Arrrrgh! Scratches on my new SPF!
 

It seems I have collected a number of fine scratches on the clear coat of my new SPF from the handling of the soft top by "others". Can anyone recommend a product(s) that I can apply, over and above all the fine polishes and waxes I keep in my garage? I've heard of a trio or more of liquid products to slowly remove a clear coat scratch and bring the entire area back to brand spankin' new shiny. Any suggestions??

:( :( :(

Using both the soft top and tonneau cover can cause shallow scratches in the clear coat finish no matter how careful you are. A little Meguiars polishing compound applied with a low-rpm polishing wheel should do the trick.

A glaze might help. So would a fresh coat of wax depending on how fine they are. Beyond that I use the polishes from Griots garage. I was amazed at what they where able to do with my nearly 20 year old paint job.
Rick

I would use Zaino #1 then #2. After that multiple coats of Zaino #5 which fills in fine scratches. Zaino Brothers Show Car polishes is what I use all the time. I think these would do it for you.

Light scratch removal.
 

My daughter took one of her toys and some water and "drew" some circles on the nose of her car (SPF 956) and scratched up the paint pretty good. I called the ZainoBros tech line (732-833-8800) for help. They told me what I needed and gave me the number of a local dealer. Their stuff is awsome. It did take a couple of coats of #5, but you can't see the scratches at all. At least until the wax wears off, then you need to put more. It also gets rid of swirl marks, doesn't yellow and is very easy to apply and remove. Not to mention the shine is incredible. You can also order from them direct at 888-999-9870. Their site is zainostore.com (sorry don't know how to make a link) check it out.
Ciao,
Shawn C

I second Art's suggestion. I've been using Zaino's products on my car since I purchased it two years ago. I've been using the Z2 polish from day one, but noticed a few clear coat scratches as of late. I purchased some Z5 swirl remover polish and applied it one time. Amazing! Great stuff.

where exactly are you guys purchasing Zaino products?? Is it directly mail order only or will the local Napa or Auto palce carry.

Thanks :)

Sal:
I get mine online at the Zaino website. In years past you had to send in a check. It is great stuff. Not cheap but just darned good, so good in fact folks remark about the shine. A little of it lasts a long time.

Starting off, you would need Zaino 1 and 2 only on a new car to be applied only after the paint seasons (ask your painter about the length of time before applying any polish).

I would highly suggest the #6 ultra clean gloss enhancer for dusting, cleaning and spritzing.

Also for the tires, the #16 perfect tire gloss. There is nothing on the planet like that stuff. A dark, non greasy, non filmy black tire is the result.

For windows, the #12 clear view polish is just super. If you work on it long enough the #12 can remove rain spots, road film, fine scratches and water spots and fine blemishes in the glass surface.

#5 is the swirl and fine scratch remover. It would be used after #2 is on the car and then followed by #2. #2 allows you to "build" up a super deep wet look to your cars finish.

As a trick, I keep around some long wooden coffee stir rods in the barn. When any wax or polish residue gets in a crevice, I just break a stir rod and use the fine end like a brush to either gently scrape or flick out the wax.

I think I typed too much. I think Zaino should be a Club Cobra sponsor... thats what I think.

Art, the one hassle in the past was having to send a check to Sal at Zaino. I noticed on my recent order that they're now doing Internet payment. You left out the claybar. I bought one of those as well. It got pretty nasty, so I guess I needed it.

I use scotchbrite pads on mine, but then again somebody scratched ALL the paint off my car :D .

Recommend Zaino's in your case BTW.

Someone say ZAINO???
 

Hi Guys,

Just want to take this opportunity to remind you all that Zaino also has a distributor network. These guys can give you first hand tips on how best to use the products, as well as possible savings on delivery costs.

In Northern California, Steve Paski is the Zaino distributor - he's a great guy with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Steve can be reached at:
steve@sjzaino.com or 408/629-4931

Regards,
Randy R...

Clay Bar!

Well, I would not use it on a new car's finish. But yes the clay bar with Ultra Clean #6 as a lube is the way to go if you have a weathered finish (which NONE of us have on our Cobras cause we DO NOT TAKE THEM OUT IN THE WEATHER, do we?

I agree the online payment is nice.

Another great product is 3M (Pink) Fill n' Glaze. I've used Zainos also and it works exceptionally well.

I've been using Malm's Ultrafine polish and glaze for years. Combined with his Kalinsky speed waxer(that looks like a joystick with a pad on the end)I have found that I can mimic the random orbital motion of a Porter,only more slowly and gently.I have had excellent results removing swirls and fine scratches this way,following up with a coat of quality carnauba.Just one more possibility,though somewhat"old school".

If you use the claybar only do it on weathered finishes and make sure you clean all other waxes off of it first using something like Dawn dishwashing liquid or you'll waste the clay.
Nice part about the clay is that it picks out all the road grime and leaves a super smooth surface for you to polish.

Don't forget......if you are using clay, you should use it along with a good spray on cleaner / detailer. Griot's Garage sells a good product called SPEED SHINE and I've also used Meguiars "Final Inspection #34" (although I think they changed the name to Quick Detailer mist & wipe). Don't just use the clay by itself.

I use a few different polishes for getting out scratches, but my favorites are probably: Imperial Hand Glaze by 3M; Liquid Ebony by Clean Bright; and the 3 step polishes by Griot's Garage, followed by either Griot's Best of Show Wax, or good 'ol Meguiars Mirror Glaze #26 in the yellow CAN (no liquid waxes....old school, baby!).

A little "trick" for getting a deep, glossy shine is to use a water bottle and spray a fine mist of clean water onto the car right after polishing, and buff with a soft, clean cloth. Really brightens it up!:MECOOL:

lots of advice above for your question. But at some point, "scratches" and nicks and such can become sort of "battle wounds", like on my four year old SPF, with about 65K miles on it. My finish gleams like the day i bought it, but it does have some wear and tear down low on the front, from sand and such, and on the top where my soft top fits, and on the rear fenders, were there are a few pits from stones. There just really isn't any way, short of the adhearant film, which i do have here and there, like on top of the doors, to keep the finish unmarked. I wash my car very carefully, and wax it often. I touch up the larger nicks, but the rest, i just wear. I have seen some SPF's with the Xpel placed where the top goes, across the rear, but i think it shows too much with the top off.

I try to hang back from leading cars, but every now and then, you have to pass a dump truck, or the like, and stuff happens. I get such enjoyment out of driving my car, that i suffer the slings and arrows out there, and just don't worry much about it.