Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

[Murr1525]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Well, they all have a purpose... but just want to buy the things that are usefull to you, and save the less important things to try later.

#205/UP are mild cleaner/polishes, for light cleaning, minor swirl removal by machine, and polishing oils. These are what you would want for regular details.

UC / #105 are stronger cleaners for defect removal, and can be used by hand or DA.

UP is a little milder than #205, and UC is a little milder than #105.

If you were going to want to have a mild cleaner and a strong cleaner on your shelf, most people would want UC for the stronger cleaner, and then compare the price / availability of UP / #205 and pick one of them.

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Oh, and #20 is a cleaner/wax, like the ColorX, Cleaner/Wax, #66, White Wax, Black Wax, just so you know.

[Adonyahu]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Murr, please, why #205 or UP and not UC? Or whatever? I'm beginning and the costs of Meguiar's products make that I have them pace to pace... Then, now I have the UC... Next acquisition: #205!

[Murr1525]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Wash
Clay if needed
Cleaner/Polish - #205 or Ult. Polish
Wax
Wax

Would be a good detail.

[Adonyahu]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

One product that I highly recommend having on hand is #205 Polish.

But I always liked #20 Poly Sealant. Enough that I bought it by the case.

#205 works any way you want to use it, and works phenominally by hand. This is the product you want to have on hand for tight areas, mirrors, around door handles, etc. You cannot mess up with this product by hand! Rub to your heart's content, in any direction, and the easy off is a big bonus.

When you wipe off, you will be treated to a gorgeous pristine brillance on your paint. Meguiars hit it out of the park with this product!
Mark

Hey, Mark, great tip! I'm thinking that the #s are only for pro use with machine. I'm new in this universe, so, please tell me: the step of "pure polishing" can make for the #205? Or would be #205 > #20? I make my first detailing like this: wash > clay > Scratch X 2.0 (3x) > Wax (NXT). So, I "missed" the "pure polishing" step, but I have doubts about which product to use. I thinkin in the UC. Would be good?

[Adonyahu]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

^^^ ?, using Scratch X to remove swirls? That's strange?

I was reluctant in use Scratch X 2.0 for remove swirls. One says that it for small areas, other that could mess the paint... but I used in my GM Zafira (Brazilian) and got very good results. Now I go to use UC in other projects. The Scratch X make your results after three applications...

[MarkD51]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

One product that I highly recommend having on hand is #205 Polish.

I've used virtually every product under the sun from Mequiars over the past 25 years. All worked very well, but some later slightly disapponted by not lasting quite as long as I would've liked. That I felt many were more ideally suited for the show car circuits, versus the daily driver.

But I always liked #20 Poly Sealant. Enough that I bought it by the case.

That was the past, and it appears meguiars has stepped into the 21st century big time with a line up of truly exceptional products.

#205 works any way you want to use it, and works phenominally by hand. This is the product you want to have on hand for tight areas, mirrors, around door handles, etc. You cannot mess up with this product by hand! Rub to your heart's content, in any direction, and the easy off is a big bonus.

When you wipe off, you will be treated to a gorgeous pristine brillance on your paint. Meguiars hit it out of the park with this product!
Mark

[Murr1525]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Can always try, but I dont think it will go much better. Seemed like the Even Coats just rolled/folded around on the surface more for me, rather than working the product in.

If getting a DA... I wouldnt really be putting much effort into swirl removal by hand, at least on places the machine can get to.

[C8N]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Working by hand, would the Meguiar Evencoat Applicator (MF pads) be a better choice than the HiTech Applicator (foam pads) to use with UC?
Used UC with the HiTech and there were some improvements but not to my satisfaction and too much work....
I plan on getting a DA but since I have the Evencoat in the garage, I thought I might give it a try.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

^^^ ?, using Scratch X to remove swirls? That's strange?

[Murr1525]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

You can apply it in any pattern you like.

[ctx]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Hey guys, sorry to bump an old topic. I found some SwirlX in an automotive store today and had a quick go using it. By hand, after a few passes the swirls have gradually gone away. About 4-5 passes with decreasing force after each consecutive pass definitely did the trick and the swirls were about 85-90% gone. I just have a question though, should I apply it using small circular motions or straight back and forth?

[ctx]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Your technique sounds about right, but how much "passion" or pressure were you using while applying the UC? You need to use a fair bit of pressure to remove defects by hand but not too much so as to create more swirls/marring.

Anyway, two things could be happening here. Either your paint is quite delicate and UC is too agressive for it and so it's creating more swirls; OR your paint is hard and/or the swirls/scratches are deep so the combination of UC by hand is not aggressive enough.

Do you think the swirls you're still seeing on the front end are new swirls, or the same ones?

Unfortunately, I think you might have to invest in a less aggressive product like SwirlX (ScratchX is too close to UC IMO). Try that on the section you've already worked with UC and see if that cleans it up. If so, try it on an unworked section (test spot) and see if it is strong enough to correct the defects on its own.

Where abouts in Aus are you?

Hey Davey, I guess I started off a bit more aggressive then applied less pressure as I wore myself out. I didn't apply as much pressure as to leave black spots (the colour of my car) on the applicator, so would that be an indication as to the amount of strength I was using?

The scratches are quite light, very light if I'm honest, in that you only notice they exist once you take a real close look. From afar, it looks fine. They're more like surface scuffs that have accumulated from random things and from contact with us opening the doors and so on. They don't feel rough or anything - it's just aesthetic.

I'm somewhat sure the remaining swirls are from previous swirls, since I did a section at a time and didn't notice much. I was able to reduce the amount of swirls but not by a whole lot. The effect was more noticeable on the fenders, but on the hood it was hopeless - the swirls still stuck out like a sore thumb. I did notice that on the hood it reduced more scratches than swirls, but even the scratches were a plenty after applying UC.

Not too sure which stores stock SwirlX. Does Autobarn and Repco have them? I'm from Victoria.

[davey g-force]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Your technique sounds about right, but how much "passion" or pressure were you using while applying the UC? You need to use a fair bit of pressure to remove defects by hand but not too much so as to create more swirls/marring.

Anyway, two things could be happening here. Either your paint is quite delicate and UC is too agressive for it and so it's creating more swirls; OR your paint is hard and/or the swirls/scratches are deep so the combination of UC by hand is not aggressive enough.

Do you think the swirls you're still seeing on the front end are new swirls, or the same ones?

Unfortunately, I think you might have to invest in a less aggressive product like SwirlX (ScratchX is too close to UC IMO). Try that on the section you've already worked with UC and see if that cleans it up. If so, try it on an unworked section (test spot) and see if it is strong enough to correct the defects on its own.

Where abouts in Aus are you?

[ctx]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Hey guys, so I had a go at Ultimate Compound today. I only got the front end done, and it was pretty tiring work. Despite this, I didn't see the results I was expecting. Now, before I place the blame on the product, I am new to detailing so I'm fairly sure the problem was my technique. I parked the car in the sun afterwards, and I did notice a slight decrease in swirls and scratches, however the hood was still littered with swirls even after using UC. Likewise, there was a slight increase in the clarity of the paint, but nothing on the scale of some videos I've seen which show really distinct results even from a distance.

The way I approached using UC was to use tape and divide each panel into many small sections, and work on each one by one. I took a small amount of UC and applied it to a Meguiars foam applicator (they did stock them at the store after all) and rubbed in a circular pattern with all fingers gripping the applicator evenly to distribute the force evenly. I did this until the color of the UC turned transparent, then used a microfiber cloth to clean the excess. The, I took a second microfiber cloth to clean up the remaining dust and to dry the surface. For each section, I rubbed for around a minute or until it turned transparent.

I guess what I'm asking now, is that is this technique adequate or am I doing anything incorrectly? Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for improvement that I could use to get better results? I'd really like to get rid of these swirls and scratches but it's not happening. I don't think I'd want to go buy ScratchX 2.0 as I've already bought Ultimate Compound and it was a little pricey.

[davey g-force]

Re: Need some advice on swirl and scratch removal

Unfortunately you'll never know till you try.

I'd get both UC and ScratchX, but if you have to pick one, just go the UC. You're working by hand after all, so the extra cutting ability is probably needed..