Introducing swirls with a PC?

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KevinH

New member
I've got a black 2001 Volvo S60T5. I've never really been happy with the paint... it's always had some micro scratces in it. Of course, they only show up in direct sunlight. They really weren't what I'd call swirls, but then again they are over then entire car.

This past weekend I tried to see what I could do to remedy that. I started with the trunk lid instead of doing the entire car... just to see what I was up against.

- I washed the car
- Clayed (Blackfire polyclay)
- Started with Menzerna FPII, white Lake Country pad, setting of 4 on the pc. I misted the pad with water, worked the area in a figure 8 pattern for approximately 1 minute. Didn't see much improvement.
- I then moved on to Menzerna IP, with a new white pad... same procedure. a little better, but not much.
- I moved onto Menzerna IP, orange light cutting pad... same procedure. I did this 3 or 4 times. The scratches are definitely better, but some are still there.

Each time I was doing this in the shade of my garage. I moved the car back into the sun each time to monitor progress. And that's when I started noticing swirls instead of scratches.

I did also try and go over again with FPII, and then AIO... but I knew it was a longshot... and I was right.

I guess I'm trying to find out what I'm doing wrong.

- I only use a little of the product (recommended amount?)... spread it before I turn the PC on.. and work it till it's hazed almost completely off.
- should I mist the pads?
- Should I decrease/increase the speed of the PC?
- Should I use other products. I've heard where the menzerna line is good... but difficult for newbies.... if something works better on Black... I'll give it a shot.

Little long winded... sorry about that.. but I'd really appreciate any and all suggestions.

Thanks!
 
Give it the flashlight test. Before I start my polishing process, I'll inspect the panel with a flashlight. Believe me, you'll see every little defect. This help me determine my pad/polish combo. After one pass with the polish, I'll look the panel over to see if I'm improving things, or making matters worse. This process can be a little slow, but it really helped me learn/understand what product, pad, speed combinations are effective.

I didn't take the time to read the link on the post above, so sorry if this is a repeat. Menzerna is a VERY effective polish, and I've had very good luck with it. If you're using the 16oz bottles with the fold down tip, draw a THIN cross on your pad. You really don't need a lot of polish. In most situations I'll use IP & FPII together on an orange pad to remove defects, and FPII on a polishing pad for finishing up the polishing process. Before you start, wash out your pad in a solution of warm water, woolite, and all purpose cleaner. Then spin dry your pad. Clean out your pads after your finished on each side.

Be patient and have fun. It's a learning process.
 
When I first started with the PC a few months back, I was having problems not working the polish long enough. I found that more speed helped. Just be careful of speed 6 with a wool pad. I either exposed or created several tiny pits in the paint that way. :brick
 
I didn't read the link posted above but I would say if you're going to use a pc for this then get a yellow cutting pad and set the speed to six .Its going to take some time .Do one panel at a time .

Or you could use a rotary .
 
dalmore said:
I either exposed or created several tiny pits in the paint that way. :brick
Click to expand...

I have seen something like this myself. What causes it? It looked like very tiny dots (not haze lines) in the paint. Like a fine sand pitted winshield. At the time I couldn't remember them being in the paint until AFTER I had used some IP with a yellow pad. Now that you bring this up I wonder if I put those "pits" in the paint and IF SO what does one do then?

edit: Looked again. Maybe those are very tiny "bubbles" in the paint?
 
Sveta said:
I have seen something like this myself. What causes it? It looked like very tiny dots (not haze lines) in the paint. Like a fine sand pitted winshield. At the time I couldn't remember them being in the paint until AFTER I had used some IP with a yellow pad. Now that you bring this up I wonder if I put those "pits" in the paint and IF SO what does one do then?

edit: Looked again. Maybe those are very tiny "bubbles" in the paint?
Click to expand...

Mine are definitely pits. I'm touching them up with paint pen I got from autovisuals. Seems like a perfect match colorwise.

I still don't know what caused them but there were not there prior to using my PC with a Wool Pad on 6. I was using IP too but I can't think of anything that makes me think a different polish would have mattered. Perhaps they were tiny bubbles in the paint that I "popped" :dunno
 
Thanks everyone! The links and information give me hope...

The pics in the links actually do look similar to the results I had when using either IP or FPII. But it sounds like the polish was breaking down (drying out?) early. I don't think I was working the area that long, and it seemed like I was going to the point where I was buffing off the polish. Do I need to make sure the pads are damp instead of just misting them a couple of times with a water bottle?

I will definitely be using a flashlight next time :) . This will save me the pain it was moving the car in and out of the sunlight!

Thanks again for all the excellent information.
 
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