Layering Gold Class or NXT?

[duckvett]

How many layers of Gold Class or NXT can I apply before seeing diminishing results? Will extra layers help prevent swirl marks? I continue to fight swirl marks only on the hood of our `96 Polo Green Corvette. We had to have the hood re-painted 3 years ago, and since then it is the only area of the car we continually see swirl marks. I suspect that the clear coat is too soft? I have used #83 followed by #9 and NXT. This looks good for a short time, but the marks still come back. I take special care when washing, using only the Spun Gold mitts and microfiber cloths to dry.
Any advice from the experts??

[Boss_429]

duckvett,

I think most of the folks here will tell you that you will see diminishing results after 2 or 3 coats.

To be honest, I'm surprised that 3 year old clear is still soft.......... but I suppose it can happen?

Anyhow, I know that you said your washing/drying methods are good..... just double check them....

First, try switching to 100% cotton, or lambs wool mitts. The Meguiar's lambs wool mitt is a fine one. Get a few of them.

Use the two bucket method to wash with a grit guard in the rinse bucket.

Use at least a couple mitts to wash the vehicle.

Never use the same mitt used for tires, wheels, or grungy areas on the paint.

Don't over extend the use of the mitt. Check it frequently for dirt, and rinse it off COMPLETELY before letting it touch the paint. Sometimes you can wash and entire panel or more before the mitt gets much dirt on it........ sometimes less than a half a panel.

Occasionally, rinse the mitt from the inside out and then rinse down the mitt to get all the dirt out.

Make sure you dip the mitt in the suds bucket and get plenty of water and suds.

Move the mitt "gently" over the paint.

Hope this helps you out.

[Mike Phillips]

That was some really great advice Boss_429

duckvett - I know you have shared with us in the past the trouble you have had with swirls in your car's finish on the hood.

Clearcoats by their very nature are more scratch-senstive than single stage paints in that the nature of the clear coat paint over a color coat tends to highlight swirls and scratches, maginfying them so that our eyes can more easily see them.

Paint hardness or softness is relative, yet determinable with experience. Extremely soft paint will scratch very easily making them difficult to produce a swirl-free finish on, and then difficult to maintain a swirl free finish on. Hard paints are difficult to remove the swirls from (because the paint is hard), but then with the right products and techniques will tend to resist scratching better than a softer paint.

If from you experience with buffing paint, you have found the hood easy to remove defects from, then it is likely as you have said that your paint is soft and Boss_429 has offered some good tips for avoiding re-instilling swirls and scratches back into the finish.

If it's possible that your paint is actually very hard, then it's possible that the swirls are actually not being removed completely from your choice of product application process.

I've see both situations. If the latter is the case, a test spot using a rotary buffer, and the W-7006/M84 combination followed by W-8006/M83, followed by using a new, dedicated W-8006 with some M80 Speed Glaze thoroughly applied with a G100 Dual Action Polisher, should result in a flawless finish perfect for waxing.

If you have a light scratch in the hood, can you remove it by hand with ScratchX?

[duckvett]

Thank you both for your responses and advice. I mis-spoke earlier in that I do use only Meguiar's lamb's wool mitts, but I may use them too long. Boss 429 states he uses multiple mitts during a wash. I am washing according to most of his recommendations, especially using a separate (older) mitt for lower body panels that catch a lot of grime, wheels, tires, and exhaust. I am probably using mitts longer than some people use theirs. What is your feeling about washing and drying the mitts after each use? We usually run these in the washer with all the towels and microfibers I use during a wash. Could something in that process be affecting the softness of the lamb's wool? I do think both of you are right, something in the washing process is re-instilling the swirls - time to buy a bunch of new Meguiar's!!