Scratch X to remove bird droppings

[Totoland Mach]

Mike recently posted a method of removing bird droppings that have etched into the clear coat. He recommended Scratch X and multiple applications, which did the trick! Emphasis is definitely on applying more than once and working the product in thoroughly. Prior to this, I assumed the bird dropping was etched permanently into the clear coat and base coat. I tried the method Mike suggested (took about 15 minutes and multiple applications of fresh Scratch X).

I don't know if the pic is going to show too much detail, but you can get the gist of it.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/192birddroppingBefore.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Totoland Mach,

Good job on the bird etching removal, it is kind of hard to see the after but that's usually the case. I take photo's all the time of defects before removing them, and then after removing them... there's nothing to photograph!

I took the liberty to upload and insert your photo into your gallery.

I have disabled the Attach File option in vbulletin because over time is it a bad use of resources. It' better to upload your photo's into the Gallery and then use the IMG button to insert them like I did below.

Here's a link to a tutorial that shows how to upload photos into the Gallery and then insert them.

Step-by-Step Picture-Posting HOW TO (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=505)


There are some more tutorials in the below forum for working with images.

Forum Technical Help Desk (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=43)

Good job! I'm really glad my little how-to for ScratchX helped you. I have e-mails from other people that are trying the same thing. On another forum, there is a guy thinking about wet sanding his bird dropping etching out, this can risk removing too much clear coat from the surface as some did point out. I wanted to chime in and offer my suggestion of ScratchX but the people on that forum tend to recommend non-Meguiar's products.

Mike

[Totoland Mach]

Mike: Thanks for the info on photo uploading and linking. You might tell the person thinking about wet sanding that Scratch X might be his/her solution. I know, I was thinking about wet sanding before your article (which is not for a beginner like me), and the information in the artilce did the trick for me.

[Totoland Mach]

Here is a better pic of the bird dropping before I applied Scratch X. Elbow grease coupled with this product is the answer.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/192vitara_spots_1.jpg

[C32 AMG]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Totoland Mach
[B]Here is a better pic of the bird dropping before I applied Scratch X. Elbow grease coupled with this product is the answer.

Birds love to drop Poos on dark color cars. :mad:

[Totoland Mach]

this car was a repo i bought in Feb...I should have taken pics then but it was too doggone cold! Last washed..unknown, last oil or any service...unknown, 4 flat tires, no gas cap, an interior my dogs refused to even get in, cig tar on all inside glass plus headliner...sometimes I still wonder if I purchased a good deal. It has taken some months and $$$ but is slowly getting there.

You are right about birds though. ;)

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I am glad the ScratchX worked on the etching! :)


Just a side note about wet sanding:

Wet sanding is a whole different ball game. Wet sanding, especially on OEM paint can be very difficult as the BC/CC can be quite hard. So while the sand paper may remove the etching, scratches etc, it can be VERY difficult to remove the sanding marks afterwards. Most of the time it will take a rotary, a wool pad and #85 Diamond Cut 2.0 to remove them. I have seen a lot of people try lighter compounds and the sanding marks "appear" to be gone until the paint is looked at under direct light. Then the marks will be there. Moreover, if you wet sand a small spot, you may cause a "valley" that will be quite visible.

Tim

[the newbie]

i used it a couple of times,by hand,and i was not very impressed by the results.i think i did not use it right.but i can't find the how to,by Mike.the results i see here,are the results i would expect.
maybe someone can tell me where i can find the tips for this product?

bye,
Rick

[Mike Phillips]

Here you go,

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1516)

Mike