Swirl Marks

[john_ach]

Hey, I had some damage on my paint from tree sap, it had etched the clear coat, so I asked the dealer to have a look at it and they machine polished it. The damge was removed but the next day when it was sunny out I could see the car was covered in swirl marks. Most notably on the bonnet.

I just received my order of carlack today so I SC-ed the bonnet to see what effect it had, the swirl marks did seem to be reduced lookin from afar but up close they are still definately there. Didnt think SC had any cover up properties to it, is it just filling the swirls or something?

Cars 2 weeks old n I really want it to look like it, so any suggestions on how to get rid of them? Meguiars ScratchX or something? I have no experience with machine polishers and dont own one but if anyone a but dandy with one would like to come help me out then Id be forever grateful....

Some details - Black Magic Leon, Uni in Bristol, Home in Solihull (West Midlands)

Not sure if the photo below will work, I havnt got any photos online

Any help welcome

Thanks

 

[Saul]

you need to upload your photos to a free photo resource such as www.photobucket.com or www.imageshack.com

 

[john_ach]

Photos

After the polishing

After CarLack68 SC

 

[CupraTgirl]

Have a look at this linky as you CAN get swirl marks out using the machine polisher but you need to make sure the person doing it knows how to use it and also every cars paint is different so some products will work on one and not on another

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=83826

The guy that did my car used SO many different cleaning bits on my car to work out which ones went best with it, even the last coat of wax we had two pots and one of them made it looks so much cleaner than the other one

The swirl marks is things that you can help yourself when washing etc

I had awful swirl marks and after having it done they are pretty much sorted now but i have kept up the good work since, which keeps them away even if it is just filling them

If you want some more information please do not hesitate in contacting me through PM or something as i can give you the details of where you can find a 'Professional Polisher' in your area

 

[john_ach]

apparently as im a newb i cant PM people!

The cars only 2 weeks old so its not anything ive caused over lots of washes or anything, just the guy who 'repaired' the damage due to the tree sap.

I dont really just wanna fill in the swirls id rather get rid of them, or at least make them better rather than just filling them.

Im either in Bristol or Solihull (West Midlands) depending on term times, know any decent (cheap) peoples with the tools near there?

Jon

 

[CupraTgirl]

apparently as im a newb i cant PM people!

The cars only 2 weeks old so its not anything ive caused over lots of washes or anything, just the guy who 'repaired' the damage due to the tree sap.

I dont really just wanna fill in the swirls id rather get rid of them, or at least make them better rather than just filling them.

Im either in Bristol or Solihull (West Midlands) depending on term times, know any decent (cheap) peoples with the tools near there?

Jon

Yeah you need to do more posts before you can PM

Its not actually lots of washing that causes the swirl marks, the guy who did my car picked his new one up last week and because the garage had cleaned it once (we he had asked them not to do) it had got swirl marks

Its just from using a dirty sponge really! Remember a microfibre mitt is better than a sponge and to use two buckets when washing the car, one with the shampoo and water and one to wash out the mitt every time you have used it on the car, may take a bit longer but its the difference between having swirl marks and not having swirl marks

Even dropping the mitt on the floor could pick up enough dirt to scratch the paint, your car is quite new so it should not be as hard to sort it out

I will send you a PM with the linky to where the 'Professional Polishers' in your area

 

[CupraTgirl]

Hhmm how could i forget that you cannot receive PMs either

Let me know when they are working and i will give you more details

 

[CH1]

Yeah you need to do more posts before you can PM



Remember a microfibre mitt is better than a sponge and to use two buckets when washing the car, one with the shampoo and water and one to wash out the mitt every time you have used it on the car, may take a bit longer but its the difference between having swirl marks and not having swirl marks

I wish folk would apply the same principle to the way they wash plates in the house too

I will send you a PM with the linky to where the 'Professional Polishers' in your area

I don't have swirls on my black car but do have a few scratches on bumper (as seen in a previous thread) and a few stone chips, would a professional polisher help, my car only 10 months old if so could you pm me the address too

 

[CupraTgirl]

I wish folk would apply the same principle to the way they wash plates in the house too



I don't have swirls on my black car but do have a few scratches on bumper (as seen in a previous thread) and a few stone chips, would a professional polisher help, my car only 10 months old if so could you pm me the address too

I think it is good to get it 'Professinally Polished' at least once just to bring the paint back out of itself, even if it doesnt make you want to keep cleaning it well yourself then at least it has protected it a bit more but im pretty sure that once you see it after being cleaned like this you will want to maintain it!

Have a look at the linky in post #4 and you will see what i mean

I will PM you details tonight

 

[FinerDetails]

totally agree with the difference of machine polishing. The pics at the top are dreadful, the swirling and marring is pretty bad for a new car!

 

[mark@carsparkle]

Hi John,

Car-Lack68 SC leaves an acrylic seal and due to the nano tech of the product the acryl sealant will end up filling the swirls somewhat. Also, as the sealant is 'adding' a seal it is changing the refractive index slightly so it may dull swirl marks.

Mark

ps that has been the worst form of 'swirl marks' I have saw by incompetant use of a machine polisher. Its less swirl marks and more marring.

Hey, I had some damage on my paint from tree sap, it had etched the clear coat, so I asked the dealer to have a look at it and they machine polished it. The damge was removed but the next day when it was sunny out I could see the car was covered in swirl marks. Most notably on the bonnet.

I just received my order of carlack today so I SC-ed the bonnet to see what effect it had, the swirl marks did seem to be reduced lookin from afar but up close they are still definately there. Didnt think SC had any cover up properties to it, is it just filling the swirls or something?

Cars 2 weeks old n I really want it to look like it, so any suggestions on how to get rid of them? Meguiars ScratchX or something? I have no experience with machine polishers and dont own one but if anyone a but dandy with one would like to come help me out then Id be forever grateful....

Some details - Black Magic Leon, Uni in Bristol, Home in Solihull (West Midlands)

Not sure if the photo below will work, I havnt got any photos online

Any help welcome

Thanks

 

[john_ach]

SC cleans as well right, if i were to use a filler of some sort would the SC remove it or just seal over the top?
Will a filler (glaze whatever) make just the shine go away or should it stop you being able to see the actual marks when looking across the paint surface?
Mark- You know your products, what would you recommend for tryin to remove the marks/lessen them and then make them *invisible and can SC, LLC , P21s wax be used over the top without removing anything hidng the marks?

Jon

 

[FinerDetails]

John, I would expect a decent machine polish to remove these, but may have to step up if not...

The difficulty arrives from photo only sight, and also knowing how tough VAG paint is.

 

[john_ach]

Obviously not that tough as it took a bit of rain to eat through it in 2days!! Whatever was in it pimpled the entire top surfaces of the car- hence askin the dealer to try n remove them.

The actual marks in the paint do look pretty fine to me but I have no frame of reference n that is what swirls are defined as...

 

[FinerDetails]

John

tree say can normally be removed with clay, and this is avery gentle process as detailing to remove defects goes. After this I would expect a follow over with a mild polidh, or step up to a swirl light swirl remover. The VAG paint is pretty damn tough, so for a dealer to creeate those marring marks is just not acceptable. It not a difficult defect to put right, and unfortunately your car demos the machine in the wrong hands to a tee.

For future, clay, then use something like Megs Deep Crystal Step 1 chemical cleaner.

 

[mark@carsparkle]

SC cleans as well right, if i were to use a filler of some sort would the SC remove it or just seal over the top?
Will a filler (glaze whatever) make just the shine go away or should it stop you being able to see the actual marks when looking across the paint surface?
Mark- You know your products, what would you recommend for tryin to remove the marks/lessen them and then make them *invisible and can SC, LLC , P21s wax be used over the top without removing anything hidng the marks?

Jon

Hi Jon,

SC would remove any filler products that you would use. Seriously, the only way to completely remove those swirls is by the use of another machine polish.

However, please bear in mind that the paintwork and clear coat are only so thick so your car will only survive so many machine polishes until the clear coat is penetrated and the paintwork is exposed. Most half decent bodywork is approx 80-130 microns thick with the clear coat being approximately 30-40 microns thick. Each machine polish (expertly done) will remove between 4 and 8 microns. I am currently compiling a list of pro detailers for Sud (foxes) and will drop a list in this thread. Where are you based by the way so I can narrow the selection down? Some of these guys are absolutely fantastic and their work is absolutely awesome. One of the guys in question has a half/half shot - one half with the swirl marks and the other that has been polished (I believe he used a random orbital and not a rotary for that particular photo but he prefers rotary as he is a true professional - depends on the paintwork i guess) - the contrast between the two is astonishing.

I'll keep you updated.

Mark

 

[john_ach]

Im in Bristol. Are these guys gonna be costly? Def want a decent job done tho.

I have all the kit to make sure nothing ever even touches the paint and Im pretty anal about my cars so its not gonna get anythin else on it, so I would hope this is the last time anything will ever need to be done to it-machine wise. <- long sentence but you get what I mean!

Jon

 

[mark@carsparkle]

John

tree say can normally be removed with clay, and this is avery gentle process as detailing to remove defects goes. After this I would expect a follow over with a mild polidh, or step up to a swirl light swirl remover. The VAG paint is pretty damn tough, so for a dealer to creeate those marring marks is just not acceptable. It not a difficult defect to put right, and unfortunately your car demos the machine in the wrong hands to a tee.

For future, clay, then use something like Megs Deep Crystal Step 1 chemical cleaner.

Hi,

polishes should be reserved for swirl removal and not for cleaning abilities - chemical cleaning agents can do the job much more effectively and safely breaking down the structure of the contaminant and using the excess product as a carrier to minimise the risk of swirling during contaminant removal.

However, I completely agree with the clay bar statement. Best way to check if your paintwork needs a clay bar is by the 'cellophane' (eg the covering you normally find on cigarette packets) - cover two fingers with cellophane and gently drag it across the body panel. The cellophane makes its super sensitive to irregularities in the paintwork - if the cellophane drags/feels rough you know its time for a clay bar. If it glides smoothly over the surface then you are doing well and dont need a clay bar just yet.


Mark

 

[mark@carsparkle]

Im in Bristol. Are these guys gonna be costly? Def want a decent job done tho.

I have all the kit to make sure nothing ever even touches the paint and Im pretty anal about my cars so its not gonna get anythin else on it, so I would hope this is the last time anything will ever need to be done to it-machine wise. <- long sentence but you get what I mean!

Jon

Can be quite expensive (eg upto 175 quid) but they do the entire car and the process normally lasts 7-9 hours. However, I am talking about full detailer rates so they will do the full monty, not just the polishing. You can just get it machine polished from a variety of bodyshops for approx 60 quid but you are probably better off negotiating with a true detailer for just the machine polishing aspect of it to see if they would just do that bit for you.

Mark

 

[FinerDetails]

Hi Jon,

SC would remove any filler products that you would use. Seriously, the only way to completely remove those swirls is by the use of another machine polish.

However, please bear in mind that the paintwork and clear coat are only so thick so your car will only survive so many machine polishes until the clear coat is penetrated and the paintwork is exposed. Most half decent bodywork is approx 80-130 microns thick with the clear coat being approximately 30-40 microns thick. Each machine polish (expertly done) will remove between 4 and 8 microns. I am currently compiling a list of pro detailers for Sud (foxes) and will drop a list in this thread. Where are you based by the way so I can narrow the selection down? Some of these guys are absolutely fantastic and their work is absolutely awesome. One of the guys in question has a half/half shot - one half with the swirl marks and the other that has been polished (I believe he used a random orbital and not a rotary for that particular photo but he prefers rotary as he is a true professional - depends on the paintwork i guess) - the contrast between the two is astonishing.

I'll keep you updated.

Mark

Hi Mark, just sent you an email

Iain