Questions about swirlmarks, and swirlmark removal.

I

imported_howareb

New member
-First I have to say that this is a reat forum and that it hs been very helpful to me. I did a search on this topic but I didn't get an nswer that I was looking for.



-I just finished detailing my uncle' s black BMW, and I did the detailng in the garage. This was the process i followed:

Wash, Clay, 3 coats of Z5 with Z6 in between, and then 2 coats of Z2, again with z6 in between. When I was finished the car looked great. In the garage there are two flourescenet bulbs (ceiling and in front of car, on the side)and the only swirls and scratches that I could see I new were there from before (long story). These scratches and swirls are only visible if you are 5 inches from the paint and tilting your head to really look for them.



-The problem came when I took he car out in the sun. Upon closer inspection, when the sun is direcly shining on the car, circular swirls are visible ( I only use back and forth motions when detaling). I also took one of he desk lamps and shined it on the car, and with this method I could see many hairline scratches( I think that this was too much of an inspection).



-- Because it is a black car I know that most things are very visible. IF anybody as any suggestion or similar experiences, please let me know.I am considering 3M IHG, and P2S paint cleansing lotion, and then tpping itof with Zymol Titanium. Right now I am using Zaino, and I think it's great but doesnt take care of the swirls.



Thank you
 
This weekend (weather permitting) I'm going to try some 3M SMR 39009 (dark colors) on my car and reapply my zaino. This is the product that Sal Zaino recommends over his Z5 for those more stubborn swirl marks. I'd say get some of that and stick with the zaino as well... it's good stuff. :)



Instructions from Sal Zaino if you need em:



3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze use By hand:

Simply apply a small amount (about the size of a quarter) to a cotton

diaper or piece of cotton towel and rub back and forth into about a 1' X

1' section using light to medium pressure until it starts to dry out.

Then take a second towel and lightly rub back and forth until the polish

residue disappears and the gloss comes up. If there are still some

swirls visible you can repeat this step until they are minimal. I prefer

using a less aggressive product a couple times instead of using a more

aggressive product once. After you have done the entire car you can Dawn

wash and reapply Z1 and Z5/Z2.



3M FoamPolishing Pad Glaze use By orbital:



Use a 100% cotton bonnett or a foam bonnett and apply the polish in a

thin lined growing circle starting from the center and spacing the

growing line about an inch from the last round all the way to the edge.

Place the bonnett flat on a panel and activate the polisher and begin

working the entire panel using light to meduim pressure. When you have

worked the panel thoroughly then take a clean towel and wipe the residue

off in a back and forth motion using light pressure. Then simply move to

the next section. When the entire car is done do a Dawn wash and Zaino.

 
Removing swirls by hand is very difficult. If you have swirls that aren't coming out by hand then the time may have arrived that you should look into a machine. The Porter Cable random orbital polisher is a favorite of Autopia and is availible from most of our sponsors. Its also availible from a local hardware store for you probably. A machine will make quick work of your minor swirls. Even major swirls flee from the Porter Cable. Might be something to look into.
 
I'm going to try out my new PC 7336SP this weekend. I got it from Lowes for $109.00. Hopefully it'll be everything you autopians have said it'll be. ;)



Now I'll probably have to go back to Lowes to buy a leaf blower to dry my car off with... lol :D
 
i read in some detailing book that only experienced detailers should use a polisher or you could do serious damage to your paint.
 
The tool that the book was refering too is a rotary buffer, in the hands of a novice one can badly damage a vehicles finish.



The Porter Cable polisher, AKA the PC, is a Random Orbit Polisher, this makes it much safer to use.



You should buy the Autopia Ebook, it has a hole chapter on polishing.
 
For dark colored cars... 3M SMR for dark cars.

Lighjt to medium colored cars...Meguiars #9.



I also have 3M SNR for light cars, but I like the #9 better,
 
I spent a few hours on my car last week and the #9 didn't get rid of all my swirls. It definatly helped and it got rid of quite a few of them but there are more that are still there. Do you think that going to 3M SMR would take care of the rest? Why is it labled that its for dark cars? What will it do to my white one?
 
Jngrbrdman...



I believe that 3M SMR for light colored cars is a slightly different formulation. It is white in color.
 
The one for dark cars has more zinc oxide in it (or is it the lighter one?)



Although I have only used the appropriate one of the last car I used it with, there should be no difference.



Lets say you use the white one on your dark car and there's this white stuff all over the place. Do you really want this stuff there when you apply your wax? Nobody here does. Therefore it's a great opportunity to make sure you get everything off before waxing. I think it would actually make more sense to use the opposite only as an residue indicator. Cause it's not like clear coats on dark cars vs light are any harder or softer than the other.
 
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