Oh crap.

[Mr. Dan]

Well, I finally got around to buying some wax for the car. I figure it's been 2 years, maybe it could use some. :)

Well while I was there, I saw this Meguire's clay detailing kit. I read the box and thought it was something I could use. I have two years worth of crap built up on the paint, I can see it, never mind feel it. So I read all the threads on clay and people saying why or why not to use it, and eventually decided to give it a try.

Today I washed and dried the car as normal then gave the clay a go with the spray that came with it on a little spot on my bumper. Worked great, crap came off and paint was much smoother. Did the rest of the car. Paint looked smooth, car looked great. Until I parked my car in a parking garage and got a good look at it under the lights. I now have really fine scratches ALL OVER the car. I had swirl marks before, but not from washing. I've never ever swirled anything on the car, yet there they were. Now I have fine straight scratches on everything. The paint looks like glass from one angle and looks sanded from another. It sucks. I was REAL careful, I didn't press hard and I made sure to use LOTS of spray. I don't see any way I could have done it differently. I guess I just had a lot of crap on the paint and it stuck in the clay and stayed there despite my effort to keep the surface next to the paint clean.

I'm hoping to hell than when I actually apply the wax tomorrow it will go a long way towards clearing it up. I'm kind of pissed. I have no one to blame but myself. You have to understand, in Korea there isn't much selection when it comes to care care products. You take what you can get. There are no detail shops, there are no body shops, there are no part shops and there are no paint shops. It sucks.

[o2coolchris]

Think of the fortune you would make if you opened up a detail/body/part/paint shop in Korea though... CHA-CHING!

[hyunelan2]

I guess I just had a lot of crap on the paint and it stuck in the clay and stayed there despite my effort to keep the surface next to the paint clean.

^^^That's probably what happened. Did you 'mush up' the clay frequently? Even if you did, if you had excessive debris stuck to the paint, it is possible you took a chunk of that and rubbed it all over your car. [Also, by the way, swirl marks have nothing to do with applying/removing things or washing in a swirling fashion. It has to do with the fact that there are minute scratches all over the car all the time, but the light reflects off the surface in a circular shape - only displaying the scratches in a radiating pattern away from the light]

Now, how to fix. I know you said things are hard to come by over there, but try the internet. Now that you've claybared the car, your surface should be ready for compounds. I would first go for some 3M swirl mark remover. It'll take out those swirls and fine scratches. If it doesn't, you'll need the big guns (rubbing/polishing compound and a polisher). After that, you can take the easy way out and put some wax over it. If you want to do it the long (better) way, after the compunding use a polish, followed by a glaze sealant, and then wax it.

EDIT: I should add, never go to a car wash and use those bristle brushes they have. Those will make you have scratches and swirl marks like no tomorrow. You should only use a soft spounge or wash mit.

...and yes, I do conisder myself somewhat of an unofficial expert on exterior car care.