Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
What is the difference? Is a scratch remover always a polish, yet a polish is not always a scratch remover?
What do I need to correct a cloudy-like faded, or oxidized panel?
Scratch removers are usually more aggressive than polish and closer to compounds in aggressiveness. If you have a cloudy panel and it is base coat clear coat you may be seeing the clear coat beginning to fail. If it is older enamel or lacquer you can buff it out, but I find it tends to go flat again fast without keeping it well waxed as the older paints do not have the UV resistance and durability that the newer urethanes do. Always use the mildest product you can get away with as you will be removing paint and you do not want to remove too much. Start with a cleaner wax and if that works, then use it and then on top it with a good sealant like Mequiars Ultimate. If it doesnt you can go up to something like a polish or even a compound. But compounding would be the most aggressive step and should be the last you try.
Very good advice! Whenever I get any sort of a blemish/haze/scratch on my paint, I also start with the LEAST aggressive polish and move up from there as needed. Once the blemish is removed, I then use those same products in reverse order to bring back the glass-like shine to that area. You never want to use more abrasives than you need because you have to remove the marks the polish leaves after you've removed the original problem.
