How To Remove Swirls By Hand

[Ced]

Can you apply ScratchX with a waxer/buffer?

[Murr1525]

Yes.

[Ced]

To the entire car like a paint cleaner?

[Michael Stoops]

ScratchX 2.0 is a paint cleaner, and it's DA compatible. So if you want to work it section by section, wiping off before it dries each time, then you certainly can.

[tbird2340]

Wow, awesome thread.. I just got a new (used) car and I've never been big into detailing.. I didn't even know drying with normal bath towels (which is what I always did) is what causes some of the swirls..

Anywho, I want to take great care of this new car and get all the swirls and water marks out. I bought the new car kit, some scratchx, and the claying kit (I already have the NXT wax)..

I washed, dryed, and clayed my car (claying was surprisingly easy!). Then I tried to remove some scratchx (before I had seen this thread).

I didn't really have any results.. I tried again a day later and same thing so I said screw it and put a coat of wax on it (because I wanted to get it waxed and figured the scratchx didn't work)..

Well now after reading this thread I want to give it another shot.. A few questions is since I put the nxt on I'm assuming when I try again I'll just have to re-wax?

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

Thanks much!

[rossmeister]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Well, its not needed. But can help.

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