CANNOT for the life of me get swirl free on BLACK! hellp!?

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smokedlights

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I am using 3m 3 step process.. using all 3 steps exactly how they say and advertise "swirl free finish even on black vehicles" I am busting my ass going over and over burning so much of my time only to be frustrated as hell afterwards.

I am doing this on new paint, mostly dirt nibs etc. Sanding scratches are coming out no issues. Im wondering if maybe the softer/ new paint is also giving me hell?

I am using a 3'' rotary air buffer. It seems any part that I touch with #1 (compound) I can never get it to a perfect finish. It looks perfect when in my garage etc. When I take to sunlight I see really fine swirls. I am using the correct towels that are clean etc... any help would be much appreciated? Ive heard maybe its the rotary for the last step or steps 2-3 that I should be using something else?
 
Did you do a Test Spot, checking your results after each step?

You didn't mention which pads you are using for each if the 3 steps?


You should not have RIDS after the compounding step

You should not have Swirls after the polishing step

You should not have DA haze after the 3rd step
 
I dont do anything wih DA is that where Im going wrong? Im using 3'' pads.. 3m - orange- #1, #2 grey, #3 Blue...

either way Im not and shouldnt have to do more then the above 3 steps.... Unless switching the last step to DA maybe or something, but this seems next to impossible keep dumping money on various products "swirl removers" etc .. I would think the 3m 3 step system im using should be great, but no..
 
Black is what separates the pros from amateurs. Keep practicing.
 
How are you defining "Swirls"?

Can you take a close-up picture in the Sun?
 
This is what im using... Yellow towel for 1-2 steps, blue towel after step 3.. just exactly what 3m suggests..
66519176-9E9D-445C-BC27-539079057049_zpsqfrdmsn7.jpg
 
I really can barely even get it in pix.. Its very very light swirls. Most people wouldnt notice but im a perfectionist and im spending a good amount of time on these I want them closer to perfect then this.
 
Do yourself a favor,follow up with a da,you are just going to be chasing swirls for a long time!
 
Mike lambert said:
Do yourself a favor,follow up with a da,you are just going to be chasing swirls for a long time!
Click to expand...

I have to agree. Keep your pads super clean for each section pass. Wipe off old product and clear in your pad with a terry cloth towel before applying new product. I had a super soft paint that I had to use a 600 GSM non-looped towel for wiping off my polish to prevent swirls. Just work small areas until you hit upon the correct combination to get it how you want. Then repeat it all over the car. That way you don't waste time on a process that's not working.
 
what kind of DA any recommendations? DA on just final step? or last 2 steps? I do smoked tail lights so it has to be something small where I can hold the light as well as the buffer... Here are some more pix.. I dont feel they are horrible I dont think the camera picks up most of what Im seeing either.. Also its as if sometimes I do the exact same steps and get lucky and comes out 98% perfect or so, other times Its worse and maybe 90% when Im doing the exact same steps?! Grrr I am incredibly anal which is detrimental to me working on black.. lol
4630CA82-0BF4-407B-BB10-428D19CC6E24_zpsk5bhzino.jpg

FF578B82-B87C-490D-80B6-93A35ECF1651_zpsm3xkfdl7.jpg

01FBA29C-194F-4EFF-9C44-FCB4B86A46AA_zps4hwqmwvd.jpg
 
If you are in a hurry find the closest Harbor Freight and pick up a DA. I have one and have used it one handed. Their back plate is not the greatest so you may get held up with that and pads.

Dave
 
3M Denibber....Nice

Are you also using it for leveling touch-up paint?
 
A 3" pad can get dirty and/or loaded up with polish and removed clear coat very quickly. This will lead to a less than Perfect finish

To do an entire car with 3" pads....you will need a lot of them, maybe 10-12

I see a Rupes Swirl Finder Light and a 3M Denibber in the picture, so I am guessing that budget-wise, picking up a DA is not a big deal


What uses have you found for the Denibber, other than just dust nibs?
 
You did a very good job for using 'only' 3" stuff and 3M products.

If you do a light polishing with a DA you'll be able to finish it down perfect.

The fine defects you're showing seems to me fine but existent holograms, nothing more than 'your own defects left behind after removing paint defects'.

Now just chase your own defects with a DA tool and you're set.

Keep going,

Kind Regards.
 
I'm confused, OP

Are your example pictures of the problem smoked plastic tail lights?
 
HF sells a small air powered da, try that if you're going to use a da for your final step. If not, and you want to finish with a da for the last two steps, pick up HF's full sized da roughly 60 dollars. The smaller da they sell that resembles a die grinder sells for roughly 27 dollars.
 
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