Down in Wisconsin (oxymoron?)

[FTD]

Hey all, I have had several cars and work hard to keep them looking nice. But I only maintain them, I don't know how to make them look nice once they are in rough shape. I picked up a True Red color MX-5 this spring and it is getting the better of me and I am down about it.

I thought that the factory finish had quite the orange peel and some medium swirel marks from the dealership lot. So I hit it with a rotary tool and some more agressive polishes in an attempt to improve the situation. The orange peel seems to be improved, however I am at a loss for removing the heavy swirling the polishes left behind. Under direct halogen or sun light the swirls are very apparent.

I hope that I can learn what process/practices/and products will dig me out of this hole. This being my fun car, I want it to look nice. I used Meguires system polishes trying to work down the agressivness scale, but never got the change that I was expecting (regarding swirls). I can look up the numbers if anyone is interested in figuring out what I did wrong. I am regretting ever trying to use a rotary tool, and this was my first time ever using a power tool on paint...

Hoping to learn a lot from you all. I would appreciate any and all input.

Take care!

[Holden_C04]

to Autopia!

[AeroCleanse]

Are you following the rotary up with a DA and polish?

[Eliot Ness]

to Autopia!

If you're fairly new to using the rotary I suggest you read up as much as possible and then try to refine your skills on some beaters. Below are two very good guides that should at least teach you enough to get started:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ypolishing.pdf

A guide to rotary polishing - Autopia.org

There is also a sticky on rotary use in the machine polishing forum that you might benefit from.

[FTD]

Thanks guys for the warm welcomes. I appreciate the input!

[FTD]

Originally Posted by AeroCleanse

Are you following the rotary up with a DA and polish?

Yup, I was at a friends house, using his equipment. We started off with the rotary to knock down the orange peel (I didn't know about the paint thickness gauge mentioned in the link above, but didn't have any major issues), then used a DA w/ less aggressive polishes, and made progress, but never got it back to where I would like it.

I don't know if I am to the point that I should work it by hand, or if more power work is necessary. I'm sure if I had more experience it would be MUCH faster with power. But I am convinced that I don't know how to get it back to swirl free.

I am hoping to meet an expert in my area that can give me some input. Maybe that is too much to hope for. The car is in winter storage in my climate controlled garage right now, so I can work on it whenever.

Any thoughts on how to assess the next steps? Or is it a matter of trial and error until I figure it out

Take care and thanks again.