not everywhere, only in certain spots. I was using the Meguiars Clay with the quick detail as the lube fluid. There was some water left on the car when I was doing it as well. Scared to death, (since it was the wife's car), I quickly washed, dryed and waxed with Mother's Synwax. It looks great and you can't see the white scratches, if that is what they were.

Any ideas what happened here?

 

I'd definitely lean towards the clay streaking... Clay, in and of itself, does not scratch if used properly (and it sounds like you were using it properly pending you were using adeqeate amounts of lubrication).

The wax, having a slight 'cleaning action' to it, probably removed the white scuffs left behind by clay drag... No worries.

Now that you've done it, how does it look?

RP

 

It looks fantastic! The car is a daily driver 98 Accord so its got some battle scars, but she still shines up real nice. And that Mother's wax is some good stuff. Went on very easy, and came off just as easy, without any annoying white powder residue to blow off.

I ordered some Klasse AIO and Glaze to use on the truck, but now I am reconsidering, since that Mother's was just about the easiest wax job I have ever done.

 

One more thing. That was the first clay job for that car, and that clay was filthy. Good thing I cut up that clay into four pieces, (dropped three of them), othewise it would have taken forever. I was kneeding that clay every few passes. Do you use the clay in a swirling motion, or straight back and forth over the area?

 

Back and forth with light pressure, working in small areas at a time.

 

I trust you tossed the three pieces that you dropped? If not, go outside right now and throw them away.. hehehe... just some friendly advice from a guy who watched a neighbor this past weekend that was tossing his wash mitt down on the road (not his driveway, the road) and then went straight back to his paint.

As for the clay useage, 04 Red is dead on. Very light downward pressure in a back and forth pattern.

I will typically work a 3X3 section in an up and down motion and then switch, 90 degrees, and work it left to right. I repeat this for all panels.

--RP--

 

Heh, I must admit, the clay I dropped got used on the wheels. At least, the side that didn't hit the ground got rubbed on the rims, which are looking better, but still filthy. What I thought was yellowing of the clear coat was really some bonded road grime/brake dust. Its going to take a while to get all that off.

Can you tell the wife's car has become my science project for all the detailing techniques and products before I ever let them touch my truck?

 

I think a lot of us used 'other vehicles' for experimentation rather than using our own... LOL!

It just doesn't work for me anymore as my wife is just about as picky about her 04' Eddie Bauer Explorer as I am about my King Ranch. LOL!

RP

 

You say the clay was filthy and you are wondering where the scratches came from. You lso trhee thre of the four pieces away after you ropped three of them?! You need all of the clay and follow these instructions the next time you try this.#1 I flood it with wateras I work the bar. #2 Your scratches were created by not working the clay enough and having diry clay. . You have to s-t-r-e-c-h and fold the clay constantly while using it to bury all the little micro particles that scratch paint. Go on line and enter "clay bar" and you'll eventually find a site that has film on how to use the clay bar. Try Mequires or Mothers