Hey everyone,

As a new owner, I was obviously pretty upset when I discovered a new scuff on the front bumper. I have one now on both the front and rear bumpers. They appear to be merely surface scuffs, as I cannot feel them with my fingernail. They look like this http://static.flickr.com/53/162896826_8e9917c6d2_o.jpg but much smaller.

Anyways, my question is whether a claybar would be the best Idea. It seems like a great way to fix the scuff, and also help maintain the paint, but will it be more effective than say something liek ScratchX? The reason I ask is because I'm a bit apprehensive about using clay, as I've never done it before and am not sure it's the best idea for a detailing amateur like me. I want to get rid of the scuffs, not create new ones by improperly claybarring my car. Thanks alot for the help

 

For some reason, clay bar has risen to the status of cure all-fix all. Clay bar contains no polishing agent, and is not suitable for scuff marks.

Begin with the least offensive solution: wax. If that does not work, move to something more aggressive such as a light polish. Keep in mind that some one-step wax is lightly abrasive, and suitable for scuff marks.

 

When I had a scuff mark on my Z (came out of the store and found that someone had bumped into my Z), I was able to clean it up using the Turbo Wax Pre-wax Cleanser and TurboWax paint protection. Cleaned it right off.

 

Isn't claybar slightly abrassive as well? I'm a pretty big detailing noob, but from what I could gather it removes a slight layer of clearcoat and "exfoliates" the paint. Given that this is simply suface scuffing, wouldn't that eliminate it? I guess I might as well try everything...only way to know for sure.

 

Clay bar contains no abrasives. Nor does it remove any portion of the clear coat. It merely removes what is embedded within the CC.

 

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. If this scuff is just material imbedded in the clearcoat, then hopefully this'll work. I guess I'll try waxing it as was suggested tommorow, and go from there. Thankgod for this forum and helpful users

 

Scratch-X will take care of your problem.

 

Thanks again. I guess I'll be making a trip to CA tire and see if they carry it.

 

Most of the big chain stores carry it. Walmart, Target, etc. I am not sure what the equivalent is in Canada, but I am sure they would carry it.

 

Haha, yeah that would be Canadian Tire. They also seem to specialize in neon lights and type-r seat covers

 

just so you know YES claybar is a type of abrasive just a very low grade of it...it is an abrasive suspended in a pliable resin/plastic/clay whatever you want to call it. it is very subtle. most off the shelf clays will do nothing to harm your finish but body shop clays are much more agressive and can mar your finish..anything you buy like megs or mothers clay will do nothing to to harm your finish and it probably not take that scratch out either. a cleaner wax like meguiars cleaner wax may take away alot of what is wrong but you may have to step up to a more abrasive product if it does not...just keep working your way up until it is gone...dont jump straight to scratch x see if a cleaner wax will take it out first..

 

Before: I got hit by a big truck tire.


After: I cleaned the fender with mineral spirits followed by a coat of Black Magic.

 

This is an old myth and not true, clay bars do contain abrasives, and really agressive ones will mar your clearcoat. They work by shaving off the embedded contaminants in your clear coat

 

I swear by mineral spirits as well. Always have to keep it on hand to get dried bugs and scuffs off the paint

 

It is dependent on the clay. the milder clays contain a negligable amount of abrasives. now harsher clays like some of the sonus clays... that's another story. I'd be hesitent to use some of those clays if I didn't plan on polishing afterwards.

 

Agree. Members might suggest half a dozen different products for bugs, tar, oil and grease. One $2 can of mineral spirits does it all.

 

^^ I'm sorry, I've never even heard of mineral spirits, and have no idea what they do. Care to enlighten me? I'm planning on taking the car down to a local dealership tommorow, since my friend works there and he says he can take a look for me. Thanks for all the advice, I'm learning alot on this site already.

 

You can pick up a can of odorless mikneral spirits at your local hardware store. I put it on a clean cloth, rag, old t-shirt and then rub out the scuffs (ie. shoe marks on the doorsills) , bugs or other things on the surface of my paint. When I am finished, I usually rinse it off and re-wax the area.

 

As jamaicanj mentioned, mineral spirits is a serious solvent used to thin enamel paint. Use sparingly. Rinse immediately.

 

are you the davidv from autopia?