What motion should you use?

[mr._bowtie]

Ive heard different opinions on this. Some people think that if you use a circular motion when you are applying product to the car that it will cause the very swirl marks you are trying to remove. Others say thats BS and it dosent matter how you apply it. I personally apply it up and down on the sides of the car and forward and backward on the hood, roof, deck lid then remove it the opposite direction.

Am I doing it correctly? I am about to go through a complete detail on several vehicles using polishes to remove swirl marks then I will be waxing them. Do you always use the same method or do you change it up according to what your applying. And I am doing this by hand, I cant afford a polisher. So thats out of the question. All you help is greatly appreciated

[rusty bumper]

I did a little search for you....

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=450&highlight=circular+motion

Here's some additional info I dug up on the subject too.

[Murr1525]

I will also mention that since you are working by hand, removing swirls with a polish will be a bit hard, as the DC#2 is a pure polish with no abrasives. You would need to use a Paint Cleaner like ScratchX, or ColorX or something along those lines by hand. Some of the proffesional series cleaner/polishes can be used by hand, though the best results are of course achieved by machine.

Your technique is fine, as long as the products and applicator dont have anything that scratches, you can move any way you want to and not scratch. If something that you are using scratches, then you are going to add a scratch no matter what way you move. People who would insist on moving a certain way becasue of scratches just want their scratches to line up, so it looks neater. But they are still scratches....

[mr._bowtie]

Thanks for the info guys!!! I tried running a search and never really could find what I was looking for, so I thought Id ask
Ive been trying to talk the dad into buying the polisher, I think he might be starting to cave a little hopefully we will see! Again I appreciate the info.


When applying polish by hand or something that has some grit in it what motion should you use?

[rusty bumper]

You're welcome mr._bowtie. ..........I just happened to remember some threads about your question.

I really don't know what to tell you about hand applying an abrasive product, except that I would use something that has diminishing abrasives that can be broken down by hand application only.

Here's a thread where Mike Phillips hand detailed a Ford Bronco with ColorX........I thought it might make for good reading.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=88&highlight=bronco

If your concerned about abrasive products causing scratches, then maybe ColorX would be a good choice for you.

[mr._bowtie]

Well what I am going for is to get the swirls out of the truck, I dont want to do anything that is just going to trade one set of swirl or scratch marks for another set or make the exsiting ones worse. Assuming that I have to do this job by hand what products should I use? I had been told by someone else on this site to do this

ScratchX
#80
#7
NXT wax.

I have all of these products now so Id like to use them if I can. I know that Mike recomended that I use #80 with the G100 but I dont have that and dont know if the pops will spring for it either. Can I still get good results out of #80 by hand?

[rusty bumper]

According to the bottle, #80 can be used by hand, but I've never tried that myself, as I have the G-100 to do all the dirty work for me.

All I can say is to try a spot and see what the results are.

Maybe some of the others will lend a hand here and give you their advice.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
I did a little search for you....

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=450&highlight=circular+motion

Here's some additional info I dug up on the subject too.

Thanks for digging this up Rusty Bumper, I thought I had addressed this before but actually forgot I wrote this...

~~~~~~~~

Originally posted by MattN03
I attempted a search because I'm sure this has been covered, but I couldn't find anything. When applying Speed Glaze, then DC#2, and finally NXT, how should I apply these products by hand? I'm using Meguiar’s foam applicators and will remove with a quality MF. How does everyone rub the products on? Do you do it in a straight line, in a swirling motion, etc? In my younger (less educated) days, I would just put some wax on a pad & rub it on in a swirling motion, but now I'm wondering if that’s the best way to do it. I just want to improve my technique! Thanks everyone.

Hi MattNO3,

Meguiar’s official response to this question is this,

If you’re using a non-abrasive product with a high quality, clean, soft foam applicator pad, and you’re working on a clean surface, then it shouldn’t matter which direction you move the applicator pad over the finish because nothing you’re using will be instilling any scratches or swirls into the finish.

The above being true, then some panels lend themselves better to straight line motions, while other panels lend themselves better to circular motions.

Examples:

Circular Motions
Most people find it’s easier to apply products in circular motions to large panels like the hood of a car. The reason for this is because circular motions act to help you spread your product out over large areas for more even, and thorough coverage. Some people also feel that circular motions help you to better work products into the finish. One thing for sure, moving your applicator pad in a circular motion tends to feel natural, and appears to come natural to most people. (Hand a wax applicator to 10 people and ask them to apply some wax to the hood of a car and stand back and watch how they apply the wax).

Straight Line Motions
Without good technique, applying products using straight-line motions is more difficult on larger panels. Straight-line motions are just as easy to use as circular motions, (and sometimes easier), on small panels and panels or sections that are longer in one direction while narrow in the other direction. Some times the panel itself will determine which direction you will apply your product.

An example would be the painted pillar on the side of the windshield on my Blazer.



Common sense tells you, (as well as the actual application of a product), that it will be easier and more efficient to use straight-line motions versus circular motions to apply a polish or wax to this thin, narrow painted section, than it will be to use circular motions.

The key thing to remember is this, if you’re applying non-abrasive products, i.e. products that do not scratch or scour the finish, and your applying them with a soft, clean applicator and using good technique, then you should not be instilling any scratches or swirls no matter what direction you’re moving your hand.

Hope this helps…

Mike

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I've just added this to the Hot Topics Forum as this question comes up often.

[Mike Phillips]

For everyone that reads this thread, there is a ton of great and interesting information in the
Hot Topics Forum

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
For everyone that reads this thread, there is a ton of great and interesting information in the
Hot Topics Forum

Many thanks for the info Mike.

The forum has grown quite a bit in the last few months!