Help a newb out with swirls

[automag]

Basically like the title says. This is the first car with decent paint I've owned so my paint care experience is extreemly limited.

Some background on the vehicle, its dark blue metallic, with a small amount of flake. It is just over a year old. I wash typically weekly or bi-weekly when time/weather permits. I have waxed it maybe 4 times or so.

I have just started using meguiars products. I used gold class last time I waxed, it looked great for a week or so. I also use the meguiars detailing spray in the maroon bottle, not sure the name though.

So here is the deal. I have in my opinion minor swirl marks or spider webs ( they aren't really all in circular form) that are driving me crazy. You can only see them up close and in the sun. I guess I didn't have the best wash habits at first, not the best towels and all I guess. Possibly one bad wax job (I sort of got caught in the sun).

I want to get rid of them, but I am not too confident in my abilities. That is why I would prefer to do this by hand. I really don't feel comfortable using a buffer or PC.

So I have been considering scratch x and the deep crystal one or two or maybe a combination of one or more of these products.
My concern is whether or not scratch x is really suitable to use for a whole vehicle. From what I hear its only really meant for isolated areas. Next, if this is not are either of the other two products useable by hand.

thanks for any help. I've really been looking into this stuff but I seem to be getting conflicting information, and Its just tough to get started in the right direction.

[HondaCity]

I'm a noob as well, but from my experience trying scratchX:

Works well. You should be able to do the whole car if you want – but man, you'll need strong arms for it!

ScratchX requires quite a bit of working in and repeat applications, and doing the whole car will probably take hours...

[Vandelete]

Doing the whole car is indeed a time robbing job... but it depends on how deep and how visible are the swirls (pictures would help a little bit more )

and if they are very bad you can't get out under the fact that you need a rotary or a porter cable dual action polisher with some swirl remover (#2 for example)

[automag]

I expected it to not be an easy job. I am just not quite ready to make the jump to a PC. I have been looking at them, but still am unsure as to what to get. I like the idea of the meguiars one and how they say anyone can use it but ouch at $225. I have heard its made for meguiars by PC, does anybody know the part number to the PC that its comparable too.

Also what is less abrasive (I know scratch x is a diminishing abrasive) the scratch x or the DC cleaner?

[Quack]

Originally posted by automag
I expected it to not be an easy job. I am just not quite ready to make the jump to a PC. I have been looking at them, but still am unsure as to what to get. I like the idea of the meguiars one and how they say anyone can use it but ouch at $225. I have heard its made for meguiars by PC, does anybody know the part number to the PC that its comparable too.

Also what is less abrasive (I know scratch x is a diminishing abrasive) the scratch x or the DC cleaner?

the Meg's polisher is similar to the PC7424, or the PC7336. i got the PC 7336 from Lowes for $109. the Meg's polisher comes with a lifetime warranty.

i just got my PC last week.
here's what a Quik clay, PC, #83, #82, NXT did for me yesterday.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2325

in the past i've had great results with the DC system on my 95 Jetta almost 10 years ago. i never knew how good the stuff was until i recently found this forum. i had a co-worker ask me how i was able to get black paint to look so good. i guess it was the DC system

[automag]

I will have to go and give those a look. I am still worried about burning my paint or making stuff worse. I have never touched a PC before. I do have some experience polishing metals but these are totally different things and you cant compare.

In the meantime I plan on trying this over the weekend so I'd like to purchase the stuff tomorrow.

Here is the deal I can't determine or decide if I should go with scratch x or the deep crystal paint cleaner. I would prefer to use the milder of the two. I will be doing this by hand. Which one should I have better results with.

Also If I do use DC#1 must I follow up with number 2 then a wax, from the reviews it seems like it makes a significant difference. But I have been using gold class wax, could this make up for not using #2.

[Quack]

here's video how-to's.

http://www.meguiars.com/clinics/clinics_template.cfm

you can't burn the paint with a PC, you can burn paint if you use a rotary

[robnyva]

Quack, Great Job on your vehicle...

[Quack]

thanks!

[Beercan31]

automag
Even if you left the PC running on the same spot for 10-15 min. you could not "burn" the paint, They will not generate enough heat.
You should not be afraid of using a PC it is just like waxing but the machine does all the work and not your arm.

[automag]

Okay, heres the deal. I did the whole car, little sections at a time, not allowing to dry. It looked good, I didn't have any trouble removing it or anything. I applied gold class wax about an hour afterwards. I move my car outside on the driveway into the sun after that. It looked awesome. The color was deep and it was very shiney, surface was unbelievably smooth before and after applying the wax, I couldn't see any swirls.

I was really impressed.

Last night I washed it, due to a rainstorm the other day. Well now I can slightly see some of the swirls again. I am beginging to think I just covered them up. Do I need to try more applications of this scratch x.

[Quack]

what are you washing it with? what are you drying it with?
the sponge, mitt, towel that you are using may be causing the marks.

[automag]

I am begining to think it may be my wash pad.

Here is how I wash. I used to use all sorts of car wash solutions and then dry the car with a synthetic chamois. I think this did a number of the swirl marks I had (possibly still have). Back around may or so I quit using this method. I use a mr clean car wash system. I know, its not a meguiars product, but it works well, and requires me to not have to touch the car in order to dry it. This is essential to me, where my washing time is limited, and its near impossible to chamois a car here in this heat, it just dries much too fast. So I will be using this until I find or someone points me towards another solution that requires no drying.

Anyways the pad I use is one of those terry cloth/ or chennel knit sponge things. Its fairly new. I replace them when they get dirty looking. It said its clear coat safe. I rinse it in between sections of the car to try not to drag dirt and grime over my paint.

Thanks for the help.

[automag]

I am starting to believe I didn't work it in enough. There is another thread in the how to section describing application of this product. They describe it as a WOWI or wipe on work in product. I think I didn't put enough elbow grease into it.

How do I tell when it is "worked" in. A meguiars tech on the phone told me not to let this dry, so I was really concious of taking it off quickly.

In the meantime I am going to scratch test a cd with my wash pad and see if that may be the problem.

Anybody know that one.

[automag]

It may be my wash pad. It scratched the cd, but I had to apply a lot of pressure, more than I use when I wash.

So now I need to find a new wash pad.