Apply 3M SMR in Circular motion???

NewMINICooperS

New member
So I just got some 3M SMR and it stated on the bottle to apply in a circular motion. This through me for a twist as everything I have always thought was never do anything in a circular motion on your paint. Or is this so it can remove the scratches at different angles?



I just want someone to confirm with me that this is correct before I do it.



Thanks in advance.
 
I believe the not doing circular has more to do with washing and QD as you don't want to chance rubbing dirt on the surface in that type of motion. But since the car should be perfectly clean when you are using SMR I don't think it really matters what motion you use as long as you get good coverage and work the product until it breaks down. Atleast that is what I have ascertained.:o
 
Ponder this thought for a moment.....



If you never washed, dried, QD'd, waxed, polished etc..., in a circular motion, would you ever have swirl marks ?:rolleyes:
 
Patrick said:
Ponder this thought for a moment.....



If you never washed, dried, QD'd, waxed, polished etc..., in a circular motion, would you ever have swirl marks ?:rolleyes:



No but I believe the swirl marks would be harder to see since they go in 1 direction versus tons of lines going in lots of directions and thus being able to see them from all sorts of light angles. Just my opinion though.
 
Patrick said:
Ponder this thought for a moment.....



If you never washed, dried, QD'd, waxed, polished etc..., in a circular motion, would you ever have swirl marks ?:rolleyes:



Prolly cuz the dealer put them on the car...new car....very very minor swirl marks...figured if the dealer would try to fix them they would only make them worse...would rather fix the problem myself.
 
Im just saying that if your prepare your car in front to rear wiping methods, over the yrs, your swirl marks will dissipate, instead of growing. Its my opinion, that if you use this process, you eliminate the chance of increasing new swirls, while increase the chance of eliminating the old ones......:xyxthumbs
 
Well if you cause the swirlmarks in the first place, then front to rear wiping would only cause front to rear scratches... correct?
 
Magellan, you are correct, however, there less obvious and obtrusive due to the light refraction physics...(Which im no scholar) In other words, circles, catch light from 365 degrees, where a straight line (hopefully) will catch from only acertain degree.
 
Patrick said:
Magellan, you are correct, however, there less obvious and obtrusive due to the light refraction physics...(Which im no scholar) In other words, circles, catch light from 365 degrees, where a straight line (hopefully) will catch from only acertain degree.



:scared



365 degrees ? OMG .....









Just bustin yer balls :P







Swirl marks as far as i know are caused by things like (cover yer ears) auto car washes and incompetent dealerships.



I've never caused swirls, (to my knowledge) and I use some pretty abrasive stuff.

I dont think its applying stuff in a circular motion any more than dirty towels or dirty wash mitt.







Just a side note, drove past a huge Chevy dealership to see 3 guys cleaning the cars, one with a powerwasher and two with filthy chamois leathers.



Ugh ......
 
Patrick said:
Magellan, you are correct, however, there less obvious and obtrusive due to the light refraction physics...(Which im no scholar) In other words, circles, catch light from 365 degrees, where a straight line (hopefully) will catch from only acertain degree.
This is close. I think the whole thing probably started off as a Zaino tip. Up and down on the verticals, back to front on the horizontals. The next time you see a swirled car, look at the swirls and take note of which direction the swirls are most visible in. :)



I think this rule is a "just in case" measure, not some hard fast method....
 
I have a question...for newbies....what is the best way to do it. For as long as I have been detailing, Ive done circular. Is this actually wrong?



LIke I plan on using #9, #7, and then Gold Class Wax soon, and should I just do it normally?



Jon
 
I just think that if you use a circular motion, you run the risk of circular scratches...(swirl marks, duh?!)

And i say RISK.....



Thunder, Im not knockin your methods by any means ok....:cool:
 
Here’s my take on circular versus linear:



Washing should always be linear - this is the most likely procedure to cause marring until you devise a method of vacuuming off the dirt.



Polishing should be circular - attacks the marring from all angles.



Wax & sealant should be circular followed by linear - circular does a better job of getting the product into any micro-marring and linear helps to give a thinner and more even coat.



Note: Marring has several causes, all of which can be eliminated except one! Most marring is caused by rubbing debris across the paint - and using the proper applicator, appropriate pressure, and maintaining cleanliness will eliminate all marring except during washing. To minimize marring during washing using only a very light pressure and frequent rinsing will minimize marring.

<CENTER>:usa</CENTER>
 
Just doing it in lines would feel weird! Like do you actually just make straight lines in the area you are working on, and then remove the product the same way?



jon
 
Which way does a rotary buffer turn? It goes in circles. So there's no difference if you apply in a circular motion by hand.
 
Haha .. that makes sense .... Anyone agree with it? Rotary = Circular ... so hand = Circular should be okie right? :p
 
Rotary = Circular ... so hand = Circular

haha...Not in my book...The rotary produces circles within a semicircle...and gives additional movement in a way your hand cant....They may look similiar, but no way do they produce identical results....

Like do you actually just make straight lines in the area you are working on, and then remove the product the same way?
Its not as scientific as your making it sound ! I mean you do overlap, as you would any process......As for removal, same deal....you always overlap your work....
 
Yeah but the point is that if doing circular motions by hand would cause swirl marks, then a rotary or even a DA will cause swirls marks x 10. Since it's not true for the latter, neither is it so for the former.
 
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