Car swirls easily, are they in clear coat?

[Sad little man]

I just spent most of last weekend polishing the swirls out of my dark blue miata (3M SMR did the trick BTW, much better than any megs product) and after setting outside for a few days, it had become dusty. I tried brushing the dust off of the car with a 100% cotton towell, and immediately a bunch of little tiny swirls all going in the direction of the towell got etched into the surface. The car even swirls if I allpy no pressure to the surface, just run the cloth over the car. The question is, are these swirls actually in the clear coat, or could they just be in the Zaino layers on top? It just seems like it swirled much too easily, and I also think I see some of these swirls on the little chrome hardtop latches on the trunk that also got Zainoed. I tried some Z-5 on one of the worse swirled parts, and it didn't do much for them (I've never seen a Zaino wax, be it Z-5 or Z-2 pro fill in any swirl FWIW). So my question is, what do I do about these swirls? It seems so hard to polish them off, but just brushing a towel over the car will swirl up the finish again.

 

[Accumulator]

If you "dry dusted" the car, I wouldn't think it uncommon for such a procedure to mar your paint, and possibly even your chrome. If you're *very* lucky, the marring is in the Zaino, but I wouldn't count on it. Although some people use things like the CCD or QDs and MF, the only time I "clean" a car (or otherwise touch the paint) is when I wash it. It's incredibly easy to mar automotive paint. I've seen photographs, using magnification, showing what *one* pass with a very soft cotton towel did to previously perfect paint- the damage was remarkable.



Since the fresh application of Zaino didn't seem to fix it, chances are the damage is in the clear. You won't know until you at least strip the Zaino and inspect the "bare" paint.



I fear you've learned a tough lesson and you'll have to repolish the car. At least a Miata won't be as big a job as something like a Suburban

 

[TW85 HHI]

If Mazda's paint is anything like Ford's, it will scratch just by looking at it.



Seriously, the light scratches probably are in the clear coat. My dad's black F-150 is impossible to keep up with...I have scratched the paint immediately after polishing with Poorboy's SSR2.5 just by touching with my finger (thought there was a smudge).



That said, did you use any waterless wash or quick detailer in conjunction with the cotton towel? In three days time I have to imagine a fair amount of dust had accumulated and wiping it with just a dry towel is asking for scratches. The towel could also be causing the scratches (depends on quality).

 

[Sad little man]

Well, to be honest I didn't think a QD would have much effect on swirling unless I dumped it on there by the gallon. I just dunno how I'll keep up with the swirls on this car if it gets scratched so easily! I'm almost considering covering it, even if it will look a little silly.

 

[imported_Jinba ittai]

:nono Never drag a towel across a dry paint surface! You are just grinding whatever dust/dirt that's there right into the paint. Think of a very fine grit sandpaper and that's what you are basically doing by dragging a towel across your dirty paint.



If you must spot clean get some good QD (Zaino 6 for your Zainoed car!) and use that. To dust the car off get a California duster (or equivalent) but only use if the car isn't too dirty. When the car is dirty then wash it properly.



My car's red clearcoat paint will show slight scratches if you run your fingers on it. Certain colors are like that, especially non-metallic clearcoats like red and black. This is why I'm always saying to people "Don't touch/lean on my car!" They think I'm crazy but the paint will scratch easily.



BTW, if you do cover the car make sure it's CLEAN. Never cover a dirty car.

 

[benpocock]

My 1 Series has gone five weeks since being detailed fully and it's already starting to get pretty swirled. I've washed it weekly using the two bucket method and only once QD'd it using Meg's Last Touch and a quality MF - I think this is where my swirls mostly came from. It doesn't help that BMW clear coat is as soft as cheese though.



Oh well, gives me an excuse to try a new product combination on it!



Ben

 

[wannafbody]

not sure of others opinions but i'm pretty learry of even using a QD and MF to remove road dust-in the northeast its a lot of ground up raod ash-pretty abrasive

 

[trueblueblood]

How small a marring are we talking here?



I use a Cali Duster and Spray N Wipe with a MF for cleaning and I will occasionally get some "light" marring. I try to keep on top of things and dust daily and Qd when neccessary. You sometimes have to deal with it, I cannot even see these slight small scratches under sunlight, now shop lights and flouros in the garage are a diff. story ! I am anal about things but you have to accpet some things or it will drive you crazy. Especially a daily driver, I accept the fact although its not perfect but looks better than 90% of the cars on the road and I get neckhead all the time (breakin' necks by turnin' heads ). Now I have to go take my meds for OCD and not to think about the swirling !

 

[imported_Jinba ittai]

How small a marring are we talking here?



I use a Cali Duster and Spray N Wipe with a MF for cleaning and I will occasionally get some "light" marring. I try to keep on top of things and dust daily and Qd when neccessary. You sometimes have to deal with it, I cannot even see these slight small scratches under sunlight, now shop lights and flouros in the garage are a diff. story ! I am anal about things but you have to accpet some things or it will drive you crazy. Especially a daily driver, I accept the fact although its not perfect but looks better than 90% of the cars on the road and I get neckhead all the time (breakin' necks by turnin' heads ). Now I have to go take my meds for OCD and not to think about the swirling !

I'm with you. I tend to get anal with my car if I allow myself but then I find I'm not enjoying it. It's primary purpose is to be driven and it's often driven far away on extended road trips. Unfortunately the places I often take it aren't friendly (subjection to the elements, stones, dust, rough roads and not much access to a car wash). It's not a show car and I really don't want to treat it like one so I try not to look *too* closely at any defects in the paint. I try and fix what I can and live with what I can't.



But there are things you can do to try and minimalize scratches and swirls, in other words, don't cause them yourself! Using a CD or QD seems quite reasonable but dragging a towel across dusty paint isn't. That seems to be the problem here with the original poster scratching his car. Lots of people aren't aware that what he did isn't a good thing to do. I can't tell you how many times, even at car shows, I've seen people pull out a towel and start dusting their paint off without QDing it. Makes me wince everytime. :sosad

 

[imported_Jinba ittai]

not sure of others opinions but i'm pretty learry of even using a QD and MF to remove road dust-in the northeast its a lot of ground up raod ash-pretty abrasive

Basically I only QD to spot clean things like fingerprints, bird poop, bugs, etc. I'll use the CD to take off very light dust such as during the pollen season. If the car is actually dirty I'll wash it or leave it dirty until I can wash it.

 

[mcmmotorsports]

Sorry to bring up an old topic from the dead, but I did a Search as most should do before starting an old thread. I have an '04 Sonic Blue Mustang GT. This car is a Daily Driver and I work at a Concrete Plant. The finish on my car has been fairly good but I have a car show coming up next week and wanted to get the swirls and cobwebs out of my paint before the show. The car for some reason just got them, I have an idea how, but wont say.

Anyway, I bought a Rotary and some 3m SMR. I got a Yellow 3M pad and I gotta say it works pretty good for getting out the swirls, cobwebs and light scratches. There are more scratches up there but thanks to this quote:

I am anal about things but you have to accpet some things or it will drive you crazy. Especially a daily driver

I fell 110% Better.



I was brought to this topic because of the fact I just run my fingers over my newly wax finish and it scratches up like my hands had 80 grit on my finger tips. SO, NO TOUCHING THE CAR.



I also feel better after reading this comment:

If Mazda's paint is anything like Ford's, it will scratch just by looking at it.

Ford paint sux, not as bad as Hyundai paint but it still can be frustrating.



and finally, this statement is soooo true about my car too:

I accept the fact although its not perfect but looks better than 90% of the cars on the road and I get neckhead all the time (breakin' necks by turnin' heads ).

You can be the judge, this was taken a few weeks back. BTW, that was with 2 coats of NXT which I am kinda fond of

Thanks everybody for having such a kick arse site!