thoughts after detailing

[sublimecantona]

hi alll
i detailed my Volvo C70 over the weekend as follows:

wash - double bucket
clay -
swirlx
NXT wax 2.0

I was well impressed with the clay bar and the body was smooth as heck..in fact it was even smoother than my moms 2008 quashqai!

the car looked absolutely gorgeous - sorry i couldnt take pics as my digital camera is knackerd and my phone camera is not that good.

there was one thing i noticed though: Siwlrs - after applying the SwirlX, in the sunlight i could see the swirls in one area (say the bonnet) but when i moved around that bonnet, it seemed like the swirls were following me..this was the case on the roof and the bonnet. it did feel like whereva i moved the swirls were there. Is that meant to be the case ?

Now it might be that i didnt do it correcly or i might need to use Ultra Compound

next i will get the Al wheel cleaner and #39 as there are some marks on the interior vinyl which i failed to remove with quick interior detailer. Will #39 work ?

all feedback appreciated.

[CieraSL]

Re: thoughts after detailing

Since Swirl X obviously didn't remove the heavier swirls, only the lighter swirls, you may need to step to Ultimate Compound and do 1 or 2 passes in order to remove the rest of the swirls, then you can follow that up with Swirl X to remove any light marring caused by UC since UC is a more aggressive product. Also, I've heard great things about #39, so I would think it would solve your interior trouble. Hope this helps!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: thoughts after detailing

there was one thing i noticed though: Siwlrs - after applying the SwirlX, in the sunlight i could see the swirls in one area (say the bonnet) but when i moved around that bonnet, it seemed like the swirls were following me..this was the case on the roof and the bonnet. it did feel like whereva i moved the swirls were there. Is that meant to be the case ?

From Hot Topics

Cobweb Swirls vs Rotary Buffer Swirls
Below is an explanation between the difference between random swirls and scratches that show up in what is commonly referred to as Cobweb Swirls as compared to Rotary Buffer Swirls.


Cobweb Scratches or Cobweb Swirls
Actually, the term cobweb swirls or spiderweb swirls comes from the fact that when you look at the paint in such a way as to place the reflection of the sun or another source of bright light so that it's on a painted panel, you'll see what looks like swirls and scratches forming in a circular pattern around the point of light.

Cobweb Scratches or Cobweb Swirls




Cobweb Scratches or Cobweb Swirls



Now if you move around a little bit so as to move the point of light around on the panel you'll see what looks as though the cobweb swirls are following the point of light. The cobweb swirls are not actually following the point of light what's really happening is that the entire finish is so filled with random scratches that wherever you place the point of light you'll see the circular or cobweb pattern show up because the random scratches will reflect the light back towards the center of this point of light. So as you move the point of light around on a painted panel it looks as though the cobweb swirls are following the point of light.

Does that make sense?

The scratches are not specifically circle scratches, they could be a all straight-line scratches but the effect is they look circular because the point of light is circular and the light hitting the hundreds of thousands of scratches are all reflecting back to the center of the point of light making it look as though the scratches are all circular when that's not the case.



Buffer swirls or Buffer Trails or Holograms
Swirls instilled through the use and mis-use of a rotary buffer will tend to show up in a pattern that reflect the direction the rotary buffer was moved over the surface.

Rotary Buffer Instilled Swirls




Rotary Buffer Instilled Swirls


Hope this helps to explain the difference.

Now it might be that i didnt do it correcly or i might need to use Ultra Compound

In some detail, explain how big an area you worked at one time?

How id you apply it?

Did you simply spread it around?

or

Did you spread it around and work it passionately against the paint for about a minute to a small section about a foot squared?

next i will get the Al wheel cleaner and #39 as there are some marks on the interior vinyl which i failed to remove with quick interior detailer. Will #39 work ?

M39 works as good and often times better as any of the other available options on the market. How easy or how difficult some type of substance comes off another surface depends upon the substance and how well it's affixed to the component's surface.

In other words, you won't know if it works well until you try it. Whatever you use, remember you may have to scrub the area a little using either a terry cloth wash rag as the nap, (little cotton loops), will provide some scrubbing action in and of themselves.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: thoughts after detailing

there was one thing i noticed though: Siwlrs - after applying the SwirlX, in the sunlight i could see the swirls in one area (say the bonnet) but when i moved around that bonnet, it seemed like the swirls were following me..this was the case on the roof and the bonnet. it did feel like whereva i moved the swirls were there. Is that meant to be the case ?

Now it might be that i didnt do it correcly or i might need to use Ultra Compound

It's important to understand that when we talk about removing swirls, we're talking about removing some paint.

Therefore, you can't simply spread a product out on the paint and expect it to remove paint, it's you and the passion or elbow grease you put behind your applicator pad that works the abrasives against and into the paint that does the abrading.

Most clear coat paints trend toward being harder than traditional single stage paints and what this means to you and I is that if the paint is hard, it's going to be harder to work it in a way to remove small particles of it in an effort to level or flatten the surface out to be swirl free.

Reach this article,

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

[sublimecantona]

Re: thoughts after detailing

hi guys
thanks for the replies. I will try #39 for the interior and let you know how i get on along with the alloy wheel cleaner.

re the swirls, i applied the Swirlx on to the applicator and then onto the car in a small area and then rubbed in a circular motion until the swirlx dissapeared and then wiped with MF towel.

I think my technique is right, its either the lack of pressure im applying or might need UC.

I will get UC, Alloy WHeel cleaner and #39 and let y'all know of the outcome. But i must say that the car being 10yrs old looked nearly new after my first detail and the NXT was 'sublime'

[Mike Phillips]

Re: thoughts after detailing

I will try I think my technique is right, its either the lack of pressure I'm applying or might need UC.

Sounds like you're working SwirlX correctly so it could just be you need something a little stronger to remove the swirls a little faster and more effectively.

The key to getting good results when working by hand is putting some passion behind the pad when applying the product and not working to large of an area at one time.

Most folks that are not getting good results tend to apply a compound or paint cleaner like a finishing wax, that is they're just gently spreading it out, not working it against the paint with emphasis on the word working.

[sublimecantona]

Re: thoughts after detailing

thanks mike

i will try UC