Very first try at swirl removal

G

gregh

New member
OK, I am a total newbie at this PC stuff. I'm sure my equipment and supplies are going to undergo some changes as I become more experienced, but here's what I used:



All with PC:



- Megs #83 w/orange pad

- Megs #9 w/orange pad

- Wolfgang finishing glaze w/grey pad



Edit to add: Oh yeah, I also used a clay bar on the lower portion of the door, there was a lot of little bits of crap stuck there (dirt/tar/etc).



This is my wife's 2003 Honda Pilot, and up until about a month or two ago I had no idea what polishing was. I hope to be able to remove all the swirl marks on this thing.



All I did today was do a part of the right rear quarter panel (up at the top), because it was in the shade and was about to be in the sun. So, I was able to see how it turned out right away. Then I went to the other side of the car and did the driver's side door because it was in the shade. I took some pictures of the front fender to show how it looks untouched.



Am I on the right track? :)



Pilot5.jpg


Pilot1.jpg


Pilot2.jpg


Pilot3.jpg


Pilot4.jpg
 
Jesus H. Christmas! Were you washing that thing with a brillo pad?? I like to use Menzerna intensive polish for hard stuff and finish with Menzerna Final polish II on dark cars. I have found that compared to the Meg's products, Menzerna polishes stay wet longer, produce less dusting and absolutely will not stain your plastic trim. You certainly have your work cut out for you my friend. I've been detailing for years and that would take me nearly 2 days sun up to sun down with rotary polishing first followed by orbital and finishing up with a good wax job. Don't forget to dawn wash between different grades of compound to prevent any cross contamination. Good luck!
 
Thanks guys. So, I should wash in between using the different compounds? I did not know that.



I'm not really sure what happened to the paint but the car has been through automatic washes most of the last 3 years.
 
So far it looks like a huge improvement, how did it get that bad to start with? Keep in mind the Megs polishes have fillers, so what you are seeing might be just some swirls filled. There is no need to wash between each and every polish-you can't really get cross contamination from polishes on the paint unless using fillers. The main reason people wash after ALL polishing is completed is to get all the dust off if you use products that dust, or to strip the finish of any fillers/oils that might interfere with product bonding(can also be accomplished with a 50/50 IPA/water wipedown). Don't create too much work for yourself.
 
Yeah, I found out about the fillers in the #9... so I think I will get some #80 to follow up the #83 with instead. How can I find out if most of the improvement is fillers or not?
 
A dawn wash will help cut the fillers out. Please take my advice and get the Menzerna Intensive polish for the swirl mark removal and some final polishII for the final buff. I have owned 2 black cars and my most recent is a dark blue. You can't beat these polishes. Get some constant pressure polishing pads from www.properautocare.com and you will be in good shape. You will not need to wash between compounds with the Menzerna because when you are done the residue will wipe off easy as pie. Menzerna doesn't leave behind a bunch of goo and dust like the megs products. Just be sure to wash before you put the first coat of wax on. I recommend Zaino Z2 Pro followed by the Z6 spray. Don't fall for all that ZFX accelerator and other nonsense. It's just a marketing ploy IMHO. The Z2 Pro works fine without all the additives. You can find these products at www.zainostore.com Git 'er Done!
 
newtlicious said:
...Menzerna doesn't leave behind a bunch of goo and dust like the megs products. Just be sure to wash before you put the first coat of wax on. I recommend Zaino Z2 Pro followed by the Z6 spray. Don't fall for all that ZFX accelerator and other nonsense. It's just a marketing ploy IMHO. The Z2 Pro works fine without all the additives. You can find these products at www.zainostore.com Git 'er Done!
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I don't have any problems with "goo and dust" when using Meguiar's products. If you're working #83 or #80 'til it dusts then you are using it wrong.



Also I think ZFX is essential to Z2 Pro if you want to apply more than one coat in the same day. I recommend 2 coats of any LSP to ensure even coverage.
 
I actually had the most dust & residue from the Wolfgang Finishing Glaze than either of the Megs products FWIW. #80 and #9 polished until mostly clear then wiped off. Powder from the Wolfgang got all over the place.
 
Wow that thing is swirled beyond belief! I'm not sure the afters look any better, because they're taken at an angle that you can't see the swirling from.. Good luck, and get a heavy pad and compound!
 
The products you have are fine- #83 is a farily heavy cut and should be able to do it. Honda paint can be soft, so you might be lucky there. I'm working on a white eclipse with the PC, and the paint is just too hard to touch with a PC.
 
Lightman said:
Wow that thing is swirled beyond belief! I'm not sure the afters look any better, because they're taken at an angle that you can't see the swirling from.. Good luck, and get a heavy pad and compound!
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I took the pictures of the door from two different angles each with the sun right in the middle of the panel, and duplicated the two angles exactly with the untouched front fender to show the difference.



You can also see the difference in the very first picture in the upper left where I did a small section, where the entire rest of the car shows swirl marks.



If you have any other suggestions for how to take the pictures please let me know.
 
You see this alot more in some countries in europe people there seem to care alot less for the looks aspect of there cars but yet keep their cars mechanically in better condition because of the costs and maintanance requirements in order to be drivable.
 
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