Please advise where I went wrong.... (swirls)

S

spumoni

New member
Hello all:



I removed the rear license plate bracket from my car so that I didn't have to work around it, and used Meguiar's no 7 with microfiber rag (by hand). Apparently I grabbed some of the plastic shavings from the holes that were drilled into the bumper and it caused some light to moderate scratching.



I then cleaned out all the holes, and hit the entire area with Meguiars no 9 (swirl remover) by hand using a microfiber, did two passes, then moved back to the 7. I tried topping it with Wolfgang sealer, and now I'm left with a swirled mess.



I'm in the process of ordering some 4 inch pads for my Porter Cable orbital so I can get in there with it, but I'm not sure what color pads to get, and if I should try different products. Am I going in the right direction?



Any info would be helpful. Thanks!
 
Where you went wrong? Probably polishing a car without a clean surface. Tell us about how you washed and clayed this area before you started with the abrasive polishes.
 
It was my first time washing this car (I just got it a few days ago - it was detailed at the dealership and looked pretty pristine when it rolled off the truck, but it was loaded with hand prints from the driver, and got pretty dusty). I used the foam gun and let the car soak under foam, then washed it with a brand new microfiber sponge using two buckets (one with grit guard) and dried the car with a leaf blower.



However, I removed the plate bracket after the car was washed, and there was a film of dirt there. Rather than wash it with water, I used a spray wax and lightly removed the dirt. The scratches were definitely caused by the little pieces of plastic from the drill holes. I was careless.



How can I correct this minor mess?
 

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Well, in *my opinion* you've got swirls where the license plate was, as well as on the body. However, I'd start by actually washing the area, claying the area, and then using a light compound to remove the swirls that are there.



If it were me, I'd suggest a 4" orange pad with some Meguiars M105 and some patience. Follow that up with a medium polish like M205 and then you can seal it.



By the way, spray wax won't clean the paint. You need to clay it. And generally, the area under the license plate is one of the WORST areas for paint contamination. Everything just gets caught back there and rarely washed. That's why I remove the plate(s) as one of my first detail steps.
 
Thanks for the advice. I just got the orange and gray 4 inch LC pads, along with some m205. I will wash and clay - but before I try using the m205, should I try something less aggressive like Wolfgang Total Swirl?



Thanks...
 
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