Another newbie

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webdanb

New member
I have a new dark gray bmw. It has some swirl marks I can see in the sun on the hood. Likely these are from a bad dealer wash or I'm doing something wrong in my washing methods. I'd love to get rid of them, maybe by applying SMR during my near-future detailing weekend. Of course I have no PC. can I apply this stuff and be assured that it's worked it's way in without using a PC?



My somewhat related question, do I apply SMR only to the panels where I can see swirl marks, or should I cover the entire car?
 
You can use 3M Swirl Mark Remover without a Porter Cable machine, it'll just take alot more arm work. I used to use it without a machine and got results just as good as the Porter Cable would produce, just did not get the same results as fast.



Regarding which portion of the car to apply the polish to.... If I was in your shoes I would just clay the car, this will grab all of the crap imbedded into your paint, after that I would wash and do a walk around and see if you have more swirls from claying. From there just treat the areas that have swirls. It most of the car has them just do the whole car.



From there, seal your cars paint with something.
 
It's all technique. I tested many products for hours on a black panel under 1000w halogens + a couple hundred watts of fluorescents and got hazing from most of them. I conclude that my hand polishing technique is very lacking and needs work. USER ERROR, not product fault.



Meg's #9 abrasiveness - Seemed to be a bit more mild than SMR but was a breeze to use and get residue off. Buffs easier than zaino YMMV.



I tried 3M SMR vs #9 with extremely heavy pressure and light pressure and concluded that you can get about the same amount of cut with both products, all that matters is your technique.



If using moderate pressure by hand doesn't work, please don't make the same mistake I did by pressing very hard. Hazing will most likely result unless you have very good technique.



YMMV
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Intermezzo [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Intel, how good a job does #9 do on swirls? [/b]</blockquote>
Meguiars #9 was taking off the same swirls that 3m SMR was taking off when I did my truck. I just like it better because 3m SMR leaves that oily residue behind that is hard to get off.
 
So what your saying is you suggest #9 over SMR because of the opily residue left behind? I'm looking for something that leaves hardly any residue. If need be I would wash my car to see exactly how much work the #9 or SMR did.
 
Hey Joed,



If you were posting that in reply to my post, it depends on what you want to do. I think that the Meguiar's stuff often seems to have more fillers. Is this just me? So if you are sticking with just carnauba, you'd probably love the #9 for its ease of buffing.



I was shocked to see how well the fillers hid imperfections . . . and then I stripped them and started with the colorful language :D
 
hahah I can just hear you now. DARN GOSH IT!



Your and your filty language isn't allowed on the fourms BUB.



I have a feeling Meguiars stuff was built on wax oils and fillers so when he said he prefer #9 over the SMR I was kind of shocked, got me thinking that maybe the #9 has less oil. Getting me all confused early in the morning, jeepers.



I'm going to be layering the Glaze and Hi Tech Yellow wax for at least 2 months and stuff so I think I'll fix the swirled areas with some SMR and then after that until mid-late summer I'll keep filling them in if I get any more. My car has only been polished once since 1999 so I want to keep the clear coat as thick as I can.



After using the clay last weekend the difference was bigger than night and day. My paint felt like it has 100000 speed bumps on it, it was horrible, after the clay it was smooth as a babies butt....... don't get any ideas Puterbum.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

If using moderate pressure by hand doesn't work, please don't make the same mistake I did by pressing very hard. Hazing will most likely result unless you have very good technique.</blockquote>

So are you saying to use light pressure. I was planning on using #9 without a PC also. But I don't understand your advise on technique. Are you suggesting to use light pressure to apply and buff? :nixweiss Please elaborate.

Thanks

I am so confused....
 
I myself used to use SMR with heavy pressure and I never had a hazing problem. You guys are looking at this stuff under extreme lighting conditions so maybe thats why, I was just using the good old fashioned sun.......



We're confusing the heck out of this guy.



If I were you I would apply the product with medium to heavy pressure, I ALWAYS used to and never had a problem.
 
I would not recommend using "heavy" pressure by hand, heavy being defined as it taking a good deal of effort. Moderate pressure is great, just make sure you lighten your pressure up as the compound dries up.



I can't give too many specific hints on technique since I am unhappy with the results so far of my hand polishing on extreme lighting conditions. It looks fine in the sun, but if it's hazed under 1000w of halogens I'm not happy with it.
 
Well I don't know what you consider heavy, I can do an entire hood on a Camaro before I would need a 60 second break.



Thats why I like the PC, I can work the product in with pressure and lighten it up as I go along.



For all I know, I probaly have wicked bad hazing like most of the people on this fourm, I look at my car like 2 inches from the panels and I don't see anything under the bright summer sun so I'm happy, if I can't see it with my own naked eyes, I cant see it at night under gas station lights, why the heck would I worry about it, it's not bad or anything....



You guys don't worry about the smog in the air, do a little research and you'll be carrying around your own oxygen tanks :eek:
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by joed1228 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>
I have a feeling Meguiars stuff was built on wax oils and fillers so when he said he prefer #9 over the SMR I was kind of shocked,
[/b]</blockquote>
Yhea, the fillers in Meguiar's #9 actually work though. The ones in 3m SMR kinda smear around on the surface :D
 
Hey guys only my second forum that I have joined so I am still a little new to everything. Worked as a detailer for a local dealership some time ago (in high school) and learned a lot from them. Learned a lot but hope to learn some more, especially on using a buffer. I know I don't have the prettiest car to be buffing and detailing extensively but this is ride is what I hope to work all the magic on once I start learning.... :)

DSC_0152-1.jpg
 
Welcome to TID cssaint12. There is always room to learn more in this ever changing industry. Fortunately, there are some really great detailers on this site that you can learn from. Don't be afraid to ask questions, that is why we are all here. BTW, nothing wrong with your ride. It doesn't matter what you drive, as long as you take care of her.
 
Welcome to Truth In Detailing csssaint12, nice ride you have there.
 

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Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I will be asking some questions right after I do some research with the forums boards and some quick searches using the search button. I think my best friend is the search button in forums :)
 
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