Clay + T-Cut

[Rhino172]

I've got rather a nasty scratch down the whole side of my car (I'm hoping it's from a bush/branch rather than some t**t doing it on purpose).

I've removed a simular scratch from a freinds car before like so:

wash - clay - t-cut - polish - wax

I'm wondering though whether I should clay again after the t-cut or is that a bit over kill?

wash - clay - t-cut - clay - polish - wax

 

[swordjo]

No need for a double claying. I usually wash the car again after claying, dry off and then polish.

 

[m4rkie23]

If you clay properly the first time, then you wont need to do it again. If you have alot of Tar, you will need to use a chemical to remove such as tardis, or valetpro tar remover.
Rinse off after claying, dry, then apply polish.

 

[Rhino172]

cheers guys, kinda what I was thinking tbh. will give it a go later, hopefully get the scratch out!

 

[Mark51]

T-Cut is rather harsh product. I hate the stuff as its completely outclassed by other poroducts on the market, and it puts more scratches into paint than it takes out when applied by hand... Its problem is the abbrassive particles in the polish, they are very old-tech in that the remain at the same abbrassive nature throughout the enitre polishing process, the don't break down therefore the finish left by T-cut is generally very poor, and it induces scouring...

Modern polishes such as those from Meguiars, Poorboys, Menzerna etc use Diminshing Abbrassives - as you work the product, the abbrassive particles break down and become less aggressive, so you start with aggressive cut and then finish with a very light cut... So you start with an aggressive cut to remove the swirls and reduct to a light cut to give you a lovely finish and remove any initial scouring that may have occurred

You really need someone with a machine polisher to correct the marks. Will take some time doing it by hand.

I would only clay the once as the clay is really to remove contaminates from the paint. I have only ever clayed each car i have owned once as the protection i have given it after has been enough to protect the paint

 

[swordjo]

There are tests on DW that show the opposite, and i'm sure Dave KG changed his views on t-cut too, but yeah you will be better off with slowly building up the cut.

 

[Mark51]

Link swordjo?

 

[swordjo]

Can't get onto DW in work for some reason, but i'll have a look for it when I got home.

 

[Rhino172]

I'm pretty sure I've got some Megs Scratch-X laying around somewhere too if thats any better than the good ol' T-Cut lol