Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

[river]

As I reported earlier, I used Meguiar's Swirl remover #9 to remove swirl marks from my truck, which was repainted a few years ago, and it worked great, I was amazed that it took all the swirl marks out. It worked both with a DA and by hand.

So I tried my motorcycle, 2006 Honda ST1300 that has been garaged and until I got it had no swirls. I wish I knew what I knew now, but too late now.

I'm sad to report that the method did not remove swirls marks from my Honda. It seemed to be working but when I got it in the sunlight, I could see it just made finer swirls. I did it by hand. I'm afraid now to do anything more.

I was told that it worked on the truck because repainted clear is softer. But the Honda factory paint is a very hard, catalyzed and baked on finish. It is so hard you can not get the fine scratches out.

I hate to give up, I love my bike. Any thoughts or help appreciated.

[Murr1525]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

What you were told is likely accurate, though that does not make anything impossible.

#9 is a mild cleaner. The next step up would be something like the new ScratchX 2.0.

What were you using to apply the product? Of course do a test spot before doing the entire bike.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

river,

M09 Swirl Remover 2.0 is our most gentle cleaner/polish.

Remember, removing swirls means you're removing paint because what you're trying to do is flatten-out or level the surface.

Also remember paints are not all the same, paint systems are all different, some are harder than others, that's why we always tell people that you don't know if you have hard paint or soft paint until you actually push aways from the keyboard and go out into your garage and try working on the paint itself and find out which products work best.

Just because M09 worked one time on one paint system doesn't mean it will work every time on all paint systems.

So if M09, our most gentle cleaner/polish isn't working to remove swirls out of your next project, that doesn't mean M09 doesn't work, it just means it doesn't work for this project because of other factors, like the paint is harder or the swirls are deeper or both.

Check out this thread and see if any of these new products are availing in your local stores,

Aggressiveness Order for New Consumer Products - This will surprise you!

Most aggressive to least aggressive -->



M09 Swirl Remover 2.0 would be around the last product to the right in the above picture, that is it's about as aggressive as ScratchX 1.0, (the old ScratchX), depending upon how it's applied.

[river]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

river,

M09 Swirl Remover 2.0 is our most gentle cleaner/polish.

Remember, removing swirls means you're removing paint because what you're trying to do is flatten-out or level the surface.

Also remember paints are not all the same, paint systems are all different, some are harder than others, that's why we always tell people that you don't know if you have hard paint or soft paint until you actually push aways from the keyboard and go out into your garage and try working on the paint itself and find out which products work best.

Just because M09 worked one time on one paint system doesn't mean it will work every time on all paint systems.

So if M09, our most gentle cleaner/polish isn't working to remove swirls out of your next project, that doesn't mean M09 doesn't work, it just means it doesn't work for this project because of other factors, like the paint is harder or the swirls are deeper or both.

Check out this thread and see if any of these new products are availing in your local stores,

Aggressiveness Order for New Consumer Products - This will surprise you!

Most aggressive to least aggressive -->



M09 Swirl Remover 2.0 would be around the last product to the right in the above picture, that is it's about as aggressive as ScratchX 1.0, (the old ScratchX), depending upon how it's applied.

Thanks Mike. So do you think I need to be more aggressive, or less? Since I'm using swirl remover #9 version 1, with diminishing abrasives, I guess more aggressive? Should I try using the DA instead of hand?

Thanks.

I know it's not that it's not taking material off. I had some deep scratches on the fairing, from trying to clean a hadened dry bug off, and on the saddle bag, from kicking it mounting the bike. By hand, #9 took these areas down until only the deepest scratches remained but quite rounded off and not noticeable. But the fine scratches were still there.

Thanks
Jim

[Murr1525]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

What did you use to apply?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

Thanks Mike. So do you think I need to be more aggressive, or less? Since I'm using swirl remover #9 version 1, with diminishing abrasives, I guess more aggressive? Should I try using the DA instead of hand?

Thanks.

I know it's not that it's not taking material off. I had some deep scratches on the fairing, from trying to clean a hadened dry bug off, and on the saddle bag, from kicking it mounting the bike. By hand, #9 took these areas down until only the deepest scratches remained but quite rounded off and not noticeable. But the fine scratches were still there.

Thanks
Jim

For working on your 2006 Honda ST1300 Motorcycle, you can work by hand or with a DA Polisher, your choice, your hand will get into tighter areas better than the polisher.

If M09 isn't doing the job then you need to get more aggressive as you can't really get any less aggressive. A good approach would be to find dome of our new ScratchX 2.0 and maybe attack it by hand with a clean, soft foam applicator pad. You could also use the new ScratchX 2.0 by machine.

Machine cleaning and polishing will always give you a better, more clear looking finish.

Then of course, wax when you're finished with the cleaning and polishing step.

[InfiniteDetail]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

With the right Meguiar's product and pad you can get perfect results.

Check out the results we got on a Honda Shadow gas tank:

Honda Shadow Spirit 1100

[river]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

Wow, beautiful job on the Honda Shadow Spirit 1100. I read the thread but didn't see how you did it?

I sure would love to know. And that's factory paint I presume.

[river]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

For working on your 2006 Honda ST1300 Motorcycle, you can work by hand or with a DA Polisher, your choice, your hand will get into tighter areas better than the polisher.

If M09 isn't doing the job then you need to get more aggressive as you can't really get any less aggressive. A good approach would be to find dome of our new ScratchX 2.0 and maybe attack it by hand with a clean, soft foam applicator pad. You could also use the new ScratchX 2.0 by machine.

Machine cleaning and polishing will always give you a better, more clear looking finish.

Then of course, wax when you're finished with the cleaning and polishing step.

Mike, do you think maybe I'm just not working the #9 enough to get it to diminish fully, so I don't get as fine a finish? That is, the particles are still big and making scratches?

[river]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

river,

M09 Swirl Remover 2.0 is our most gentle cleaner/polish.

Remember, removing swirls means you're removing paint because what you're trying to do is flatten-out or level the surface.

Also remember paints are not all the same, paint systems are all different, some are harder than others, that's why we always tell people that you don't know if you have hard paint or soft paint until you actually push aways from the keyboard and go out into your garage and try working on the paint itself and find out which products work best.

Just because M09 worked one time on one paint system doesn't mean it will work every time on all paint systems.

So if M09, our most gentle cleaner/polish isn't working to remove swirls out of your next project, that doesn't mean M09 doesn't work, it just means it doesn't work for this project because of other factors, like the paint is harder or the swirls are deeper or both.

Check out this thread and see if any of these new products are availing in your local stores,

Aggressiveness Order for New Consumer Products - This will surprise you!

Most aggressive to least aggressive -->



M09 Swirl Remover 2.0 would be around the last product to the right in the above picture, that is it's about as aggressive as ScratchX 1.0, (the old ScratchX), depending upon how it's applied.

Where would original #9 be on this scale?

So original ScratchX is finer than ScratchX 2.0?

Thanks.

[Nappers]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

I would say that M09 is between ScratchX and M80 (maybe as strong as the new ScratchX 2.0.....)

[Tuck91]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

I think scracthx 2.0 is stronger than M09

[river]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

Can I use original ScratchX with a DA?

thanks.

[river]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

Sounds like I need to stock up on original ScratchX if everything else is more aggressive.

[InfiniteDetail]

Re: Can't buff swirls out of factory clear?

Wow, beautiful job on the Honda Shadow Spirit 1100. I read the thread but didn't see how you did it?

I sure would love to know. And that's factory paint I presume.

This was our process:

Meguiar's #105 by hand in problem areas
Meguiar's #83 applied with a Porter Cable DA polisher using 3" pads, Speed 6
Meguiar's #80 applied same way except Speed 5
Nxt 2.0 by hand

Proper technique is very very important to get good results.

In my experience Honda paint is on the softer side and easier to correct.

Good luck