I'm sure these subjects come up over and over. Searches bring up more unusable info than I care to take the time to plow through. If this post's redundant nature offends you in any way, please ignore it and move on.

However, if you are in the know and have it in your heart to try and help me out, this is directed to you.

I have the infamous Vivid Black on my FXDC and the infamous swirls and scratches to go with it. I have never used anything but new micro-fiber cloths on the bike but I did used to use Meguiar's quick detailer on it - but only right after washing and drying the bike. I have no idea exactly how the scratches got there but I'm sure it's something I did unknowingly. Anyway, I have always washed my bike with S100 but now I use a blower to get the water off and then go back and clean the chrome with Windex and micro-fiber cloth. If the paint needs attention, I use HD glass and a NEW micro-fiber cloth.

To try to get the scratches out, I've tried HD scratch and swirl remover and Meguiars Scratch-X. Neither seems to do a thing with the scratches. I'd like to try buffing them out but I want to use something, hopefully, that is easy to get and not too expensive - like something off the shelf at Wally-World or AutoZone or something like that. I have a small handheld buffer that I used to use to get oxidation off of my boat. I haven't used it in several years but it's still around somewhere. I don't think it's variable speeds but it may have a low and a high setting - I'm not sure.

Can anyone recommend a compound and a method to try and get these scratches out? They don't seem deep at all but, as mentioned above, hand applied scratch removers don't seem to have any affect. I'm discouraged because Scratch-X says on the container that if it doesn't remove the scratches, they must be professionally removed by machine. So, based on that I'm not sure if I should be touching them any further. The last thing I want to do is make things worse.

I've seen several posts here that proclaim Scratch-X to be "the bomb" when it comes to these types of scratches, and it isn't working for me. So, I'm not sure wha the answer is.

 

Subscribing

 

Those products don't remove scratches, they just mask them. Scratch-X followed by wax does a good job. But again, it doesn't remove the scratches, just hides them. Couple of washes later and you have to do it again.

I'm not a paint guy, but I would think the only way you can truly remove swirls is to have a brand new paint job.

Personally, I use the ride it, don't wash it method. Can't see any swirls on my bike.

 

Some good info here and at this forum also. http://www.autogeek.net

 

Try this, http://www.properautocare.com/3mfiniimacpo.html had several black cars, worhed very well on them. It is a machine polish, but if you work it by it it does wonders.

 

Hey 2007 FXDC, I think I may be able to help you. I have been detailing vehicles for twenty four years and I am very particular when it comes to my 2005 Road King. I used to use the scratch X for miner swirls and very light scrathes. I would recommend that you first remove all of the old wax build up on the paint using a cleaner wax, (Scratch X is good for this) I try to stay away from the clay bar systems because thay can cause the fine scratches in the paint. After removing the old wax build up, look for a product called "QUIX". This is a good product that works very well. I tried it for the first time on my friends Black 1998 Fat Boy. He had several scratches that were to the primer. The QUIX comes with two tubes, One for the scratch removal and Two to polish the repaired area. It really does work, just try it. After you finish removing the scratches from the paint, Apply a good polish to the paint (Maguires makes a good product, but liquid glass is much better). After the polish is complete, seal the deal with a good coat of protective wax, look for something with UV protection (Maguires Gold Class is great). If you will do this four stage system on your bike, It will have a mirror finish that you will not beleive! Try it and let me know what you think.

Keith@ec.rr.com

 

Kwag, is all this done by hand or is a buffer or any sort of machining required?

 

Scratch X has always worked great for me. Did you read the directions?

 

Hey 2007fxdc, I prefer to do this by hand because the painted surface on the bike is not very big. It sounds like a lot of hard work, but not that bad. It is a little time consuming but well worth the end result. I noticed that you are from Eastern North Carolina? I am from Jackosnville, NC.

kwag37

 

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