How to remove swirl marks?

[munpeng]

I want to find out ways that can remove or reduce the swirl marks on the bonnet of my car, they are like spider webs and can be seen under the lights or under the sun also, if you guys have tried wax or other stuffs that have successfully reduce or at least "cover" the swirl marks to let it become not visible, let me know yea? appreciate it.

 

[imoloq]

If the swirl marks are not so deep, wax can be used to remove them. I've tried with some success.

 

[munpeng]

may I know which brand is the most effecient in removing swirl marks?

 

[Fluffy]

turtle wax?

 

[imoloq]

may I know which brand is the most effecient in removing swirl marks?

Meguires wax is quite good but expensive. 3M and KIT are also acceptable. Actually normal wax that you buy off the shelf is ok also.

 

[munpeng]

Turtle wax is okay, using it, but you know lar, those kind of wax just gives you a layer that cover up the swirl marks, I tell you, after kena rain the swirl marks will appear again, haihh, now raining season, that's why everytime kena rain after I wax the car, I will see those damned swirl marks again, =_="

Just bought featherlite, haven't try using it yet, it's a little bit too expensive compare to turtle wax, the thread created by focalpoint said it's efficient at removing swirl marks wor, you guys think this brand can be trusted or not?

 

[Prevacid]

Meg's ColorX and ScratchX .... SUPERB

 

[Prevacid]

Meg's ColorX and ScratchX .... SUPERB

 

[gohkokeng]

Fluffy, is time to show your SIGNATURE to Prevacid.

 

[munpeng]

thanks for telling, Prevacid. Fluffy's signature ar? haha, funny one.

Some information for you guys, I tried Featherlite Auto Polish, the brand that was introduced by FocalPoint in another thread. Luckily, RM53.90 is worth my money spent, I was gambling on it, hoping that it really can "cover up" the swirl marks, if not able remove them, and it is effective at covering up at least 80% of the swirl marks, so im my opinion, it's a more efficient product than KIT and Turtlewax, which I have tried, but its higher price maybe a turn-off....

 

[FocalPoint]

Great to hear of your major success in overcoming the swirls, munpeng with the FEATHERLITE Auto Polish.The second time you work out with FEATHERLITE, it will be a breeze and the result will certainly be more impressive.

At the price you paid for, it is really a steal. It is really a high priced item in the US. The ingredients must be the best to command such a price. But in Malaysia, we are just talking of an introductory price.So, grab this offer while you still can.

 

[munpeng]

FocalPoint, to be honest, I was hoping it would bring a 100% success in removing swirl marks. Okay, this may not be sweet to you now, this featherlite auto polish is just providing a shield that covers up the swirl marks, making it not visible anymore, and I thought I would say "wah, this time it's gone but not covered up!" but if it rains, it will be visible again. I am not complaining, knowing any other products are all the same, I am just being honest as a consumer.

 

[Bl@cK-TeZZ@]

I'm using meguiar's NXT wax...kinda expensive(RM85) but the result is superb although doesn't cover 100% the swirls marks. After rain sure got again. Especially black color is even easier too see the swirl marks. Don't think there's any other product that can cover swirl marks 100%.

 

[munpeng]

Meguiar is really expensie wor, don't think I will try it anytime soon.

Take note of this my friends, I went to Carefour MidValley last saturday and saw a product of Turtlewax, I can't really remember the name, but it is a paste compound. It made me recall that paste compound is used by my car painter to remove swirl marks, these are the following steps:

1) he used a 'smooth' sand paper to rub off a thin layer of the paint area that has swirl marks.

2) then he used his own brand of paste compound to apply on the rubbed area, and then used the rotator to polish it, the area shined up again incredibly.

3) after that, he used a bottle of 3M wax to polish again. It shined like diamond.

That was the correct steps of him to remove swirl marks in a professional method. But he said, if there's still swirl marks, he can't help anymore because using rotator will cause swirl marks. Indeed, there's still some on my bonnet, but much lesser.

Now, seeing this paste that Turtlewax is producing, I am thinking of trying it, because paste can really "fill-up" those scratches and little holes on your paintwork, but of coz without using the sand paper and rotator. It costs RM19.90 in Carefour, Midvalley. If it's successful, I'll let you guys know.

 

[munpeng]

Swirl marks are very common on brand new cars also leh, I have seen a brand new Civic having big, big, big swirls on it, so sayang. I was having dinner and saw a new Satria R3, black colour, it was very chun but swirl marks were so obvious under the lights, I was thinking maybe most of the people don't really care about the swirl marks you know, is it true? if it's true then sayang lor, car's design so nice but has some flaws on it....

 

[mengz]

if wanna remove swirl marks fully, then u need a machine to do it. meguiar's & 3M produces good polish & swirl mark removers which removes swirl marks very effectively. if ur swirl mark is not tat deep, maybe u can try using hand applied glaze's or machine applied glazes. glazes are oil based and they usually fill up the gap to reduce swirl marks.

some waxes can remove also, bcoz they contain detergents and some abrasive materials inside. by right, wax are not suppose to contain any abrasive material inside. they're just for protecting only, like Meguiar's NXT wax and 3M paste wax is 100% wax only, no abrasive materials.

munpeng, wat ur car painter say is true, using rotator will produce swirl marks, thats why a really professional detailer 1st uses rubbing compound, then from an aggresive polish to a less aggresive polish, then glaze, then wax. the key is to go from the most aggresive cut to the least. but depending on ur paint condition also. lets say if ur paint condition is not that bad, mayb can skip the rubbing compound, just start from polish.

Some info i got from the internet:

COMPOUNDS, POLISHES AND GLAZES SORTED BY CUTTING ABILITY

10 – MOST AGGRESSIVE - COMPOUNDS
3M SUPER DUTY RUBBING COMPOND HEAVY CUT 39004
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL DIAMOND CUT COMPOUND 2.0 VERY HEAVY CUT #85

8
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL COMPUND POWER CLEANER HEAVY CUT #84
3M PERFECT-IT III EXTRA CUT RUBBING COMPOUND 05936
MEGUAIR’S MIRROR GLAZE HEAVY CUT CLEANER #4

7
3M IMPERIAL MICRO FINISHING COMPOUND MEDIUM CUT 39001
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE MEDIUM-CUT CLEANER #1
3M PERFECT-IT III RUBBING COMPOUND 05933

6
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL DUAL ACTION CLEANER POLISH MEDIUM CUT #83

5
3M PERFECT-IT II RUBBING COMPOUND FINE CUT 39002
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE FINE-CUT CLEANER #2
3M ONE STEP CLEANER WAX, MEDIUM OXIDATION REMOVER 39066
MENZERNA INTENSIVE POLISH
3M PERFECT-IT SWIRL MARK REMOVER DARK CARS 39009
3M PERFECT-IT SWIRL MARK REMOVER LIGHT CARS 39109
MEGUIAR’S MEDALLION PAINT CLEANER #97
MEGUIAR’S SCRATCH-X #108

4 - POLISHES
MEGUIAR’S BODY SCRUB A10
MEGUIAR’S DEEP CRYSTAL PAINT CLEANER #30
MEGUIER’S QUICK DETAILER #66
MEGUIER’S SPEED GLAZE #80
BLACK FIRE DEEP GLOSS POLISH

3
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL SWIRL FREE POLISH LIGHT CUT #82
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE SWIRL REMOVER #9
3M FINESSE-IT II MACHINE POLISH 39003
3M FINESSE-IT II FINISHING MATERIAL 05928
MENZERNA FINAL POLISH

2 - GLAZES
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL HAND POLISH VERY LIGHT CUT #81
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE MACHINE GLAZE #3
3M PERFECT-IT III TRIZACT MACHINE GLAZE 05930
3M PERFECT-IT III MACHINE GLAZE 05937
3M IMPERIAL MACHINE GLAZE 05991
3M ONE STEP CLEANER WAX, LIGHT OXIDATION REMOVER 39006

1
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE SHOW CAR GLAZE #7
3M PERFECT-IT III FINISHING GLAZE 05941
3M IMPERIAL HAND GLAZE 39007
BLACKFIRE ALL FINISH PAINT PROTECTION

0
MEGUIAR'S NXT TECH WAX
3M PERFECT-IT SHOW CAR FINISH PASTE WAX 39526


Maybe some simple definitions:
Compound - a heavy abrasive used to remove surface imperfections

Polish - a light abrasive used to remove surface imperfections

Glaze - an oil based product used to fill surface imperfections and create gloss

Wax - a product to protect the paint surface

 

[munpeng]

Mengz, thanks for the information.

I wonder where can I get 3M products, didn't see any available at ACE Hardware. mengz, you would suggest me to get paste compound? or any compound that has abrasive to reduce swirl marks? have you tried any brands that have brought you success?

By the way, where can I get glaze products? have you heard of the Turtlewax's paste compound?

 

[mengz]

munpeng, erm actually 3M car care products is like damn hard to get in malaysia, i dunno y they nvr market their product properly. i have a bottle of 3M IMPERIAL HAND GLAZE 39007 that my dad brought back from office. after this one finish i also dunno where to get again. according to my dad, 3M malaysia doesnt bring in this product.

anyways, i wouldnt suggest that u get a rubbing compound and do it urself, coz if u dunno wat u are doing, u might dmg ur clearcoat, maybe ur paint even. for me, i leave the rubbing compound and polish to my detailer, he does a fantastic job. i only use the hand applied glazes and wax on my own. i send my car for polishing like every 6 months to remove the heavy swirl marks. then in between i use the hand applied glaze on my own to eliminate the light swirl marks, then 6 months down the road, i send it for polishing again. so far, my car has nvr been required to use rubbing compound. i believe if u maintain ur cars paintjob properly, u wun need rubbing compound ler. by the way, that paste compound u mentioned, i really have no idea wat is that. its some product by turtle wax? how aggresive issit? if its aggresive then u need a rotator to do a good job and u need sumthing less aggresive to remove the swirl marks done by the compound, usually from rubbing compound then to polish. u'll need a rotator to do a good job. some glazes are applied using a rotator as well. heres a simple example: its basically like when u use a 800grit sandpaper, its very coarse rite? so after using 800grit, then u go to 1000grit, the 1000grit will remove the marks left by the 800grit and give u a smooth surface, then from 1000grit u go to 1200 which gives u an even smoother surface, then to 1500, eventually u go to the highest grit which will still leave abit of mark which is almost unnoticed. but very very very minor ones, tats when glazes come into play to fill them up. so actual detailing has to go through proper steps.

wat i would recommend u is to get ur car detailed by a detailer once to remove swirl marks and any impurities. from then onwards, it'll be easier to maintain. if u want i can intro u my detailer, he does home service, me and my dads car is done by him every 6 months. his job is just 100% fantastic, and the price is very reasonable bcoz he doesnt open a shop. so his costing is much lower. and another thing is he uses meguiar's only :) if u want, just pm me i'll give u his number.

 

[munpeng]

what you mean by 'detailer'? he does car painting? how much he charged you for removing swirl marks?

 

[mengz]

detailer is ppl who do detailing jobs for ur car, not painting. u know like harry bright etc, those are detailers.