how the @$#% do you guys avoid swirls??

[VR8]

In everyone's opinion should I polish it with the DA?



I have a couple different swirl removers, cleaners, sealants, and the usual color pads.

What swirl removers, cleaners and pads do you have? And how much experience do you have using them in the past? It's tuff to say "yes, go polish", not knowing what your skill level is and what products you are using. Something as simple as Meg's D151 (Paint Reconditioning Cream) on a white CCS pad is almost idiot proof and gets great results but isn't likely to remove the deeper swirls and random scratches. So it also makes a huge difference what kind of result you'll be looking for.



I'm sure everyone here can give some superb advice and get you through it, but we need specific information.

 

[justin30513]

A lot of it has to do with where you live. I live in a very dirty area. Lots of gravel roads. I've seen swirls appear in a week on cars that I have polished and not washed since.

 

[akimel]

I think you should just give the car to me then Al.

No can do, Chad. I just couldn't in good conscience give my swirl-filled car to a true detailer like yourself. It would drive you into madness. I'm afraid I'll just have to hold on to it, for your sanity and the sanity of all of humanity.

How have you been my friend?

I'm doing okay, thanks. How's married life?

 

[Accumulator]

A lot of it has to do with where you live. I live in a very dirty area. Lots of gravel roads. I've seen swirls appear in a week on cars that I have polished and not washed since.

Fair enough :xyxthumbs Different situations can sure mean different experiences. Whenever I'm in areas like that I'm thinking "oh, man..I couldn't live here!"

In everyone's opinion should I polish it with the DA?

I'll go out on a limb here and gaze into my crystal ball....and say "yeah".



Just don't go nuts trying for Autopian Perfection and you should do fine. I've lent polishers/pads/products to peole with *ZERO* experience, didn't even coach them at all, and they were very happy with how it went. No, things didn't turn out like-new, but they were still happy.

 

[Bill D]

I haven't been able to get off scott free with not marring my Accord's wheels. It's the softest clear I've encountered for wheels. As to why they ever used *soft* clear for their wheels, I'm utterly :wall and many of you know how over-the-top anal I tend to be about my washing process. I've been finding myself spot polishing the wheels sometimes by hand, sometimes with a 3" pad here and there to get random marring out.



As noted, sometimes marring on a vehicle can just come from existing, especially if it's actually driven. I'm probably going to switch over to Opti Coat for my wheels and hope for less marring.

 

[Accumulator]

I haven't been able to get off scott free with not marring my Accord's wheels...

[WARNING, AUTOPIAN HERESY FOLLOWS:]



Or just don't care



I mean...besides the time and effort...just like with the body proper, you only have so much clear to work with. And as long as a driver's wheels are clean, well, I'd think it'd look OK.



Sorry, bet that isn't an appealing option



But yeah, the OptiCoat might help by keeping the touching to a minimum; the stuff really does shed everything quite well.

 

[Scottwax]

I've found it much easier to me to wash swirl free with ONR than traditional washing methods, especially in this area when it is warm. The problem is that by the time you get the top washed, the sides are nearly dry and you are then rubbing harder when drying nearly dry paint with not very wet towels to remove the water spots that are rapidly forming.

 

[Accumulator]

Scottwax- Leaving aside my usual "eh, guess it's just me...." issues with the ONR approach, I still find it does something funky when I use it on wheels :think: Even if I FK425/etc. afterwards, the wheels retain brake dust much more tenaciously after an ONR wash.



Weird, huh? :nixweiss

 

[Scottwax]

I use just ONR on my wheels, no issues with brake dust and it washes off easier on cars I regularly use ONR on.

 

[justin30513]

ONR works against marring because there is LUBRICATION on the surface WHILE DRYING.

Conventional washing is just water and a towel while drying. No dirt dirt but a wet towel can mar pretty bad in my opinion.

 

[Dan]

I use just ONR on my wheels, no issues with brake dust and it washes off easier on cars I regularly use ONR on.

ONR works against marring because there is LUBRICATION on the surface WHILE DRYING.

Conventional washing is just water and a towel while drying. No dirt dirt but a wet towel can mar pretty bad in my opinion.

Agree on both counts.

 

[Accumulator]

I use just ONR on my wheels, no issues with brake dust and it washes off easier on cars I regularly use ONR on.

Heh heh, our differing experiences sure have me at times!

Conventional washing is just water and a towel while drying. No dirt dirt but a wet towel can mar pretty bad in my opinion...

Good arguments for a) using a QD when drying, and b) CD-testing the drying media, and/or c) doing the "blow-dry" approach.