I really don't have the money to buy a PC right now, plus I enjoy doing it by hand, and I don't mind the work. Has anyone gotten good results by using 3m SMR or any other type of swirl remover by hand? What I want to do is start off with something fairly abrasive, and then use something like Meguiars #9, then a coat of wax/polish. Would this be a good plan? Thanks for the help.
Has anyone here ever gotten good results using 3m SMR by hand?
- Thread starter blk96gt
- Start date
2wheelsx2
New member
I started out by using SMR by hand with foam applicators and got nowhere, so I got the PC, but Scottwax here using terry cloths with his polishes and his work speaks for itself. I am going to try terry cloth with DACP on some swirls on my wife's car to see how it works. Mind you, I don't have Popeye arms like Scott though, so the results probably won't be as impressive.
Jngrbrdman
New member
I have honestly never gotten 'good' results doing any swirl removing by hand. It is just too much work for my skiny body. You would have to have a lot of upper body strength, especially in the shoulders, to be able to do something like that. Considering the size and amount of paint on a Camaro.... You'd best be built like a tank to take on an all day job like that.
I had decent results by hand, it took me a whole weekend, but I managed to do it (my arms were dead for a week though :shocked) It takes a lot of effort and time on just one section in order to even get close to the results of a pc, but that may be b/c i'm nowhere as buff as scottwax.
Well, since you have a mustang, can't tell if its a cobra or not, I used to have a black 96 Cobra, you can almost forget it!
The paint ford uses on the cobra's suck! It is very hard to take care of, and it is also very hard to find wax which is compatible with the paint (ie, most waxes either lightenedd or hazed the paint, or smear, and don't last long at all)
I did however get some decent results, but not as good as GM paint by hand. The hood will take you about a good ~2hrs of hard fast constant rubbing for reference. Then the challenge is getting the stuff off the paint! Not fun. Guestimate, expect about a 50+% improvement to the paint, on my friends 97 formula I got about 70-80+% better improvement in look on his chamelion green.
Good luck!
The paint ford uses on the cobra's suck! It is very hard to take care of, and it is also very hard to find wax which is compatible with the paint (ie, most waxes either lightenedd or hazed the paint, or smear, and don't last long at all)
I did however get some decent results, but not as good as GM paint by hand. The hood will take you about a good ~2hrs of hard fast constant rubbing for reference. Then the challenge is getting the stuff off the paint! Not fun. Guestimate, expect about a 50+% improvement to the paint, on my friends 97 formula I got about 70-80+% better improvement in look on his chamelion green.
Good luck!
I'm pretty sure he has a GT 
Anyway, I got good results with BOTH FCRC and SMR by hand. I had to break the FCRC up and do a panel in the morning and one in the evening but the SMR I did at one time. The results look great after some Blackfire! Like others have said, the key is to apply even pressure.
I'm glad I know why I work out...it's not to feel better, keep my body in shape, or even look good. It's to apply FCRC and SMR by hand :bounce
Anyway, I got good results with BOTH FCRC and SMR by hand. I had to break the FCRC up and do a panel in the morning and one in the evening but the SMR I did at one time. The results look great after some Blackfire! Like others have said, the key is to apply even pressure.I'm glad I know why I work out...it's not to feel better, keep my body in shape, or even look good. It's to apply FCRC and SMR by hand :bounce
blk96gt said:
:wavey I know what he uses!
It depends on the swirls, usually Meguiars Swirl Free Polish, but for deeper swirls, I start with Meguiars Dual Action Cleaner Polish, then follow with Swirl Free, then a very light polish/glaze like Clearkote's Vanilla Moose or S100 SEC before waxing.
I use terry cloth towels folded into 1/8ths size with DACP and SFP, work small areas, and refold the towels when I move to another area.
Michaelwdes
New member
i thought you were supposed to go in back and forth motions when polishing&waxing???
P
Patrick
Guest
I had wonderful results by hand with SMR...97 Black Miata, no clear...I used Wizards finish cut to remove some old meg's, then SMR, light polish (BF), then BF protectant.....car was beautiful....The neat thing about SMR is you can watch it transform your paint, its pretty amazing stuff.....You really have to work it in though, so if you dont have some upper strength, you may be in for a long ride......I just got my PC today, but I cant seem to bring myself to even demo'ing it.....I really enjoy detailing by hand.....