Polishing result before wax

[Top Gear]

Re: Polishing result before wax

I think you're seeing all variations of swirls and spiderwebs (I like the term spiderweb myself), and this is where you have to be careful not go get frustrated as you learn more about correction work. Some spiderwebs are in the clearcoat, and like scratches and other issues, they have to be compounded or polished out. Yet, with hard paint like yours (and mine), that requires hours of machine work to get it right. Other spiderwebs are often just in the layers of oils and wax and almost wipe off...

...but wiping causes them!

There is really no such thing as being 100% swirl-free or spiderweb-free all the time over weeks and months for a daily driver, especially in black. No matter how careful you are with buckets, mitts, towels, or spray products, you will see them crop up, because you still have to drive the car and keep it clean, not to mention having to deal with rock chips, etc. Every "touch" can possibly cause swirling or marring, but so can wind and weather, tree and bird droppings, and so on. The added frustration, as you've now seen, is that the polishing oils and sealants or waxes can hide some faint "defects" for a day or so, and then they're back, after all that work! So, inspecting your correction work carefully, section by section, is the key, making sure you're okay with it before you put any wax on, and so the correction takes even longer

It's all part of detailing in the real world, instead of show car theory for a vehicle that never sees weather, or really even roads, in some cases. You can get close to that ideal, even hit it after a careful correction and maintain it fairly easily during dry weather, but also staying sane is the bigger goal

[rfcoolz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

I'm not sure what cause them, I just assume that deeper scratch won't just come by doing a wash (unless its super dirty, while my car only has a very light coat of dust). But it might also be my improper technique

[The Guz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

If the paint is super hard good luck getting swirls out by hand. As I said you can only do so much by hand. You can make it look better but you won't be removing moderate to deeper defects. You may have to live with what you have been using. By the way how do you know that UW has failed and is no longer on the paint?

I'm sure you have seen this.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/20257-man-versus-machine.html

[rfcoolz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

Yep, I'm in the process of learning and have learned quite some technique. One question about microfiber though, I have one with low and high pile. Which is used for which? Is the high pile used for waterless wash and lower pile used for buffing the waterless wash? Or is it better to buff also with the higher pile?

Sorry for asking too many questions, still new to detailing

[davey g-force]

Re: Polishing result before wax

That, and check your washing technique to make sure you're not putting new swirls in... or at least minimising them.

[rfcoolz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

Thanks guys for the very detailed inputs. Actually I already worked in UP and get a very satisfying (I'd say almost perfect) result after a final coat of wax. But after washing my car (I mainly use waterless wash), some very light swirls and deeper scratches gradually returned.

I guess I just need to work on UC more since I relied too much on wax.

[Top Gear]

Re: Polishing result before wax

I used meguiars ultimate liquid wax on clayed surface, so I think it should last longer than 1 wash. I did QD 2-3 times before my first after-wax wash though

Cough...wha??....[chokes on beverage]. Ooh, that's going to upset the Ultimate/NXT Wax fans here who seem to think sealants last months and months and months (sorry, couldn't resist, guys)

Seriously, though, joking aside, you didn't do anything wrong, rfcoolz. Sealant/wax protection is delicate, so you might use Ultimate Wash & Wax Anywhere (UWWA) instead of QD, and follow the regular washing with Quik Wax (QW). That will help boost it longer. Davey is right. It is very easy to swirl up a freshly waxed surface, but those are often just in the finish layers, not the paint/clear. Again, UWWA will be a great help there, along with fresh Supreme Shine towels.

Before you get started with researching and trying DA work, you could first try Ultimate Polish (UP) after your compound(s), to help temporarily fill in various swirls. The UC/SwirlX by hand are good cleaners on hard paint, then the polish will make it look very nice indeed, and then the UW can be re-applied and regularly boosted with UWWA and QW. You might find that's enough to look great until you learn the machine. You'll likely use the UP anyway when you get the machine set up with foam or microfiber pads. Learning all that can be very frustrating, or at least time-consuming, so the polish step might take some the stress out of it for the time being.

[davey g-force]

Re: Polishing result before wax

...keep using UC until scratches removed then go on to swirl x to remove hazing then wax

^^ This

[rfcoolz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

Yeah actually that is a good possibility since a wiped out wax layer just after 1 wash is not normal, but the scratches was not completely removed until it is waxed, so I think its the old scratches coming back.

I'm still not sure of polishing steps though.

Do I keep using UC until scratches removed then go on to swirl x to remove hazing then wax?

Or should I use UC just to smooth out a little bit then polish it mainly with swirl x then wax?

[davey g-force]

Re: Polishing result before wax

Oh, and to answer your previous question, Mothers do make a cordless DA.

I'm not sure how good or powerful it is though. I saw a demo of one once and it seemed pretty good...

[davey g-force]

Re: Polishing result before wax

Are you sure they're the same swirls you're seeing after the wash? You may have introduced new swirls by washing / QDing. Just a thought...

[rfcoolz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

I used meguiars ultimate liquid wax on clayed surface, so I think it should last longer than 1 wash. I did QD 2-3 times before my first after-wax wash though

[The Guz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

What wax are you using? It should not have washed off after one wash.

[rfcoolz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

Yeah all swirls came back just after a single wash. I guess I have no choice but to upgrade to DA. Do anybody know if there is cordless one? Since I live in downtown and parked in public garage, I don't have access to electric plugs.

[The Guz]

Re: Polishing result before wax

You can only do so much by hand. You may want to consider investing in a dual action polisher. The wax filled in those swirls. Once it washes off or degrades with time the swirls will be back.