Having trouble removing swirls even with PC

R

riu247

New member
Hello,



I was wondering if any of you experienced board members could help me out with a little problem I've been having with cobwebbing / swirls.



I detailed both my own (2 yr. old, black) vehicle, and my father's (1 yr. old, metallic blue) vehicle, but can't seem to get rid of the swirls, even with a swirl remover and PC on 5 - 5 1/2. I use a yellow pad and apply firm pressure to work the stuff in until it starts to haze. Then I follow up with a 50/50 water/alcohol solution to remove the haze.



After finishing up, from a distance, the paint looks extremely good (especially with the FMJ), but when I take the car in direct sunlight, I see a tremendous amount of swirls, and cobwebbing (almost like the car hasn't even been worked on). When I say the swirls are visible, I mean VERY visible.



I've also tried using 3MPIIRC Rubbing Compound in place of Meg's MPPC, but that didn't do the trick either. I raised the speed from 4 to 5 - 5 1/2 on the PC, and still nothing. Any ideas ?



Here's what I've tried on both vehicles :



- Wash with Menzerna Auto Shampoo

- Clay

- Meguiar's #97 MPPC (Premium Paint Cleaner) with PC on 5 to

5 1/2 using a yellow polishing pad.

- 50/50 water/alcohol to remove haze

- Menzerna FP

- Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze

- Menzerna FMJ



Any tips would help as I'm at a dead end.
 
definately substitute a more agressive polish for MPPC and make sure to work it till it's almost gone.



maybe crank the PC to 6. :xyxthumbs
 
You have already tried a cutting pad with 3M FCRC?



Hmm... how much time are you spending polishing each section and how big a section? It's possible that it could be your technique or method, otherwise you may need to step up to something even stronger, like a wool pad or another product.



In the future don't bother proceeding with following steps if you find that what you have just done was inadequate. In most cases, it doesn't make enough difference.
 
riu427- Welcome to Autopia!



Which pads are you using (the Meguiar's yellow-polishing or the CMA/Lake yellow-cutting)? You should do the first, heavy work with a cutting pad and then switch to a polishing pad. Do this with the FCRC and then use a polishing pad to apply a second, milder product.



The 3M FCRC should at least make a big difference if you're working it long enough. "Long enough" can sometimes mean an hour or more per panel when you're "doing rotary-work by PC". Then follow up with something milder than the FCRC, but still more aggressively abrasive than the MPPC. Maybe 3M's PI-III MG (pn 05937) or your FP.



As mentioned, don't move to the FP until things are already pretty good.
 
I couldnt get the swirles out of my black car w/a PC and Menzerna Int. pol. Perhaps I didnt spend enough time in one place. I got a cheap rotary w/3M pads and I'm now swirl free.
 
Hey fellas,



Thanks for all the helpful advice.



Do you think a orange cutting pad will give a better 'cut' as opposed to the yellow pad?
 
No, i find the yellow pad is more aggresive. The PC probably won't remove all your swirls and not the spider webbing, you'd need a rotarty for that.
 
riu I had the same problem today with my poorboys stuff. I wondering if I am expecting to much from my pc. I used SSR 2 with a LC yellow pad and nothing. I also tried the LC yellow with DACP, again nothing. I tried so many different methods (higher speed, applying pressure, more time) that in 3 hours I was only able to work on one side of the car and thats with scratches and swirl marks still showing. The car looks great from a distance but once you get close with the light hitting it you can see the scratches and swirl marks. I ordered SSR2.5 earlier that day so I'm hoping that will help but after the day I had I'm not expecting much. I would hate to say that I wasted my money on a PC. HELP!!! I'm almost afraid to use a rotary.
 
I empathize with everyone having the PC trouble. The clear on one of my cars is so hard, using a PC and a *wool* pad didn't do much :eek: :(



I suppose the real answer, unfortunately is going to have to be the rotary
 
Seems to me if there are swirls then the product is too aggressive or technique is a little off. Instead of going more aggressive why not try less aggressive. In most cases I've found compounds to make matter worse.
 
I've had pretty good luck with SSR3 and an orange LC pad at 4.5 on my PC. Would have liked to go faster, but the LC pads tear around the velcro backing at speeds over 4.5.



It leaves a haze that I remove with SSR1 and a white pad. I have gotten some pretty nasty scratches and swirls out with this combo.
 
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