I purchased a Wedgewood Blue 01 Scab last fall. The first time I washed and waxed it I noticed a lot of minor scratches/swirls in the clearcoat that stand out in the sunlight. Is there something relatively easy I can do to restore the appearance of the truck? Thanks.

 

buy some zaino swirl and light scratch remover, it does wonders

 

3m makes a swirl remover that is just like wax. you rub it on let it sit a minute and rub it off. very simple and not very expensive.

 

Very simple to remove pending that they're not too terribly deep. Further, you can do it without the need of a 'buffer' with the use of products that are readily available at your local Pep, AutoZone, or Advance.

To start, you're going to want to properly wash your paint. I do not recommend using anything other than a high quality automotive shampoo along with a very high quality mitt.

Further, you'll want to do some searching here for 'two bucket method' and blot drying.

Seriously -- don't skimp on your washing as you can prevent a LOT of the problems that we're going to remove here so that you're not having this problem again in a few months after a few washes...

At your parts shop, find Meguiar's #9 Swirl Mark Remover 2.0, Meguiar's Scratch-X, and Meguiar's #26 Hi-Tech Carnauba and/or Meguiar's NXT Synthetic Wax...

Start with the #9 by hand on a high-quality terry applicator. Don't let it hit the ground and make sure that you start at the top and work to the bottom (much like you would've/should've washed). This one-step product will polish as well as help to conceal and slightly remove some of your problematic swirls. Follow the instructions EXPLICITLY!!

Next step is a spot application. Go around and find the spots where #9 didn't cut the mustard. Use the Scratch-X (S-X) for these areas per the directions.

Lastly, you'll want to 'seal' it all in with the NXT or #26 (or, even better, both). Start with the NXT and lay down a coat or two. After 12 or so hours, follow with a coat of #26 to really deepen and darken the paint. Carnauba waxes are known for darkening and deepening the look of dark paint colors so, if you only choose one or the other, I'd go with the #26 -- the draw back is that the #26 won't last as long as the NXT - hence, my reasoning to use both.

Now, if you really want to up the ante and do it all very right... you can tap in a clay application (very simple -- search this here too) and maybe another polishing step once you remove the swirls... if you want to go that route, tell us and we can point you in that direction.

Good luck! Let us know if you have other questions!

-RP-

 

Thanks for the advice. I look forward to implementing it once its warm enough again.