Scratches On Black Vette
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 0
Scratches On Black Vette
anybody find that no matter what you use to dry your car after washing, you still get scratches ? even chamois has caused me some fine ones. anybody have a ideas before i try Mr.Clean and my leaf blower ? there must be something else 
thanks
thanks
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
A good wax job with a buffer should get rid of the fine scratches. I just had mine waxed on the weekend and look how good it turned out:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e.jpg.orig.jpg
For deeper scratches, you might need to get the paint done with a high speed buffer though.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/...e.jpg.orig.jpg
For deeper scratches, you might need to get the paint done with a high speed buffer though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,479
Likes: 13
From: Dallas/Grand Prairie Texas
I know what you mean. I wash and wax a lot and I just don't think it's possible to get out all the swirls.
Like the above mentioned, you might try buffing, but you'd have to buff about once every other week to keep it that way.
......I think even the wind puts swirls in these black beauties.
Like the above mentioned, you might try buffing, but you'd have to buff about once every other week to keep it that way.
......I think even the wind puts swirls in these black beauties.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: San Antonio Texas
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'08
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,754
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From: Redwood City Ca
My '99 black coupe is my DD, and I wash it every week. I use the Mr. Clean Autowash and a leaf blower, but I use the Zaino carwash instead of the Mr. Clean soap. After the leaf blower, I detail my Vette with Z6 and a microfiber towel. After six years, I've found that using this washing method keeps scratching to a minimum. 
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Rocky Point NY
stay with the mr. clean, but i personally think their soap sucks. replace their soap with zaino or some other good soap that you may use, just buy the filters for the mr. clean. no rubbing to dry = no additional damage being done.
Originally Posted by newyiddy20
anybody find that no matter what you use to dry your car after washing, you still get scratches ? even chamois has caused me some fine ones. anybody have a ideas before i try Mr.Clean and my leaf blower ? there must be something else thanks
thanks
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 199
Likes: 1
Used random orbital buffer and 3M scratch and swirl remover. then 6 coats of zaino #5 and 6 coats of #2. After that I wash with Zaino soap blow dry standing water off car and dry with 100% cotton towel up & down on the sides front to back on the top surfaces. Then zaino detail spray.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,372
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From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Rou-Rou 03
Used random orbital buffer and 3M scratch and swirl remover. then 6 coats of zaino #5 and 6 coats of #2. After that I wash with Zaino soap blow dry standing water off car and dry with 100% cotton towel up & down on the sides front to back on the top surfaces. Then zaino detail spray.
Last edited by Cocked and Locked; May 27, 2005 at 06:34 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs CO
Throw the chamois away, micro-fiber towels are the only way to dry a Corvette. The small ones are great for cleaning windows or wheels. As far as the small scratches Meguiar's Scratch-X will usually take them out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,876
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From: Ghent
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by Rou-Rou 03
Used random orbital buffer and 3M scratch and swirl remover. then 6 coats of zaino #5 and 6 coats of #2. After that I wash with Zaino soap blow dry standing water off car and dry with 100% cotton towel up & down on the sides front to back on the top surfaces. Then zaino detail spray.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Midland TX
Wash with good auto soap, then quickly dry with absorber, finally I use one of those wax as you dry with a microfiber towel. Works on my black coupe. But I think the microfiber towels are the key, they dry great without swirls. As far as swirls, I have always been pleased with Zymol results.
Last edited by Obdoc; May 27, 2005 at 07:39 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 14,104
Likes: 244
From: South Florida
absorbers, chamois, and diapers do not have enough nap to dry a finish properly while moving water and potentially contaminents up and away from the finish. Using a nice microfiber waffle weave and moving in a straight pattern will reduce any potential marring. Also using the hose, without a nozzle, to help sheet water away can also help as you only need to blot the water left on the finish. A water blade = no no, and a leaf blower is not a bad option provided you dont use it on the lawn also. Here is a link to our waffle weaves and discount below applies. (I would also suggest checking out the car care section as we have a Memorial Weekend sale with a freebie, and free shipping with 50.00 purchase).
http://www.autogeek.net/xlarcobwafwe.html
not a single car wash product, nor a particular sealant or wax will stop spiderwebbing by itself, or protect from reapplication.
http://www.autogeek.net/xlarcobwafwe.html
not a single car wash product, nor a particular sealant or wax will stop spiderwebbing by itself, or protect from reapplication.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Whitefish Bay Wi
micro scratches
Originally Posted by newyiddy20
anybody find that no matter what you use to dry your car after washing, you still get scratches ? even chamois has caused me some fine ones. anybody have a ideas before i try Mr.Clean and my leaf blower ? there must be something else thanks
thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 232
From: Youngstown Ohio
Originally Posted by MDLIFE
Unfortunately, the finish gets scratched every time you wash the car. The pressure of the wash mit presses the fine dirt abrasives into the finish before cleaning it. No way to aviod this. By the way, some gas leaf blowers exhaust the engine exhaust into the blower....no need to coat the clean car with an oil residue! My 2 cents...MDLIFE
but you can use an electric leaf blower which works very well for me. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,626
Likes: 1
From: Fremont California
Originally Posted by TOPGUN9
My '99 black coupe is my DD, and I wash it every week. I use the Mr. Clean Autowash and a leaf blower, but I use the Zaino carwash instead of the Mr. Clean soap. After the leaf blower, I detail my Vette with Z6 and a microfiber towel. After six years, I've found that using this washing method keeps scratching to a minimum.
Use the microfiber towel.