Question about buffing!

[Barry Theal]

first off welcome to Autopia. You sound like you are very eager to learn the proper ways. Now I noticed you use Ardex. Let me tell you Ardex is a great chemical company. They are like others who have a little of everything. They have products that fill and products that don't. May I ask where you are at?

 

[alloutdetailing]

first off welcome to Autopia. You sound like you are very eager to learn the proper ways. Now I noticed you use Ardex. Let me tell you Ardex is a great chemical company. They are like others who have a little of everything. They have products that fill and products that don't. May I ask where you are at?

I am located in central Florida. I like Ardex there high def is great, also like there Express wax. I still need to get a feel for there other products. They have so many waxs and compounds.

 

[Mike_Phillips]

Mike Phillips, are you saying swirls meaning buffer trails/holograms??? swirl marks to me are the washing induced scratches all over every single car. buffer trails come from the rotary polisher...

Sorry, I usually try to be very specific when choosing words.



The word swirls can mean different things to different people but must will agree on the below,



Cobweb or Spiderweb Swirls

These are the random swirls inflicted into paint by day-in, day-out wear and tear, like washing and drying a car with shoddy tools or poor technique.



Rotary Buffer Swirls - Holograms - Buffer Trails

These are the zig-zag patterns left by the improper use of a rotary buffer and usually a wool pad but can also be instilled sing a foam pad. The pattern mimics the direction in which the rotary buffer was moved over the paint.



The below is an article I wrote on how to capture defects with your camera and in the process of writing the article I included various pictures that tie into this topic.

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera



A few tips and techniques for helping your camera to focus on the surface so you can capture the defects in the paint you're hoping to remove.





Finger Pointing Focus Technique

Besides figuring out the right camera setting for your specific camera, another quick, simple way to help your camera focus on a defect you're trying to capture with a picture is to simply place your index finger close to the defect on or hovering over the finish then carefully captures a few pictures and in most cases you'll get a couple you can use on the Internet. This works for Swirls, Scratches, Etchings, Water Spots both Type I and Type II, Stains, Oxidation, etc. Basically anything on the surface. The reason you need to give the camera something to focus on is because often times when taking shots of a large, uniform, flat surface, once any focus points are zoomed out of the picture your camera has nothing to sense and focus on.



Detailing Clay

You can also use a little piece of detailing clay because in most cases you have some detailing clay around. If the paint is clean and it should when trying to capture pictures of surface defects, then when you're done taking your pictures you should be okay to put the little piece of clay back into the large piece you took it from or just through it away. A small piece will work fine. (See picture below).



Coin

A coin can also be used if the surface is flat and horizontal like the hood. Place the coin carefully onto the paint so as not to instill a scratch. If you already have a flawless, swirl-free finish then maybe stick with the finger or clay technique. If you're getting ready to buff the car out then as long as you're careful you'll be okay; remember you're going to be buffing out the paint and likely the defect you're trying to capture with a picture.





Cobweb Swirls or Cobweb-Effect

Cobweb Swirls or Cobweb-Effect

Cobweb Swirls or Cobweb-Effect

Detailing Clay

Another way to help your camera focus on a surface defect is to place something on the surface of the paint, for example in the below picture we placed a small piece of detailing clay on the paint, then let the camera auto focus and wa-la, perfectly captured swirls, scratches and a bird dropping etching in the paint.

Random, Isolated Deeper Scratch

Scratch Removed using Ultimate Compound

An Isolated Etching

How To Remove a Bird Dropping Etching by Hand using M105 Ultra Cut Compound

More Cobweb Swirls

Here's some recent Rotary Buffer Swirl Photos I took at SEMA

And an AG forum member recently shared this one which again shows what looks like a zig-zag pattern from moving the buffer up and down over the panel.



Horrific to say the least...

I am located in central Florida.

We'll be starting our classes back up in 2010 in Stuart, try to attend one if you can.