Where do most swirl marks come from?
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,072
From: Lilburn, GA, USA
Where do most swirl marks come from?
After I polish and wax and all that good stuff, my car looks great with a very minimal amout of swirl marks. However, it seems that about 2 weeks later, there are plenty of those really fine scratches. Where do most of them come from? Is it from washing, drying, ect.? It upsets me that all my hard work seems to be lost after only a short time. Thanks.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 188
From: Toronto, fighting Asian drivers
Possible if not All causes:
1) Wash Mitt (generally), picking up a piece of dirt/thick dust and rubbing across paint
2) Wash Mitt just produces fine scratches on its own.
3) Same as above for 100% cotton towels during quick detailing, wax removal or drying. Most towels will leave a mark or two, and if you pick up dust bad news.
4) Dirty Clay Bar
5) Wax applicator, cotton or foam can pick up dirt, or scratch on its own if it isn't 100% cotton or you catch a sewed edge.
6) Someone leans against the car with jeans/shorts etc, or possible might accidentally hit their watch/ring etc. on the paint.
7) Rock chips/scrapes from road and road rash
8) Dusting the car, california car duster (only minor minor hairlines if used correctly, or none at all). Do not use a towel to dust! unless you are quick detailing, and then use a clean side or another towel to buff.
9) California water blade, chamois or sponge cloth picking up dirt or pressing too hard dragging it across paint.
10) Using a fingernail to "pick off bugs" or tar, this will scratch.
11) Bird Crap will etch if left too long.
12) Using a wax removal techinque where you buff in circles, try removing front to back and so forth.
13) DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING TOO HARD ON THE PAINT, NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE DOING, this is up there in the "causes of swirls etc." list
Can't think of anything else.
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Michael
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2002 Sunset Orange Metallic WS6 Coupe
GMMG Exhaust, MTI Clear Lid, BMR STB
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Sportside, 4.8 with 5spd
Street Scenes Grille,
HID Stage II Xenon Kit, Kenwood Speakers w/
12" Sub and Amp
[This message has been edited by DohHunter (edited July 10, 2002).]
1) Wash Mitt (generally), picking up a piece of dirt/thick dust and rubbing across paint
2) Wash Mitt just produces fine scratches on its own.
3) Same as above for 100% cotton towels during quick detailing, wax removal or drying. Most towels will leave a mark or two, and if you pick up dust bad news.
4) Dirty Clay Bar
5) Wax applicator, cotton or foam can pick up dirt, or scratch on its own if it isn't 100% cotton or you catch a sewed edge.
6) Someone leans against the car with jeans/shorts etc, or possible might accidentally hit their watch/ring etc. on the paint.
7) Rock chips/scrapes from road and road rash
8) Dusting the car, california car duster (only minor minor hairlines if used correctly, or none at all). Do not use a towel to dust! unless you are quick detailing, and then use a clean side or another towel to buff.
9) California water blade, chamois or sponge cloth picking up dirt or pressing too hard dragging it across paint.
10) Using a fingernail to "pick off bugs" or tar, this will scratch.
11) Bird Crap will etch if left too long.
12) Using a wax removal techinque where you buff in circles, try removing front to back and so forth.
13) DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING TOO HARD ON THE PAINT, NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE DOING, this is up there in the "causes of swirls etc." list
Can't think of anything else.
------------------
Michael
------------------
2002 Sunset Orange Metallic WS6 Coupe
GMMG Exhaust, MTI Clear Lid, BMR STB
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Sportside, 4.8 with 5spd
Street Scenes Grille,
HID Stage II Xenon Kit, Kenwood Speakers w/
12" Sub and Amp
[This message has been edited by DohHunter (edited July 10, 2002).]
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 882
From: Louisville, KY
It is very likely that they were there all along. A wax may temporarily fill them and make them less noticeable, but it doesn't last long at all, so the scratches return.
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Kevin Villier, 2002 SS #186 - 6M with Hurst and "short-stick", TT, navy blue, chrome SS wheels, Bilstein suspension, SS grill, STB, SLP loudmouth, Direct-Flo lid with Holley filter and Mallory polished MAF ends.
Louisville, KY
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Kevin Villier, 2002 SS #186 - 6M with Hurst and "short-stick", TT, navy blue, chrome SS wheels, Bilstein suspension, SS grill, STB, SLP loudmouth, Direct-Flo lid with Holley filter and Mallory polished MAF ends.
Louisville, KY
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26
From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Like Kevin said, your just seeing the same swirls that were there all along. The fillers and silicone oil in Carnuba based products will hide them only temporarily. Couple of rains or a wash, the fillers are gone & your finish looks like crap again.
It takes an abrasive like 3M 39009 or Meg's #9 (from their professional line) to eliminate swirls. On this you lose some of your clear coat since your removing down to the base of the swirls.
Alternative is to switch to Zaino and use multiple coats of Z5, it will slowly fill them and will last. On my car you can't see a single swirl under a 500W halogen light so I'd say it works pretty well
.
And unless you heed DohHunter's advice on causes and prevention, your fighting a losing battle no matter what you do.
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2000 Camaro Z28, Bright Red, MN6
Zaino Pics
"I love the smell of Z6 in the morning"
It takes an abrasive like 3M 39009 or Meg's #9 (from their professional line) to eliminate swirls. On this you lose some of your clear coat since your removing down to the base of the swirls.
Alternative is to switch to Zaino and use multiple coats of Z5, it will slowly fill them and will last. On my car you can't see a single swirl under a 500W halogen light so I'd say it works pretty well
.And unless you heed DohHunter's advice on causes and prevention, your fighting a losing battle no matter what you do.
------------------
2000 Camaro Z28, Bright Red, MN6
Zaino Pics
"I love the smell of Z6 in the morning"
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 69
From: Westport Island,Maine
I was looking at one of those 2002 Ram Air Grand Ams and the Black paint on that was so swirled.Ill bet that most of the swirles are put there by the dealer wash boy and his wash brush....That car was worse than my 95 Formula. Its amazing these cres take a beating right off the hauler. Take a minute and stop.look at the finish on the new cars at some dealerships.It brutle.....just my 2cents.....Mark
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1995 Pontiac Formula, 5.7 350cu.in.LT1, M6,TTops, Medium quasar Blue, 32,000 miles
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1995 Pontiac Formula, 5.7 350cu.in.LT1, M6,TTops, Medium quasar Blue, 32,000 miles
Registered User
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 188
From: Toronto, fighting Asian drivers
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by 95FormulaMark:
I was looking at one of those 2002 Ram Air Grand Ams and the Black paint on that was so swirled.Ill bet that most of the swirles are put there by the dealer wash boy and his wash brush....That car was worse than my 95 Formula. Its amazing these cres take a beating right off the hauler. Take a minute and stop.look at the finish on the new cars at some dealerships.It brutle.....just my 2cents.....Mark
</font>
I was looking at one of those 2002 Ram Air Grand Ams and the Black paint on that was so swirled.Ill bet that most of the swirles are put there by the dealer wash boy and his wash brush....That car was worse than my 95 Formula. Its amazing these cres take a beating right off the hauler. Take a minute and stop.look at the finish on the new cars at some dealerships.It brutle.....just my 2cents.....Mark
</font>
Most are brutal to see.......it is a shame most people don't notice or care as well. For my cars I said don't touch it, i'll detail them myself.
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