can random orbitor cause small straight scratches - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rickjordan · #1 07-24-2012, 11:15 AM

Doing a little polishing on a friend's car with a random orbitor (Griots Garage) with just cleaned pads. The paint's surface was fairly shiny, but had a rough feel to it. There were no apparent scratches. Just used my buffer and was able to get the paint from shiny to outright buttery smooth glossy . However, all of the sudden I am seeing small scratches, but they straight and in different directions, almost crisscross. I used just cleaned microfiber towels and buffed off the polish by hand in a circular pattern.

My fear is that I caused these scratches, but at the same time, these very fine scratches are short 1/2 inch or so and straight.

I tried using a "swirl remover", after the fact but no luck. Is it possible that who ever work on the car's paint the last time, put a coating of something on to hide these marks. As I siad, the paint was shiny with a rough to the touch feel.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Zulfiqar · #2 07-24-2012, 04:52 PM

I was recently given a short lesson on detailing, if you had rough surface but shiny paint to start with then you should have used a clay bar at first, then buffed the car, the "rough" stuck to the car was picked up by the polisher and it polished new swirlies into the paint.

rickjordan · #3 07-24-2012, 11:11 PM

I would agree with you if I had swirl marks. These are short random straight lines about 1/2 inch to an inch or so long.

PanzerSD · #4 07-24-2012, 11:56 PM

The criss cross lines you see sound to me to be body work shrinking thru the surface.

rickjordan · #5 07-25-2012, 06:20 AM

Later today I will try to get a picture of it, if it comes out in the picture. The paint on the car is not original. It is at least 2 years old. My firend has had it since January 2011. The paint job has no, and I mean no orange peel. Even a body guy from the local dealership remarked on how good the paint appeared. Saying that it is extremely difficult to get a metallic paint down with such uniformity. The car is gold/champagne.

Again, though the car was shiny, there was what best could be described as a slight gray film on the car. Typical of light oxidation, I guess. This, along with a rough texture that would be like 120 grit sand paper. Once I polished it, the gray film was gone and the "120 grit" feel. However the paint was now absolutely glossy and almost wet looking. Is it possible that when they shot the clear coat that in between coats, they wet sanded it, then shot one last coat and didn't fully sand that last coat. Then I come along and polish it, exposing these underlying sanding marks.

I just cant fingure out how straight super fine scracthes could be made by circular motions of either by hand or the orbitor.

jcyuhn · #6 07-25-2012, 09:42 AM

I think you exposed underlying imperfections that were hidden until the paint was cleaned up. There is no way a random orbit caused straight line scratches like that.

Is there any body filler on the car? If you look closely at body filler the sanding marks are generally visible, and they are in a straight line.

rickjordan · #7 07-25-2012, 09:18 PM

Well I decided to clay a different part of the car. I bought a Mothers Clay system. This came with 2 clay bars, a bottle of detailing spray and a microfiber towel. First I used the detail spray to wipe off anything that was on the paint. Then I sprayed it again and used the clay bar. Initially I could hear and feel the rough texture, but as I went along it became smoother. Once I wiped away the remaining detailing spray, I could still see the light gray "clouding", and small hair line scratches like the ones on the fender, only fewer of them. So, it turns out what ever was on the paint, was indeed hiding these scratches. I am sure once I use the polish on it, more will be seen.

Again you can't really feel them, just see them.

I know what body filler scratches look like, and these don't look like it. Besides I don't see how/why an entire fender, rather 2 fenders, would have bondo on their top sides. I could see there being some on the lower parts or a fender lip. Anyone familar with 107 SLs know how long and flagt the front fenders are. Again I don't see why body filler would be used on the flat part.

This has to be the astrangest thing with paint that I have seen.

Zulfiqar · #8 07-26-2012, 10:09 AM

if the lines are straight - you just exposed them with your buffing, best to get some botique quality detail glaze/sealer (something like that) and it would hide them if they are not very obvious.