Advice on Swirls

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kage65

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Just picked up this white elantra n, and was removing some grime off the hood. I really don't know if I did this or if it was already there. I suspect I caused it by cleaning off the bug and tar remover with a towel that was not fully clean. Anyhow, I'm trying to decide if I should fix these swirls myself or just take it to someone. I don't own a polisher and Ive never done a paint correction. If I try to do it, I take it I'll need to buy a decent polisher? How many days of learning / watching videos to learn how to do it? Lastly, do I need to clay the area first? Thanks

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If that’s the only area on the car that you’re concerned with you could actually just go down to your local auto parts store and pick up a bottle of Meguiars Ultimate Compound and a microfiber applicator and remove those scratches by hand. This time make sure to use a good microfiber towel when you wipe it off.
 
You don't need clay. And you could remove them by hand like Ric pointed out above.

And you really don't need to own a $500 FLEX to remove swirls.

A simple Porter Cable would do. As far as learning to use the machine, it could not be any more simple.

Just watch any video by Mike Phillips on the subject, and you're ready to go.

And if you have any further questions, we will always be here to answer them.......... :)
 
Agree with the two above on how to fix your issue.

Also just to note, if you ever decide you want to get into doing paint corrections then take YOUR TIME and do your research. Watch alot and read alot of info from mike p. He will blow your mind with the wealth of knowledge he has gained over the years. There is so many different machines/pads and abrasives out there that work better with some more than others and it will without a doubt overwhelm you for a bit. So take it all in before you just jump on the first thing you see.

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Pay someone to do it. In the long run it will be cheaper! .

Kinda of joking but this hobby gets expensive. As above should be able to buff out by hand.

Or….. you could get a polisher to buff out those….. then you might as well polish whole car…. Well shoot now you gotta protect it…… we’ll if your gonna polish should decon it right…… we’ll now you gotta get an LSP to protect your coating…….. since your ordering anyways might as well try a QD and maybe another topper………

I Shoulda just paid someone


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Coatingsarecrack said:
Pay someone to do it. In the long run it will be cheaper! .

Kinda of joking but this hobby gets expensive. As above should be able to buff out by hand.

Or….. you could get a polisher to buff out those….. then you might as well polish whole car…. Well shoot now you gotta protect it…… we’ll if your gonna polish should decon it right…… we’ll now you gotta get an LSP to protect your coating…….. since your ordering anyways might as well try a QD and maybe another topper………

I Shoulda just paid someone


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Lol your Speaking truth crack.

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Agree with all of the advice above. Good stuff on all counts.

My one thought: It may not have been a bad rag/towel/applicator that caused the swirls. If you have really soft paint, sometimes simply touching the surface will cause some marring. A couple of years ago I was looking at my freshly polished and sealed Toyota Highlander after giveing it a good wash. On my final walk around I noticed a tiny water spot from a drip off of a side mirror. Since it was so small I just gently swiped it with my finger...and caused a mark...

Moral of the story: Stuff happens, sometimes unavoidable. Just make sure you're using the softest possible media to touch your paint.
 
Many years ago before I even knew how to spot swirls on my pearl white paint I made the mistake of trying extra hard to remove a huge bird dropping off my hood at the wash bays using their large wash mop.

It wasn’t coming off so I went extra hard until it did, unfortunately once I was done and got a good look at my hood in the sun the next day I realized I had instilled some really heavy scratches on the middle of my hood. Doh!
 
Many years ago I watched a guy from the local Mitsubishi dealership use the brush/broom at the car wash to pick up the suds off the ground to wash a brand new black Lancer. He said he didn't like to waste any of the suds. I didn't say anything, it wouldn't have mattered.

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Big Dave said:
Many years ago I watched a guy from the local Mitsubishi dealership use the brush/broom at the car wash to pick up the suds off the ground to wash a brand new black Lancer. He said he didn't like to waste any of the suds. I didn't say anything, it wouldn't have mattered.Sent from my motorola edge 20 fusion using Tapatalk
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I would of lightly suggested your placing the dirt back onto the car. Some people just go through the motions, he probably never even thought of it. I assume he was a kid..?
 
noorth said:
I would of lightly suggested your placing the dirt back onto the car. Some people just go through the motions, he probably never even thought of it. I assume he was a kid..?
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His dirt and everybody else's. I think he was proving he could wash cars cheaper than anyone else, by reusing the left over suds.

I just remembered about this other guy I saw there, he drove his about 10 year old blue Porsche 911 in, and before driving into the wash bay, sprayed Meg's Quikwax onto the dirty paint and wipes it in, he said it washed so much quicker that way. It was very swirled, but. he knew what he was doing because he used to be a panel beater, and was now a limo driver. It was very swirl heavy.

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