SwirlX troubles...

[agp423]

I'm using the following products:

NXT Gen Wash
Clay w/ Quik Detailer
SwirlX
M7
NXT Gen Tech Wax 2.0
M26

And I do not see any improvements on my car. The swirls are still there. I used lots of pressure when applying SwirlX and applied more than one coat because the first coat didn't do anything (apparently neither did the second or the third). What am I doing wrong?

The left has been treated with the above, the right has only been washed. I can't tell any difference...

[akimel]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong. It sounds like you need a more aggressive product, viz., Ultimate Compound. Every paint system is different. Your car may have hard paint. If the Ultimate Compound doesn't effect the paint correction you desire, then you will need to get your car machine-polished.

[agp423]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Should I try ScratchX 2.0 first? My local store doesn't have UC. If ScratchX doesn't work, I'm just going to let professionals do the job. Or wait until I buy the DA and try that with UC.

[akimel]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Go with Ultimate Compound. It's available at Walmart and Advance Auto stores.

[Tuck91]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

but if you cannot find UC, get ScratchX 2.0.

[Vader]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Definately try the UC... This is the only product that has had an noticeable effect on my paint. It finished very well for me, ready for wax. I did several very light passes on the second application after using moderate to heavy pressure on the first app.

[agp423]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Just rewashed that quarter of the hood, re-clayed, then used UC, M7, Tech Wax, then M26. Can you tell which half is the treated half?

[Bustedsm]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Just rewashed that quarter of the hood, re-clayed, then used UC, M7, Tech Wax, then M26. Can you tell which half is the treated half?

We need a broader picture with some more lighting. I can't tell if you taped anything off or what.

[CieraSL]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

How big are the sections you're working on and how long are you working the product for? This is what Bounty said from one of his threads: "Audi clearcoat is typically very hard...similar to Mercedes CeramiClear or GM two-step clearcoat (Corvettes, Cadillacs, etc)." My car was pretty much a luxury car in '95, like the Buick Park Avenue - the upper end cars that you could buy without paying more money for something like a Cadillac (I hope that all just made sense). So I assume my car has the two-step clearcoat on it as well. I've tried both Swirl X and UC on my car with minimal results - I'll have to wait until I can get a DA and M105/M205 in order to do any polishing on my car. Sounds to me like you might have to do the same.

[agp423]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

How big are the sections you're working on and how long are you working the product for? This is what Bounty said from one of his threads: "Audi clearcoat is typically very hard...similar to Mercedes CeramiClear or GM two-step clearcoat (Corvettes, Cadillacs, etc)." My car was pretty much a luxury car in '95, like the Buick Park Avenue - the upper end cars that you could buy without paying more money for something like a Cadillac (I hope that all just made sense). So I assume my car has the two-step clearcoat on it as well. I've tried both Swirl X and UC on my car with minimal results - I'll have to wait until I can get a DA and M105/M205 in order to do any polishing on my car. Sounds to me like you might have to do the same.

I've tried working on sections as big as quarter of the hood to as small as 6in x 6in squares. Maybe I have to get a polisher...
I examined the paint a little more. It seems that the base paint is not flat and has line-indents in them. I know this is not scratches or swirls because the lines don't reflect light. It just looks like the paint has lots of little dents.

[CieraSL]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

I've tried working on sections as big as quarter of the hood to as small as 6in x 6in squares. Maybe I have to get a polisher...
I examined the paint a little more. It seems that the base paint is not flat and has line-indents in them. I know this is not scratches or swirls because the lines don't reflect light. It just looks like the paint has lots of little dents.

Yep, I'd say you have a hard clear just like me. Where are the little "dents" at? Under the clear or on top of it? Can you explain what they look like or maybe post a pic of them?

[agp423]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

I think the dents are under the clear coat. Here's a picture, I didn't bother resizing because it's easier to see with a higher resolution.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9298/dscf0054o.jpg

[CieraSL]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

I think the dents are under the clear coat. Here's a picture, I didn't bother resizing because it's easier to see with a higher resolution.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/9298/dscf0054o.jpg

Interesting. Are you referring to the little bump-looking things around the light reflection or the little almost pencil-looking holes scattered about?

[Eddie6th]

Re: SwirlX troubles...

Hard to say precisely by your photos,as there are no before shots.But after looking closely,I wouldn't say it has done nothing.It looks as if it has removed some of the very fine scratches.So to save a lot of time try the more aggressive compound,ScratchX2.0 or UC,as mentioned earlier.