Yay or Nay - How To Remove Swirls

[Abrasive1]

Hello fellow car nuts! This is a great site and I've learned so much in the last few weeks. However, just wanted to get opinions on the products I've decided to go with. The project is a 97 Tahoe with solid red maple metallic (looks like maroon to me). Overall, the paint is in decent shape with cobwebbing. My order after washing...Clay, clean, polish and wax. I'm at the cleaning stage and I'm second guessing my choice on the reformulated #2, but am certain about polish(#7) and wax(#26). Everything I'm reading about #2 says to follow it with #9. So, should I stick with #2, then 7 and 26 or should I ditch the fine cut cleaner and go with something else? I will be using a PC for cleaning and polishing. Waxing by hand.

Thank You

[ronniejay]

Re: Yay or Nay

Welcome. Just curious, but what is the temp there? Are you working in a heated garage? The PC can also be used for waxing and removal. Is the paint clearcoat? I will let others (Mike?) chime in on product slection. good luck!

[Murr1525]

Re: Yay or Nay

Well, you can do everything with the PC, unless you are trying to save some money on pads at first.

Have you used the PC before? If not, ordering the "How to Get Show Car Results with a PC" by Richard Lin and Mike P. is a great purchase. It is available from autodetailingsolutions.com, which is a great place to order everything from.

As far as products, certainly #7 and #26 are good. For the cleaning steps, #80 will be your go to product, and #83 if you have really bad swirls, etc. Start with #80 at though, at least on a test area.

Here are some links to read through in case you havent seen them...

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

Recommended Products - G100a Dual Action Polisher

Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

You will probably also want to order some ScratchX for the spots the PC cant reach...

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

[Abrasive1]

Re: Yay or Nay

Well, you can do everything with the PC, unless you are trying to save some money on pads at first.

Have you used the PC before? If not, ordering the "How to Get Show Car Results with a PC" by Richard Lin and Mike P. is a great purchase. It is available from autodetailingsolutions.com, which is a great place to order everything from.

As far as products, certainly #7 and #26 are good. For the cleaning steps, #80 will be your go to product, and #83 if you have really bad swirls, etc. Start with #80 at though, at least on a test area.

Here are some links to read through in case you havent seen them...

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

Recommended Products - G100a Dual Action Polisher

Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

You will probably also want to order some ScratchX for the spots the PC cant reach...

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

Heres a pic for reference. It pretty much sums up the rest of the paint.
If I go with the 80 cleaner/polish, would that remove the need for the pure polish? From what I understand, swirls are induced with a rotary? I'm trying to get rid of the fine scratches from improper washing and drying. The pic isn't that great, but you can see them. I've never used a PC, as I am just getting started. I dont really mind waxing by hand. Is there an advantage waxing with the pc besides time and less elbow grease?

[Murr1525]

Re: Yay or Nay

Doesn't look horrible at least. Swirls, fine scratches, basically the same thing, however they get there.

#80 would remove the need for a pure polish. Now, you still may see some benefit from #7, hard to tell with that color. It is something you would have to try at some point and see if you can tell.

Waxing by PC would of course be faster, etc.. but will also spread a thinner coat, so it is easier to remove by hand. And if you remove the wax by PC, you will tend to get a higher gloss.

[Abrasive1]

Re: Yay or Nay

I think I'll try 80 first. It appears its less aggressive than #2. As of right now, I have an 8006 and 9006 pad. I'll pick up two more finishing pads so I have the option to use the #7 and wax with the pc.

[CharlesW]

Re: Yay or Nay

The #80 will probably do a great job for you.
I used it on a friends Black Saturen Vue that had much worse marring including some parking lot door scuffs.
The #80 with a Meg's polishing pad, PC speed of 5, took care of the problems quite nicely. I followed the #80 with NXT Tech Wax on a polishing pad and the vehicle looked new.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Yay or Nay

Hello fellow car nuts! This is a great site and I've learned so much in the last few weeks.

Hi Abrasive1,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

We see our stellar members have already answered your questions and that's what's so great about this online forum is that our members will gladly help with quality how-to information and product recommendations.




Another thing we do on this forum is we try our best to keep it family friendly and focused on cars, not girls. (There's plenty of forums you can already go to for this). As such... I've removed your Avatar and given you a new temporary one. Hope you don't mind!

[Abrasive1]

Re: Yay or Nay

Hi Abrasive1,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

We see our stellar members have already answered your questions and that's what's so great about this online forum is that our members will gladly help with quality how-to information and product recommendations.




Another thing we do on this forum is we try our best to keep it family friendly and focused on cars, not girls. (There's plenty of forums you can already go to for this). As such... I've removed your Avatar and given you a new temporary one. Hope you don't mind!

It was kind of difficult finding m80 locally. Then when the PBE shops dont have it, naturally they try and sell you something else thats completely different.

Mike, consider me a non issue for problems in the future. I tested the waters, now I know exactly whats acceptable. Thanks for the fair warning.

[Murr1525]

Re: Yay or Nay - How To Remove Swirls

You might just order online from ADS that was mentioned above. Sure you pay shipping, but stuff is usualy on sale a little, and if you get a few things, you will break even quickly or even save some.

[Abrasive1]

Re: Yay or Nay - How To Remove Swirls

You might just order online from ADS that was mentioned above. Sure you pay shipping, but stuff is usualy on sale a little, and if you get a few things, you will break even quickly or even save some.

It will be about a 30 minute drive and a quart is 15.xx and a gallon is 29.xx.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Yay or Nay

It was kind of difficult finding m80 locally. Then when the PBE shops dont have it, naturally they try and sell you something else thats completely different.

Darn... it's no fun to be all amped up for a project only to not be able to start because of a lack of products. For what it's worth, if they have any Meguiar's product on display for sale, this means they can order you the M80 and usually have it in a day or two.


We posted this earlier today in another thread and we're copying and pasting it here just to show the power of M80 with a quality LSP

All of the cars below have been polished with M80 and then had NXT applied. The 1965 Corvette underwent a full-on rotary buff-out that took around 14 hours, but towards the end M80 was used to insure a swirl-free finish and then two coats of NXT were applied.


"Sniper", a 1954 Plymouth Belvedere that was totally reworked and customized by Troy Trepanier features a Viper V-10 engine and modified drive-train from a GTS Coupe. Unveiled at the 2002 SEMA Show as part of Hot Rod Magazines 50 years of Hot Rodding Showcase, it has been the recipient of many design awards.










Check out these two first prizes the owner of this Overhaulin Challenger received after we polished out the swirls using M80 Speed Glaze and then applied two coats of NXT Tech Wax.










This is an all original 1965 Corvette Stingray Convertible with the original 396 Big Block Chevy engine and Turbo 350 transmission.

Mike, consider me a non issue for problems in the future. I tested the waters, now I know exactly whats acceptable. Thanks for the fair warning.

Thanks for understanding!