Ultimate Compound and Swirls

[hydrosmurf]

So I was able to remove some very conspicuous scratches with UC by hand with a microfiber applicator pad. I must have pressed too hard, because now in a few areas that I worked on some deeper scratches, I noticed some swirls / holograms.

My questions is: can i remove these defects with UC and a foam pad, or am I better off with a product like SwirlX?

What does everybody think?

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

You may need some test spots.

Using the UC lighter, or SwirlX are both options.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

What kind of car are you working on? How old is it, and what kind of condition overall is the paint in?

UC is a good deal more aggressive than SwirlX so for hand application it's going to be more effective in most cases. If your car has very delicate paint then UC even by hand may well leave it looking hazy and uneven, but a follow up with even just a cleaner wax (ColorX works great for this) is usually all that's needed.

You mentioned holograms - were they there before you started working or do you believe you created them with the UC? True "holograms" are really a rotary buffer induced defect, not a hand created issue.

[hydrosmurf]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

Thanks for the replies!

Murr -- I could test the UC with a foam pad, but not the swirlX. I was just asking if anybody had already done this test yet.

Michael -- The car is a 08 VW Jetta with factory blue metallic paint. The finish is in pretty good shape. The car is outside, but it only has 20k miles on it. The UC made the paint look great, and it was only a few days later that I noticed the hologram where I had been working (door panel). I called it a hologram because it looked like it was jumping out at me, and only shows up at certain angles. A rotary buffer has not touched the car to my knowledge - dealer maybe, but I think I would have noticed it before now.

I don't have colorX either. Should I try swirlX first as it is a bit more gentle than UC?

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

Probably will need to test UC and SwirlX... can test whichever you have on hand now, then go to the store if needed.

[OldSchoolDude]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

Follow up with UP after using UC, see what that does for you.
Works great for me.
Just have a pad for both products.

[05RLS2]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

Is there any real technique that should be followed when using products like Ultimate Compound by hand? I tried using ScratchX before by hand ina small area using a foam applicator, and it turned out making a ton of microscratches. I think it was the fact I applied too much pressure. Since then I have been turned off of using the hand route, and just always stayed with the DA. There's times when all you need to do is a small area, so breaking out the DA is kind of overkill.

So with the UC, should you work back and forth or in a cross hatch pattern? What about pressure, do you start out light and increase pressure or put the pressure on at first and lighten up as you work the product?

[Murr1525]

Re: Ultimate Compound and Swirls

Lightning up near the end is usually a good idea.

Or a second lighter application.