Light Scratches (how to polish out)

[kbkeith]

Rather annoyed at moment and looking for some advice.
My Fazer FZS 600 2003


used the bike for work yesterday as car in getting some work done.
 
used my tank bag (which has magnets etc to fix it to petrol tank)
 
Went to use bike today and noticed light scratches on tank, down to white (tank is red). Looked at tank bag and underneath where the magnets are under the leather of the bag are tiny bits of metal, which must have been picked up at work in the changing room floor.


Which I find unusual as I work in a hotel, not a metal factory etc.

Anyhow, Did not notice them yesterday as dark when I got home.
 
What is best to polish them out with ? just t-cut ? or polish?


you can 'just' feel the scratch with your finger nail.

Really really has annoyed me. Never thought for one minute (till now) to check the bottom of tank bag before fixing it onto the bike.
 

[Skippernick]

Use polish like autoglym, t-cut is very abrasive so be aware.

[Chris]

Tcut is very abbraisive as mentioned so be very careful if you do use it as you could inflict a lot more damage.
 
Something like meguiars Scratch X or ultimate compound is much safer and will round off the edges of the scratch even if it doesn't remove it completely. Rounding off the edges of the scratch will make it almost impossible to see as it difracts the light better.
 
Use microfibre cloths and take your time. The last thing you want to do is remove too much laquer.
 
Something like Autoglym Super Resin Polish will aslo work as it has "fillers" in it which fill the scratch and slightly round the edges although over time the fillers wash out and the scratch reappears.
 
All the best, PM if you have any more questions.
 
Chris 

[Lazarus]

try a coloured polish - wont remove the scratch but should hide it better.

[Chris]

Here is a thread on detailing world about machine polishing. I know that isn't what you're planning on doing but polishing by hand follows a lot of the same principles. By that I mean the polish works in similar ways.
 
About half way down the post then there is very good explanations with diagrams of what I was talking about by rounding edges and using fillers etc. Well worth a read 
 
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=63859

 
Chris

[kbkeith]

Thank you for your advice. I will try and pick some Mequiars Scratch X up and have a go with that then tomorrow from Halfords etc.


When I have done that, do I then want to polish it or wax it ? The only product I have is Autoglym Super Resin Polish.

[Chris]

A wax is what you need on top. 
 
Compound to "cut" as in remove the deep scratches.
 
Polish to clean the paint and revitalise the sparkle/gloss and also remove smaller swirl marks/ light scratches
 
and then a wax/sealant to protect the shine and provide the water repelance.
 
Hope that helps,
 
Chris

[kbkeith]

Thank you Chris.


I will get that Maquiars stuff tomorrow. Any particular Wax to get that Halfords sell or am i better of getting another wax product on=line?

[Chris]

Any meguiars wax will do good. The Megs NXT tech wax was nice, easy to apply and left a nice gloss.
 
If you want a really nice wax for a bit of extra price then get collinite 915, it's a lovely wax, best one I've used in a long time.
 
I get almost all of my bike and car cleaning stuff from here: http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-915-marque-d-39-elegance/prod_281.html
 
That tin of wax will last you a long time so don't be put off by the price. It leaves such a lovely gloss and the beading/sheeting of water is great, last quite a long time too. About 6 - 8 monthsish depending on use.
 
Get a pack of these applicators too and use one for polish and the other for the wax, will make it all easier.     http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/accessories/meguiars-foam-applicators-pkg/2/prod_177.html

Chris

[cable tie]

A wet cloth (don't allow it to dry out) and G3 or G10 followed by 3m finesse its what i use to get perfection and the body shops use exactly the same stuff and if you want to be extreme ie glass finish shine I've got a pot of £175 swissol wax .

I have OCD .....LoL

[dBfazer600]

Hi Kieth
 
Is the "down to white" under paint of your tank or simply the lacqure?
 
If under paint of your tank you need to touch it up but if lacqure you can do as Chris or Lazarus suggest.
 
In either case you first need to:
 
1 wash tank
2 Clay tank (Mags do a kit, this removes all wax and any service contaminents that you can not see but will make your task harder if not worst by spreading it via swerls)
3 Auto glym but very lightly
4 Mags 1, 2, 3 step
5 Use detailer you got in clay kit to give it a deep shine
 
This is how I do my car. The pics hopefully show you the results of appliying by hand. I used pads to apply product but never use the same pad for all products or it will go tits up. Buff and clean off inbetween of products using different microfiber cloths.
 
all the best with it mate
 
Daz
 

Details 1 Before scratches scuffs nearside rear wheel pannel

1 Before scratches scuffs nearside rear wheel pannel

Details 2 After hand applied products elbowgrease

2 After hand applied products elbowgrease

Details 3 Before nearside corner pannel

3 Before nearside corner pannel

Details 4 Before nearside pannel

4 Before nearside pannel

Details 5 After nearside pannel

5 After nearside pannel

Details 6 Nearside end result

6 Nearside end result

Details 7 The products applied by hand

7 The products applied by hand

[Chris]

G3 is quite an aggressive compound so I would urge caution with it.
 
I've never used Swissol wax so can't comment on it but there are much cheaper products that will give a very good finish. Like the collinite wax I mentioned above. Surely as an OCD man then you understand the glass like finish is obtained by the decontamination and polishing stages of the process and the wax only adds a gloss, protection and water repellancy to the bodywork. 
 
Chris