Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

[agp423]

General question: how do you maintain a swirl-free paint?

[akimel]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

Wash your car carefully! Use the two bucket method with grit guards and a high quality microfiber or lambswool wash mitt. Hose off the wash mitt frequently. Do not apply pressure to the surface--allow the wash solution to do the work. Use a high quality waffle-weave towel to dry. If you use a synthetic chamois (e.g., the Absorber), blot the surface, do not rub it across it.

Check out the appropriate articles and video on washing a car cited here: Internet Resources for Detailing Newbs. Also see Michael Stoops's article How to maintain your car's finish in-between polishing sessions.

[Johnson]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

would using the microfiber wash mitt still keep the swirl free finish?

[J.S.]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

General question: how do you maintain a swirl-free paint?

Just wanted to add, if you ever have to bring your car to a dealership (for whatever reason) make a point to specifically tell them to NOT give you a "complimentary wash". I can speak from experience and I'm sure I'm by far not the only one.

I know enough that I would NEVER want a dealership (or anybody else for that matter) to wash my car but I was in a hurry one time and forgot to specify "DO NOT" and my car is completely covered top to bottom in bad swirls now! In the end it's my fault because I didn't tell them not to BUT they also didn't ask me if I wanted one either. They just did it out of "courtesy". Most of society is ignorant so I can't expect much.

It's bittersweet but now I have a great oppertunity to get do something I've been wanting to learn how for a long time...paint correction.

[J.S.]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

would using the microfiber wash mitt still keep the swirl free finish?

I have a Meguiar's microfiber wash mit and it's supposed to "lift" the dirt off the surface and into the mitt as to not smear dirt around on the surface of the paint. However as ^ said, you'll want to use the least amount of pressure as possible. It's a fact that the more you touch the paint surface, the higher the possiblity of any kind of damage happening.

If you have quite a bit of dirt on the paint surface, I think it's logical to spray as much off with a hose as you can BEFORE so when you wipe with your mitt, you've already reduced the amount of dirt that can potentially damage the paint while wiping.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

[agp423]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

So technically, after I get my car's clear coat smoothened out with some M105 or M205, it will remain that way if I wash with sheepwool, dry with microfiber, and detail with microfiber, and wax with Meguiar's applicator pads?

[Murr1525]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

No, but it gives you the best chance.

Also, 2 buckets, Grit Guards, etc.

[akimel]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

So technically, after I get my car's clear coat smoothened out with some M105 or M205, it will remain that way ...

Technically, it will remain that way if you immediately house your car in a protected enclosure where no dust, dirt, and contaminants will ever touch it again ...

[Eddie6th]

Re: Maintaining a swirl-free paint?

You can do a lot to prevent them.Sadly,with time they're unavoidable,especially if your car is a daily driver,i.e.you have to work with it more.

Your car is a light blue metallic,so they can be hidden more than dark colored cars.But still,they affect the overall appearance.Although you can't see the swirls from a certain distance,they are still breaking up the reflected light into scattered particles,that distort the purity of the reflection.