In need of help. (swirls)

Yes. It will be a step up from the SSR2.5. 2.5/green can handle some pretty moderate swirling. I think you'll be happy with the results.
 
Also, try out Optimum Polish from SMP. It works really well at getting out things that SSR2.5 won't in my opinion. Also, if its to bad step up to SSR3. Just start with SSR3 and work down to SSR2.5 after to get rid of haze. But I have seen alot of good results with Optimum Polish and SSR2.5 over at the SVT Forums.
 
I would also suggest OCP as well. It seems to do whatever your PC and pad combo requires. If not that, then SSR2.5 and maybe even SSR3 but I don't think you'll have to do that.
 
SSR3 is some pretty strong stuff. I don't think he should think about using that yet. I think those swirls are well inside the capabilities of SSR2.5.
 
Good luck raptor. I guess my boat is in the same situation as you are.



I took mine in for an oil change right before I was going to start on mine, and the dirty mit

patrol must have been out that day.



I've just spent a couple days hand polishing and I AM READY for the PC now.



I wanted to get a groove on how the paint behaves and what happens etc....



Okay, I'm over myself for the time being. Just the time being.



Mines a Mazda also. Fun cars. I will ask for advise once I get the PC and get into it.



Just too much work by hand. But still, AIO by hand might work over the FMJ.
 
Yea, fixing the paint just can't happen by hand. I tried using ZPC, Zaino's swirl remover, to fill in the swirls but it didn't happen.



Now just waiting on that SSR2.5...I've already spent hundreds
 
I have a red RX8 also. You have gotten some good advice. But I beleive with the color we have there is always going to be some mi-nute scratches that are barely detectable by anybody but you and I. I have some scratches but you really can't tell. I used Menzerna PO85RD and that got most of them. By the way I have had people ask me if that is a factory paint job. Many comments on how well the paint looks. I use Men PO85RD, Red Moose glaze, and Pinnicle souveran wax. Good luck.... Zoom - Zoom
 
Is the PO85RD a swirl remover polish? Where did you get it from? If it works for you, there should be no doubt it would work on my identical paint.
 
I tried the ssr2.5 with the yellow pad, then used polishing towels, no significant difference over the ssr2 from what I can see. I guess I'll have to live with the swirls, they're only visible under direct sunlight and flourescent parking lot lights anyway. And nonetheless, the paint and the car still looks great, which is satisfying. I'm young and I'll probably have more cars in the future, so lesson learned (don't let swirls happen in the first place).





Thanks for the help anyway, I'll try to stick around :)
 
I'll try it again....I'm assuming there's no risks involved, right? I've been reading a lot of things involving 'hazing' and other damages to the paint...
 
hazing is from not working the polish long enough. The abrasives will scratch/haze the paint until they are broken down completely...that's how they remove other scratches.
 
I polished the trunk again and noticed most of the swirls started to go away. I put a little more time into it and a little extra pressure, switching from speeds 4 to 5 and then speed sweeping. My hypothesis is that it takes at least two applications for the scratches to be removed. For example, I tried it on the roof of the car and there wasn't any difference, so a second try will probably show some change.



Here is the top of the trunk, notice the micro-scratches (again, they're a lot more noticeable in person):

sswirls2.jpg




Here, I polished the left half at first. The swirls finally seem to be going away :)

sswirls1.jpg




The trunk and spoiler look like they're done after spending about half an hour into it. I have the rest of the car to take care of, so it'll take a while to get most of the swirls out.



noswirls1.jpg






Here's the roof, hopefully I can get it cleared up soon:

sswirls3.jpg




Bonus pic:

zaino1.jpg
 
Raptor...looks good. Definitely starting to see the improvement there. I have sort of the same issue on my Redline 350Z...Did ZPC, working it in really slow at about 5 on the PC. Then followed up with Z-5 and Z-2 (Zaino). However, I've noticed I still have minor swirls on the top surfaces of the car.



My question is, and maybe this will help Raptor as well, should I get an orange pad and some SSR2.5 to get out these lingering swirls? Any adverse effects of mixing the Zaino and the SSR2.5? That is a Sonus product, right? Sorry, newbie. Once I get the swirls out for good, I'd like to protect with Z-2, but want to make sure there's no harm in mixing the products.
 
SSR2.5 is made by Poorboy's World, not Sonus.



If you're thinking of truly mixing Zaino and SSR2.5, don't. If you're thinking about applying SSR2.5, wiping off, and then applying Zaino, that's fine. Just don't mix them together and apply them at once.
 
ZPC just hasn't worked for me. I love Zaino, but that's one product I wouldn't buy again. SSR2.5 alone seems to get the job done. I intend to coat the car with Zaino once all the swirls are gone... I haven't waxed it with Zaino for about two months.
 
Raptor2K-Glad to see you're making headway on the marring. And BTW those pictures did a great job of showing the marring and your progress.



Once you get things all polished out, I'd sure be careful about the wash technique so you don't have to go through all this again for a while ;) If the clear on your RX-8 is the same as that on my MPV,it won't be all *that* tough to keep it marring free. [Insert Accumulator's usual lecture about foamguns and wash-induced marring here..]
 
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