Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

[Total Care Detailing]

Today I buffed a Black 1970 Charger for a customer of mine. The paint was in decent shape with car wash scratches, and swirl marks from the previous person who buffed it. I buffed it at 1500 rpm with a 3M foam polishing pad 05725 and Meguiars swirl X. It removed all the light car wash scratches, but the swirl marks would not go away. I've used this buffing technique before on other black cars and they always turn out great. What was different about this car? Could it be the paint is really soft and swirls easy? Any help is appreciated....Thanks!

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Maybe I used the wrong word....I think you you call them holograms not swirls?? Looks like hazing....

[cleanCXS]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

sounds like you need something a little more aggressive...might want to consider dacp 83.

[Andrew Wilson]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

There are a number of things that could be adjusted. The first and most obvious that I would like to point out is that you are using SwirlX with a rotary buffer. This product was never designed to be used with a rotary buffer. It is only to be used by hand or by DA. Using it with a rotary will not give you results you are looking for.

One of the problems you have now is while SwirlX and the rotary buffer. This combination has probably put uneven cuts in the clear coat, resulting in what you see as holograms or swirl marks. Instead of using a consumer product, you will have to use a professional product in our Mirror Glaze line if you want to use a rotary. You could look into using M84, M85, M95, or M105 if you need a compound for heavy cut. Or, you could use a polish with significantly less cut, try M82, M80, M83, or 205.

Once you switch over to our Mirror Glaze line, keep in mind buffing technique is really important as well (especially working on a black car, it will show all your imperfection). Read over this post to give you more background on working with a rotary.

For other posters, do you have a picture of the holograms so we can help you further?

[Murr1525]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Yeah, if it removed the bad stuff, but still see mild swirls, may need a rotary safe product that is milder. Or a DA may be needed. Every paint is different, might take you some playing around.

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

I don't think I have any pictures, but I can take some and post them up. Thanks!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Without actually seeing what's happening here it's a bit difficult to say for sure whether you're just hazing the paint or putting actual swirls or holograms in the finish. Regardless, you're learning first hand just how different various paint systems can be, and that what works beautifully on one car may not be so effective, efficient or as pretty on another. And people wonder why we have so many different products!!

Here are a few things to consider: if you have access to a softer final finishing pad, try using that with something like M82 Swirl Free Polish or M205 Ultra Finishing Polish. Slow the tool way down - 1500 rpm at this stage may be much too fast for this paint. Slow down to 1000 rpm, move the pad very slowly across the paint, and make sure it stays flat, flat, flat on the paint. Use no more pressure than the weight of the tool itself.

We realize you've had good success using SwirlX with a rotary in the past, but as Andrew points out we don't really recommend that it be used this way. When we recommend a certain process it isn't because the product can't work with other methods but rather because the success ratio is lower than we demand. We see all kinds of products being used in ways that we don't normally recommend, sometimes with great results but more often with less than optimum results. We won't approve a product for use with a rotary buffer, as in this example, unless we can show proven, repeatable results with that method. Otherwise we would just be setting up ourselves, and you, to fail. That's bad for both of us.

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Whats the softest finishing pad to use?

[Andrew Wilson]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Our softest finishing pad, is called Soft Buff 2.0 Foam Finishing Pad W9207. Here' is a link for more information.

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Our softest finishing pad, is called Soft Buff 2.0 Foam Finishing Pad W9207. Here' is a link for more information.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[jasonsmith092]

Re: Getting Rid Of Stuborn Swirl Marks

Its sounds good to me a lot.....