Car detailing? Fine Clear coat scratches?

[snowrdr]

Just curious where you get your information. Because it is not true. Swirl marks CAN be removed instead of covered. And the buffer does not cut into the clear, the products you use with it do. Wow.

Not sure if you read the whole post? I said the wool pad and cut compound. I have detailed cars for 20 years. Thats where I get my info. And yes all you do is cover them. Clear is a hard surface that can be swirled by a buffer and improper usage. Automagic cut and 3m cut compound will swirl the clear. A foam pad with polish will swirl the clear. Thats why I hand wax and cut all of my cars. Go ahead and buff and polish your car then wash it with dishwashing soap and tell me what you see. Yep the wax is gone and take a look at the swirls.

 

[Megadeth]

Not sure if you read the whole post? I said the wool pad and cut compound. I have detailed cars for 20 years. Thats where I get my info. And yes all you do is cover them. Clear is a hard surface that can be swirled by a buffer and improper usage. Automagic cut and 3m cut compound will swirl the clear. A foam pad with polish will swirl the clear. Thats why I hand wax and cut all of my cars. Go ahead and buff and polish your car then wash it with dishwashing soap and tell me what you see. Yep the wax is gone and take a look at the swirls.

after doing a 3 step polish I could look at my paint under halogen lights and see no scratches at all.

 

[sledneck84]

Not sure if you read the whole post? I said the wool pad and cut compound. I have detailed cars for 20 years. Thats where I get my info. And yes all you do is cover them. Clear is a hard surface that can be swirled by a buffer and improper usage. Automagic cut and 3m cut compound will swirl the clear. A foam pad with polish will swirl the clear. Thats why I hand wax and cut all of my cars. Go ahead and buff and polish your car then wash it with dishwashing soap and tell me what you see. Yep the wax is gone and take a look at the swirls.

I'm not sure you read your post. The best buffer on the market that does not cut into the clear is made by Porter Cable. Yeah, until you have done everything from spraying the clear, to the finished project. You may not understand it's characteristics. Swirl marks are not in the clear, they are residue left from your compound and polish along with micro scratches. These micro scratches and film can be removed with the right tools and know how. But since you have detailed cars for 20 years you have it figured out i guess. Even though the products used in the development and production of clear coats has drastically changed in the last 5 years let alone 20. But what would i know. Good luck to you.

 

[snowrdr]

I'm not sure you read your post. The best buffer on the market that does not cut into the clear is made by Porter Cable. Yeah, until you have done everything from spraying the clear, to the finished project. You may not understand it's characteristics. Swirl marks are not in the clear, they are residue left from your compound and polish along with micro scratches. These micro scratches and film can be removed with the right tools and know how. But since you have detailed cars for 20 years you have it figured out i guess. Even though the products used in the development and production of clear coats has drastically changed in the last 5 years let alone 20. But what would i know. Good luck to you.

Oops I guess I am wrong

 

[89sandman]

unless you know what your doing stay away from wet sanding. you need to be a pro before you start into an advanced technique such as this. i would use a varible speed buffer, i use a makita, start with some finishing polish and see what happens. if they are still there take a little heavy duty rubbing compound and mix it 50/50 with the polish, buff with this and then buff again with the finishing polish. keep increasing the mixture of compound/polish until its the right blend for what you need. once again cannot stress enough that you will need lots of practice with a buffer. things can go wrong very quickly if you don't know what your doing... i get my supplies from a detail supply outfit, but 3m makes a very good product. to help keep out the swirls i always use a finishing buffing pad that i use only with the finishing polish. make sure you put on enough polish for the last coat. using too little trying to speed up the final polish will surely leave swirl marks.

 

[dmkhnr]

Looks like I'm in for several hrs of work.
I have a porter cable buffer, and a Home Depot (I think its a ryobe) buffer that works at a much slower speed. I'm into winter here now (0* this morning and the diesel is plugged in) Will it matter if I wait till spring???

Another question:
My car has hard water spots on the windows, and It's either from the dealer lot or the touchless car wash. These spots are etched into the glass, and I've tried vinegar, and glass polish to remove these. Any tricks, or am I stuck with this?
thank again
DK

 

[Megadeth]

Looks like I'm in for several hrs of work.
I have a porter cable buffer, and a Home Depot (I think its a ryobe) buffer that works at a much slower speed. I'm into winter here now (0* this morning and the diesel is plugged in) Will it matter if I wait till spring???

Another question:
My car has hard water spots on the windows, and It's either from the dealer lot or the touchless car wash. These spots are etched into the glass, and I've tried vinegar, and glass polish to remove these. Any tricks, or am I stuck with this?
thank again
DK

You can wait however long you want basically.. I'd at least throw a wax on it and do it monthly during winter.

as for your glass you can get this stuff if you've tried everything else.. I've never tried it but I know DP makes some good stuff. Linky

 

[CAT TRACKS]

easiest way is to cut with 2500 to 3000 grit wet and use a 3 stage polishing system, always had good luck with the 3m products. i would make sure to use a clearcoat polish and not a wax as wax will actually plug the pores in the clear and speed up the oxidation process

 

[Rubberdown!]

Anyone use the G6 paste? Can be used by hand or buffer with water???

 

[milehighassassin]

Meguiars Clay Bar? Just a thought. I haven't tried it yet but I'm curious to hear how well it works.

Clay bar does NOTHING to remove scratches. It will probably put minor scratches into the paint. It is used to CLEAN the paint, take out embedded dirt, oil, junk, etc. I used to do it to my car, but it really is not worth it for your average car that you drive every day.

 

[milehighassassin]

To the OP, any scratch deaper than your finger nail cannot be removed in most cases. That essentially means it went through the paint.

Some fine scratches can be removed by a simple wax, heavier ones will need to be buffed. A machine works best, but you can rub them out with elbow grease but it will take a long time. Go buy a random orbital buffer. They are cheap and anyone can use them. They oscolate on their own to prevent burning and swirls. I use a Milwakee sander/polisher, but they run about $200 and require a little more know how or you can do some damage.

I personally don't like wax, and don't know why anyone would use it anymore. Zymol is good but use their "sealant". I personally like PRO WAX (sealant). Sealant lasts much longer, is easier to apply and cleans off the paint easier. Wax MIGHT last a month, sealer can last up to 6 months depending on how often you wash the vehicle (the more you wash the sooner you will have to re-apply).

Compare wax to Mineral/dino oil and compare sealant to synthetic oil.

 

[dmkhnr]

Just an update on my swirl marks/holograms.
I hit it yesterday with 3m perfectit swirl mark remover, and their blue foam pad (which is undulated) on my buffer.
It took 90% of the swirl marks out.
I did a bit of research on this product, and watched the videos on how to use it. It was designed for black or dark paint (from what I saw even professionals get swirl marks in black vehicles). I used a generous amount and took on 2'x2' sections at a time keeping a wet film and 3 passes with the buffer.
I was tired after buffing, but will hit it 1 more time, as I think this will get the remaining swirl marks out.
I honestly thought that I had ruined my 07 black truck, and even had doubts that this 3m product would work.
Thanks for the advice, you all got some green rep coming from me!

 

[AZ800]

if they are still there take a little heavy duty rubbing compound and mix it 50/50 with the polish, buff with this and then buff again with the finishing polish. .

This will do nothing except keep you polishing all day! If there's even a little bit of rubbing compound mixed with polishing, it'll keep "scratching" the finish.
I've only used 3M products, but they seem to work well, even on dark colors. If they're scratches that can be felt with your finger, but not thru the clear coat, start by wet sanding 1200-1500 grit, then move to 3M med cut rubbing compound with the proper pad, then 3M FinesseIt polishing compound, proper pad, if there's still swirls, polish again with finishing glaze or swirl mark remover (usually don't have to do this step on light colored paint), then wax.
Got's to be a rotary polisher too, orbital won't do it.
Be very careful with factory finishes, as the thickness of the clear is pretty thin. Never buff or polish an outside corner, you'll burn thru pretty quick.

 

[BigAl]

What about swirl marks. Got some in my black Dodge Ram from using a buffer on it. Almost looks like I ruined the clear coat?

This works for me. When I'm ready to wipe the wax off, I sprinkle a little corn starch on the area and rub it off with the wax film. No swirls. Had an old furneral director tell me that.

 

[skid]

I have also heard that but never tried it yet.

 

[milehighassassin]

This will do nothing except keep you polishing all day! If there's even a little bit of rubbing compound mixed with polishing, it'll keep "scratching" the finish.
I've only used 3M products, but they seem to work well, even on dark colors. If they're scratches that can be felt with your finger, but not thru the clear coat, start by wet sanding 1200-1500 grit, then move to 3M med cut rubbing compound with the proper pad, then 3M FinesseIt polishing compound, proper pad, if there's still swirls, polish again with finishing glaze or swirl mark remover (usually don't have to do this step on light colored paint), then wax.
Got's to be a rotary polisher too, orbital won't do it.
Be very careful with factory finishes, as the thickness of the clear is pretty thin. Never buff or polish an outside corner, you'll burn thru pretty quick.

It really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If it is scratch removal that will work fine. You can actually use a polish as a scratch remover it will just take longer to get the scratch out, but on the flipside you are also less likely to do damage.

 

[Megadeth]

Just an update on my swirl marks/holograms.
I hit it yesterday with 3m perfectit swirl mark remover, and their blue foam pad (which is undulated) on my buffer.
It took 90% of the swirl marks out.
I did a bit of research on this product, and watched the videos on how to use it. It was designed for black or dark paint (from what I saw even professionals get swirl marks in black vehicles). I used a generous amount and took on 2'x2' sections at a time keeping a wet film and 3 passes with the buffer.
I was tired after buffing, but will hit it 1 more time, as I think this will get the remaining swirl marks out.
I honestly thought that I had ruined my 07 black truck, and even had doubts that this 3m product would work.
Thanks for the advice, you all got some green rep coming from me!

so where are your before and after pics!?

 

[dmkhnr]

No before/after pics.
Its been dumping snow here, and Sunday was just nice enough to wash the truck and go to work on it.
Went sledding today and the truck is all grimey again!!! I'm not complaining as it was DEEEEEEEEEP.