Posted this in Detailing Section but thought it wouyld get beter exposure here.

After 3 seasons of riding my vivid black Low Rider tank has a couple scratches.

Tried ScratchX and it removed most of the the swirls and light scratches, but a couple are still there.

Not deep scratches but they are visible in high sunlight.

Thinking about buying a buffer and using either either ScratchX or light rubbing compound.

Any suggestions and techniques would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sammi

 

2000 grit sand let it soak in some water for a hour... thn spay the tank wiht a water spray bottle.. lightly sand on it where your deeper scratches are.. then buff it out with some buffing compound

 

I have a vivid black Super Glide. While I love the black, its easily scratched by anything which touches it. After a year of hand applications of Scratch-X and wax, it got to be an eyesore to me.

If you can run a fingernail across your scratches without it getting caught, the following may work well for you, as it has me. My vivid black paint now looks showroom new.

I went to a local bodyshop supply company and asked them for advice. They told me to go to Harbor Freight and buy one of their $30.00 high speed polishers, which I did. They sold me a 3M product call Perfect-it Microfina and said it was great for removal of shallow swirls in black. It is about $40.00 a quart, but well worth it.

I start by cleaning the painted surfaces with Meguire's Paint Cleaner and wiping clean with a microfiber cloth. I then apply a quarter size amount of the 3M product on the foam pad which came with the polisher. Before mounting the pad on the polisher, I use the pad to evenly smear the 3M product on the area which I am working. I then put the pad on the polisher. As the polisher rotates the product covered pad, friction and heat is created. As the product heats, the micro-particles breakdown removing the swirl scratches. I wipe the 3M product off with a microfiber towel as well. I then protect the finish with a quality wax, wiping it on in a back in forth motion, as compared to the circular motion I used to do. I also wipe it off using the back and forth action (also using microfiber towel).

Swirls are caused by dirty rags and/or dirt in products. As these dirt particles are pushed across paint, they leave scratches which become visible as the edges of the scratches pick up light. Using a circular motion when applying or removing wax allows scratches and their edges to reflect light from any direction. Using the back and forth motion greatly reduces the directions which the scratches will pick up light and greatly reduces their visibilty.

I have had a couple scratches which needed something more aggressive than the 3M Microfina. For those, the Scratch-X worked well to remove the deeper scratches, then the 3M product to remove the swirls left by Scratch-X.

Note: Use a clean microfiber towel for each step and each product.

 

Thanks for the advice.

I'll give it a try.

Sammi

 

great advice! i also saved that... thanks bud! HD is cheap and uses a water based clear not oil based that is why it SUCKS to touch and just scratches so easy... i am going to re clear my bike this winter with a oil base clear and hardener w/ a little flex added to it... will save me HOURS or cleaning time

 

Thanks jmpancoast, great how to. I too have the vivid black and it seams that the clear is pretty soft, gets swirls and scratches very easily.

 

Do you ever ride it anymore or just polish it? :-) Just kidding; it really does look great!!

Bart

 

LOL....thanks. It gets cleaned alot, but I ride it more. I have done about 8000 miles since January.

My wife only works about 40 hours a week and it doesn't take her long to clean the house and cook, so her cleaning my bike isn't a huge burden on her schedule. She does call into work sick a couple hours a month so she can clean her Sporty.

 

thanks for the tips..i just bought a small buffer and ill give it on my fatbob this week...thanks..

 

Great advice jmpancoast (and Joe)..thanks!