Help Me Get Rid of These Dang Swirl Marks

[DAtIntegra35]

Alright. So this is what I want to get rid of or at least make look a little better. All these dang swirl marks ALL OVER my car. I got what I think is a decent picture on my phone last night since I was parked under a street light and the whole car just looked terrible.

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr149/mr_mustang35/5543d0e1.jpg

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr149/mr_mustang35/1e2a75b9.jpg

What product(s) should I use to attempt to get rid of the swirls. I'm guessing a cutting polish followed by a finishing polish? I'll be doing this by hand since I do not have a buffer so what kind of pad should I use with those. Speficic product recommendations appreciated.

[DustinB16]

I used something by 3M called Imperial Hand Glaze (#5990) a bottle of it, it's pretty big too 32 fl oz. Was $32. Idk where you're at but the only place I know that sells it is the 'Oreilys on nolensville rd, the one with the body shop in the back.

[DustinB16]

All you need for application is some new teri towels. And I'd use it in a garage or after sunset because it dries hard and fast. And once it's dry it's almost impossible to remove.

[Mitch Detailed]

refer to either mine or trushines threads... you'll get your answer

[DAtIntegra35]

I'm not a pro. I'm not lookin to spend that kind of coin on products that I barely know how to use. My question is related to specifically my car so that why I made a thread asking for input on what to use. It's a civic, not a Ferrari.

[CoosCoos]

If you want to REMOVE the swirl marks, you can compound/polish it by hand. You will just spend literally days doing it. Get a buffer to correct it. It would probably be around a day to correct with machine.

OR... if you use a glaze, it will just FILL the marks. Read the difference? Glazes are fast and easy, but after a wash or two you will see more swirls.

If you are ever in the knoxville area I can polish your car. I do it on the side. There are alot of detailers that can do this for you instead. It's about 175-250 for an exterior correction (and those numbers are very ballpark).

Autopia.org may be a good place for you to find a detailer or just to read up. I went from not knowing anything about detailing to be an ... "advanced novice" if you will.

[DustinB16]

Well when I read "specific product recommendations" I figured I'd give you a specific product..... I used glaze on my car months ago sometime in march and I wash the thing religiously and they haven't shown back up..

[DustinB16]

Hell man I'll even give you the bottle I have it's over 3/4 full.

[ZacCarter]

You'd be better off paying someone with a buffer to do a mild correction than doing it by hand and that's speaking from experience.

[DAtIntegra35]

No no dustin I wasn't referring to you. Somebody else on another forum suggested that some product. I'm actually probably gonna do that.

Yes I know I would probably be better off paying someone. Of course a pro could do a better job. But I want to learn how to do it. Maybe I don't get all of the swirl marks out. Maybe I waste my time. Either way, I wanna learn. And before I lost my job I was contemplating buying a buffer. The dual action porter cable to be exact, but I don't have the finds right now. However I have an interview tomorrow so if I get the job I might pick one up at the end of this week.

[DustinB16]

Lol no problem man, my day started off a little shitty to begin with. If you're near Antichrist..... I mean Antioch, you're more than welcome to stop by the house and I'll help u out with it. No charge.

I have a buffer, and I know how to use it lmao!!

Sent from my iPad, barely....

[DAtIntegra35]

Lol no problem man, my day started off a little shitty to begin with. If you're near Antichrist..... I mean Antioch, you're more than welcome to stop by the house and I'll help u out with it. No charge.

I have a buffer, and I know how to use it lmao!!

Sent from my iPad, barely....

I might have to take you up on that sometime soon. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks man.

[MRJAG522]

YOUR DOING GOOD SO Fr as getting trash out but sirl marks you doing yourself i hate to tell you but you are doing that as you try and get rid of them there are more in your face

[tigersharkdude]

YOUR DOING GOOD SO Fr as getting trash out but sirl marks you doing yourself i hate to tell you but you are doing that as you try and get rid of them there are more in your face

worse that turbo VW

[Mitch Detailed]

I'm not a pro. I'm not lookin to spend that kind of coin on products that I barely know how to use. My question is related to specifically my car so that why I made a thread asking for input on what to use. It's a civic, not a Ferrari.


Yes I know I would probably be better off paying someone. Of course a pro could do a better job. But I want to learn how to do it. Maybe I don't get all of the swirl marks out. Maybe I waste my time. Either way, I wanna learn. And before I lost my job I was contemplating buying a buffer. The dual action porter cable to be exact, but I don't have the funds right now. However I have an interview tomorrow so if I get the job I might pick one up at the end of this week.

All bold fields: = contradictory, gotta pay to play. learn it, live it.
brown fields: Assessment on paint is done the same when it comes to swirls regardless of vehicle. yes there is a difference between softer paints and harder paints, but the process is still driven upon the same guidelines. cut til swirls are removed, and work it back til a mirror finish is achieved.

so again i say, refer to the g8 i detailed on here, or any of the multiple threads trushine has created. your answer will lie there. (and if you cant afford to do it right, you're wasting your time and money...)

[rudedawwg]

Hey Will I guess I will throw in my 2 cents. It takes TruShine quite a while to correct the paint on a single panel with all of his equipment. I couldn't imagine trying to do it by hand. Not only would it be super tough but I doubt you would get the same results. If you can borrow a buffer I say go for it but otherwise I would hold out

[DAtIntegra35]

All bold fields: = contradictory, gotta pay to play. learn it, live it.
brown fields: Assessment on paint is done the same when it comes to swirls regardless of vehicle. yes there is a difference between softer paints and harder paints, but the process is still driven upon the same guidelines. cut til swirls are removed, and work it back til a mirror finish is achieved.

so again i say, refer to the g8 i detailed on here, or any of the multiple threads trushine has created. your answer will lie there. (and if you cant afford to do it right, you're wasting your time and money...)

Ya know, if you actually took things in context, I might value your opinion a little more and actually take the time to glance at this thread you speak of. But, because you can't comprehend a whole statement and want to pick out certain phrases and focus on those only, I see no need to put that kind of effort in.

Hey Will I guess I will throw in my 2 cents. It takes TruShine quite a while to correct the paint on a single panel with all of his equipment. I couldn't imagine trying to do it by hand. Not only would it be super tough but I doubt you would get the same results. If you can borrow a buffer I say go for it but otherwise I would hold out

Oh yeah I know it's not a quick easy process, I know it'll take some time. And I'm not looking to make it showroom new by any means, I'm just looking to make it not as noticeable. I'm going to end up buying the PC buffer it's just a matter of when. I started work yesterday so paycheck's will be coming soon. Worst case scenario: I end up not understanding how to use everything as a whole, I completely screw up my paint and end up selling all of my supplies for half of what I paid for them. Best case scenario: I end up teaching myself somewhat how to correct paint, polish and wax and I start doing it for friends and make some side money. If it ends up being the worse case, the money that I get from selling the supplies will go towards an alarm and remote start that I've been wanting :)

[Mitch Detailed]

Ya know, if you actually took things in context, I might value your opinion a little more and actually take the time to glance at this thread you speak of. But, because you can't comprehend a whole statement and want to pick out certain phrases and focus on those only, I see no need to put that kind of effort in.

but you'll put enough effort to make a thread about it? and when i tell you where the answers are found you act like its a different scenario. all i have to say is goodluck, ignorance is bliss.

[rudedawwg]

If it ends up being the worse case, the money that I get from selling the supplies will go towards an alarm and remote start that I've been wanting :)

Sweet. good news is your car won't require any additional parts or bypasses

[Tru_Shine]

Just thought I would stop in and give my .02.


If your looking to DIY these swirls, doing it by hand is going to be a nice long journey for you. and even then, the swirls that your hand will create will still be there. But with that being said, you just want to "Make it look better" so that you can do.

If you goto walmart in the automotive cleaning section, you will find a bottle of Meguiars Ultimate compound and Ultimate Swirl remover. you can buy an applicator pad and apply the compound and start polishing the panel by hand. *Dont do this in direct sunlight* either way this method is not swirl free so you my as well just apply mild pressure going in straight lines for the compound. this will level out a lot of the swirls, after you are satisfied with the correction, use a new applicator pad with the polish and do tight small circular pattern and this will help remove some of the scratches from the compound. after this you can apply a glaze or wax to help hide the rest. hope this helps.

and for the record, Glazes are designed to hide and fill the defects, not protect your paint from the UV rays. and also there is no possible way that your hand can be as consistent as a machine for polishing, so you will still have defects in certain lighting. but it should help your car out a LOT.

once again, hope this helps,

-Eric

[DAtIntegra35]

That helps a lot. Thanks Eric. I'll definitely give that a try on a small section of the car to see what happens before I buy the buffer.

[81280ZX]

Just thought I would stop in and give my .02.


If your looking to DIY these swirls, doing it by hand is going to be a nice long journey for you. and even then, the swirls that your hand will create will still be there. But with that being said, you just want to "Make it look better" so that you can do.

If you goto walmart in the automotive cleaning section, you will find a bottle of Meguiars Ultimate compound and Ultimate Swirl remover. you can buy an applicator pad and apply the compound and start polishing the panel by hand. *Dont do this in direct sunlight* either way this method is not swirl free so you my as well just apply mild pressure going in straight lines for the compound. this will level out a lot of the swirls, after you are satisfied with the correction, use a new applicator pad with the polish and do tight small circular pattern and this will help remove some of the scratches from the compound. after this you can apply a glaze or wax to help hide the rest. hope this helps.

and for the record, Glazes are designed to hide and fill the defects, not protect your paint from the UV rays. and also there is no possible way that your hand can be as consistent as a machine for polishing, so you will still have defects in certain lighting. but it should help your car out a LOT.

once again, hope this helps,

-Eric

Nice guy right here. He actually tries to help you rather than promote the fact that he could do it for you. Props to you Eric!! BTW, love your work!!!

[ymisoqt]

For starting out, a nice dual action polisher would be ideal. It doesn't create the same heat as a pc does so you are less likely to burn your paint. I bought a nice meguiars kit off of autopia for around 2-250 iirc. Ive probably made that back just from polishing headlights for people lol Autopia's forums are really good for info as well.