How To Remove Swirls By Hand

[rossmeister]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I'm an owner of a 'semi-new' 2012 White Honda Fit that is close to 9 months old. I've picked up some very minor swirls and scratches (my fault, through improper washing and waxing techniques) and was thinking of polishing them out using Ultimate Polish. I've read several threads/postings where it was advised to start with the least aggressive product and move up to stronger products if needed.

Now herein lies the rub: I don't own a DA polisher and at present cannot afford one, but am saving up for one later. So my only option is to go by hand, using Pinnacle's Polishing Pal kit. For those not familiar with the Polishing Pal, it is, in the most simplest of terms, a "poor man's DA". It is a hand held device, shaped to fit the hand, and has hook-and-loops to firmly attach any variety of 4" pads.

Here's my planned technique: Apply UP using the supplied white pads, wiping off with a good MF, thoroughly remove all residue with a good pre-wax cleaner, then apply wax using the red pads.

I've read responses to this thread stating that polishing by hand is going to be long and tedious, and should be done in stages over several days. Problem is I don't have that much time on my hands. (I work two jobs). So I was going to forgo the polishing step and clay my finish instead. Then use a pre-wax cleaner or paint cleansing lotion and then apply wax. I already have multiple coats of ULW and am concerned with build-up.

What do you think about this?

[rossmeister]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I almost forgot to mention that the reason I'm applying a pre-wax cleaner or paintwork cleanser is to remove the ground in grime that no amount of washing will ever remove. And if there are any left-over wax residues not removed by the claying step, this should totally strip the surface. I'm not looking for perfection at this time. Perfection will come later as I continue to learn more and more about DIY auto detailing.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

Anyone know of a valid link for a video of how to do it? That one that was posted is no longer up..

THIS should be just what you're looking for.

I'm an owner of a 'semi-new' 2012 White Honda Fit that is close to 9 months old. I've picked up some very minor swirls and scratches (my fault, through improper washing and waxing techniques) and was thinking of polishing them out using Ultimate Polish. I've read several threads/postings where it was advised to start with the least aggressive product and move up to stronger products if needed.

Now herein lies the rub: I don't own a DA polisher and at present cannot afford one, but am saving up for one later. So my only option is to go by hand, using Pinnacle's Polishing Pal kit. For those not familiar with the Polishing Pal, it is, in the most simplest of terms, a "poor man's DA". It is a hand held device, shaped to fit the hand, and has hook-and-loops to firmly attach any variety of 4" pads.

Here's my planned technique: Apply UP using the supplied white pads, wiping off with a good MF, thoroughly remove all residue with a good pre-wax cleaner, then apply wax using the red pads.

I've read responses to this thread stating that polishing by hand is going to be long and tedious, and should be done in stages over several days. Problem is I don't have that much time on my hands. (I work two jobs). So I was going to forgo the polishing step and clay my finish instead. Then use a pre-wax cleaner or paint cleansing lotion and then apply wax. I already have multiple coats of ULW and am concerned with build-up.

What do you think about this?

You've actually got a few things working in your favor here:

• Your paint is white so it hides a lot of minor defects that black paint would actually highlight
• The Honda Fit is known to have pretty soft or delicate paint, so it's pretty easy to correct with proper technique
• The Pinnacle Polishing Pal you've picked up already is going to be a big help - very delicate paint is super easy to mar when working by hand because it's very susceptible to pressure points from your fingertips. Having this little tool should totally eliminate that potential, which is great!

Have a read through The Challenge of Delicate Paint for some tips on dealing with this paint. You may actually find Ultimate Compound to be overly aggressive on this paint and that something lighter like SwirlX or Ultimate Polish actually works better. For that matter, you may find that ColorX alone does an outstanding job, especially since you'll be able to put some energy behind it with the Polishing Pal without fear of marring the surface with pressure points.

[zhucehao]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

DO i have to use the polish and the wax for it too look that good. I used the scratchX and it looks good but not as good as i want it to be

[Murr1525]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

Well, its not needed. But can help.

What were you working on/fixing? What doesnt look quite as good?

[Slidder]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I don't mean this in any negative way, however after seeing the before and after pictures, yes there was a difference. But that's not the type of shine I would expect after all that rubbing. Wouldn't a buffer have worked faster and better?

[Andy M.]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I don't mean this in any negative way, however after seeing the before and after pictures, yes there was a difference. But that's not the type of shine I would expect after all that rubbing. Wouldn't a buffer have worked faster and better?

The purpose of the thread was to show you how to remove swirls by hand. To answer your question yes a buffer would have been faster, but as stated in the thread not everyone has one.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

Wouldn't a buffer have worked faster and better?

Hi Slidder,

To your question,




"yes". You make the same point I made for years teaching the Saturday 101 Classes here and now in Florida. You ALWAYS get better results by machine versus working by hand because the paints changed and modern clear coat paints are harder than traditional single stage paints and you with your hand can only do so much. The machine never gets tired and moves a buffing pad under pressure at a high OPM rate and together with the right chemicals and techniques even a beginner can create show car results.

I took these pictures and removing swirls by hand is no easy feat, so actually, the results you see are very good. That was the other point made in the class and that was to teach people that didn't own a polisher how to work by hand.

Actually, the amount of ROTARY BUFFER induced swirls removed working only by hand is dramatic.

Before



After



Of course, after demonstrating how much time and work it takes to remove only a majority of the swirls by hand then demonstrating how easy it is to let the machine do all the work, most of the people going through these classes back then and even today under Mike Stoops leads to the sales of more and more polishers.

In my how-to book, "The art of detailing", I make this point in the first chapter that discusses the history of paint and then again in the chapter the explains how the drive mechanism in tools like the Meguiar's G110v2 work to remove swirls but at the same time are very safe.

You can read more in my articles here,

The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story... by Mike Phillips


Here's an excerpt from the above article,

The practical differences between single stage paints and a clear coat paints
Early 1965 Mustang with single stage paint and a modern Mustang with a basecoat/clear coat finish





Frustration with clearcoat paints
Now let me tie this back to why machine polishing has become so much more popular since clear coat paints were introduced.

As more and more cars being manufactured made their way into the market, as car owners, or in other words, do-it-yourselfers, would try the traditional methods of removing defects out of the paint, that is with traditional rubbing and polishing compounds, they would find that most of these products may remove defects but leave their own defects in the paint at the same time.

Not only that, but because generally speaking, modern clear coats are harder than single stage paints, the energy, time and skill required to actually remove defects out of clear coat paints increased dramatically, and in fact increased to the point that many people attempting to remove defects and restore a shine like their car had when they bought it brand new, left most people feeling frustrated and their cars no better off than when they started and often times worse.


Enter the Porter Cable DA Sander
That's right, I said sander! The Porter Cable Dual Action Sander is the tool that became the Tipping Point that was the driving force behind the average person switching from working by hand to working by machine.

[Highroller]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

Hello Mike.
I am new into detailing and regularly synthetic wax on monthly basis and wax with gold class weekly but still my cars have developed slight cobweb swirls.
I recently came across this thread but since this procedure and products date back to 2005 i was wondering if you may recommend new products or replace certain products that you have used in this thread to remove swirls.
Thanks

[Murr1525]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

Ultimate Compound would be the product for removing swirls by hand these days.

However, be sure to use a good applicator like shown, and similar technique with good even pressure.

Could look at Ult. Polish to follow up with, then something like the Nxt 2.0 wax, Ult. Wax, etc.

[ffboy]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

After removing the swirls, you do want to practice proper paint maintenance to avoid or at least minimize those swirls from reoccurring. Swirling can come from anywhere... from improper carwash techniques (which I personally rank highest among swirl producing procedures) to contaminated wax/cleaner applicators.

[06hondacivicsi]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

So what I would do for a good detail is:?
1. wash car
2. clean with scratch x
3. wax it with meguiars tech wax

[ffboy]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I would:
1. Wash car
2. Clay bar
3. Depending on the degree or amount of scratches/swirls on the paint. ScratchX 2.0 will remove deeper scratches and may be better for smaller work areas, for lighter swirls or refining, swirlX or ultimate polish. For faster detailing, Cleaner Wax or ColorX can be used, especially if the paint isn't too badly swirled up, it will clean, polish protect in 1 simple step.
4. Wax with NXT 2.0, Ultimate wax or Gold Class, choice of wax is up to you.

[fpan]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I have a fine scratches and swirls in my car hood. I want to try to remove them with the ScratchX 2.0 and if it needs and with the Ultimate Compound by hand. I am afraid do not marring the car paint. I read that all are the technick. How much pressure should i use to the pad? What pad of Meguiars to use? The Meguiar's X3070 Soft Foam 4" Applicator Pad or the Meguiars Even Coat Applicator Pad X3080?

[Murr1525]

Re: How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I have a fine scratches and swirls in my car hood. I want to try to remove them with the ScratchX 2.0 and if it needs and with the Ultimate Compound by hand. I am afraid do not marring the car paint. I read that all are the technick. How much pressure should i use to the pad? What pad of Meguiars to use? The Meguiar's X3070 Soft Foam 4" Applicator Pad or the Meguiars Even Coat Applicator Pad X3080?

Well, of course doa test spot, area before doing the whole car to check on things.

But save time, just get the UC.

I would get the foam applicator... And it will take a good but if pressure. The key is keeping the pressure even.