Tank Paint Care

Poss a quick rub over with T-CUT then use a good wax polish like MER or even turtle wax for the final buff or auto glym

 

I wouldn't use G3 or T-cut on black paint, too aggressive to remove the swirl marks you are talking about. Good for scratch removal, but too course for removing swirls.

Go to a bodyshop and speak to them nicely and they might give you a bottle of some very fine polishing compound, rather than a cutting compound like T-Cut / G3

I will google and try to find the name of the stuff I was given. Bloody hard work to remove them, but was the only stuff I found worked, G3 made it worse on mine.

EDIT - Found it - 3M Ultrafina anti swirl

It's about £45 a bottle, but people are selling smaller bottles for less, as per my link. This is what the bodyshop guys use.

 

Yep, used it wet, just found it too course, especially on black paint, just added more swirl marks. Ok for scratch removal, but swirl marks are an absolute bitch to get out.

Main problem with bike tanks being you constantly in contact with the painted surface of your tank, unlike cars where you don't usually touch them, until you drag a gritty sponge over the surface to help add scratches and swirls.

3M Ultrafina is just a really fine cutting compound, the 3M range come in 3 grades - Fast cut (green), Extra fine (yellow)and Ultrafina (blue), if you can afford a full set ~£100, they really will take all scratches out and leave paint like new, but a lot of elbow grease is required, or a machine polisher !!!

Again, make sure you use some water to keep it moving smoothly, wet application sponge or a spray bottle as suggested by DD.

 

Oh, and don't forget to put a good quality polish, on once you have finished.

 

G3 is the right gear for the DIY man to get the job done. I (because its my trade) would use my polishing machine with either G3 or 3M fastcut on a soft foam head but as most people don't have the proper tools a new micro cloth dampened with water and G3 will work so long as you use long strokes only. Please don't use the cloth in a cirular motion and don't use the crusty bits of compound.
T cut is very out of date for todays paints as it contains ammonia and was designed for cellulose paints. It has a staining effect if left on therefore a no no.
Happy polishing, oh and wax afterwards!

 

Try the Mequiars range if other recommendations aren't available from your Halford's (other reatail outlets are available). Their micro-abrasive to get rid of swirls on my black tank was recommended by a body shop guy I know. When polishing def don't use a circular motion. Always up and down or side to side. Use a fresh micro-fibre cloth each time starting with the tank to avoid transferring grit from other parts of the bike.
http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/meguiars/meguiars-mirror-glaze-105-ultra-cut-compound.aspx

 

I'm close Jez

 

Oh well, another distraction to play with.

 

Would this G3 stuff be a good bet for getting a few micro scratches out of the red paint on my tank?

Had a quick look on amazon and it comes in a paste or a liquid. There's also a finishing compound.

 

Yes it's the right product

 

I have found that with deeper scratches Menzerna 400 is a very good compound but also very abrasive, you can with working it get a decent shine with it though. For something more gentle and easily available the Meguiars Ultimate Compound which I have used. The Menzerna 3500 is a good polish to follow it up with. I have also heard good things about the Roar 610 compound.