Pearl White Paint, How Do I See Swirls?

[mudhog79]

I have a 2013 Infiniti JX35 and will have a 2017 F150 in Oxford white soon! I have been getting everything together to put a paint coating on both vehicles in the near future. I went out the other day to check the paint on the Infiniti and am having a really hard time seeing any amount of scratches. I have looked in the sun, under shop fluorescents, bright LED flash light etc. Any tips? The Infiniti is garage kept, we never have brought it to a car wash. I am trying to figure this out so I can get the right DA pad etc. And tell if I am doing anything while correcting. Maybe I don't need to compound, just a medium cut pad and a polish?

Thanks

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Autogeekonline mobile app

 

[Rsurfer]

I have a 2013 Infiniti JX35 and will have a 2017 F150 in Oxford white soon! I have been getting everything together to put a paint coating on both vehicles in the near future. I went out the other day to check the paint on the Infiniti and am having a really hard time seeing any amount of scratches. I have looked in the sun, under shop fluorescents, bright LED flash light etc. Any tips? The Infiniti is garage kept, we never have brought it to a car wash. I am trying to figure this out so I can get the right DA pad etc. And tell if I am doing anything while correcting. Maybe I don't need to compound, just a medium cut pad and a polish?

Thanks

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Autogeekonline mobile app

Is this four year old Infiniti a daily driver? If so, you have swirls. When looking for swirls in direct sunlight..sun must be overhead and look on the outsides of the sun light.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Is this four year old Infiniti a daily driver? If so, you have swirls.

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the original owner knows how to properly wash & dry his own car... People do exist out there.

Would it make a difference if it were a garage queen? Slim chance considering it'd probably see a California Duster... And we all know how 90% of the people are misinformed about those things... [BTW that was sarcasm]

 

[Rsurfer]

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the original owner knows how to properly wash & dry his own car... People do exist out there.


Perhaps, but that would mean that person would not have to polish, even a light polish for four years or more. BTW I'm not one of the lucky few that can get away without polishing at least once a year.

 

[Eldorado2k]

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the original owner knows how to properly wash & dry his own car... People do exist out there.


Perhaps, but that would mean that person would not have to polish, even a light polish for four years or more. BTW I'm not one of the lucky few that can get away without polishing at least once a year.

My brother has a black Jeep Grand Cherokee that's about 1.5yrs. old. I detailed it when it was brand new and it's been up to him ever since... I asked him the other day how he maintains it and he said I didn't want to know.. He takes it to his local hand car wash, but to my surprise it's nearly swirl free to this day. Some car washes are stepping their game up. [it's rare, but they do exist]

This is a pic of it when it was new.

 

[Eldorado2k]

...All that being said, I still think there's maybe a 7% chance this 4yr. old Infinity is swirl free...

Have a better look in direct sunlight. Sometimes it takes a trained eye to be able to see swirls. I sure as heck didn't exactly know how to spot them for almost 20yrs. Lol. [and I had nothing but white cars during that time]

 

[Car9]

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the original owner knows how to properly wash & dry his own car... People do exist out there.

Would it make a difference if it were a garage queen? Slim chance considering it'd probably see a California Duster... And we all know how 90% of the people are misinformed about those things... [BTW that was sarcasm]

Auto geek sells California duster. So it scratches the paint? After all I have read on this forum if you look at your car the wrong way it gets scratched!

 

[Eldorado2k]

Auto geek sells California duster. So it scratches the paint? After all I have read on this forum if you look at your car the wrong way it gets scratched!

IMO if used correctly it will not scratch paint.

Check this out... A while back when I took Meguiars Detailing 101 Class Jason Rose was the instructor for that day... 1 of the questions he got from 1 of us was "what about those California Dusters, are they good or do they scratch your paint"? His reply? "I use 1" Straight up truth that's what he said. Lol. But he uses it properly, on his garage queen.

 

[DMiglio]

I have a pearl white car as well, and coming from a jet black Mercedes and black magic pearl VW, I love the fact that swirls are harder to spot for a daily driver, or dust and dirt for that matter would drive me nuts! This does make it much harder when doing paint correction though of course.

As Rsurfer mentioned, sun overhead and look just to the outside of light. I've noticed using super bright LEDs or my iPhone light haven't been the best. White is very reflective and shining an extremely bright white light at the paint and looking into it is just painfully blinding.

In saying that using a "warm" colored bulb has helped me to see it, I have an old handheld shop light and my regular garage light are more of a yellowish hue, maybe try that.

Eldorado2k could be right too, slim chance, but maybe you are swirl free!

 

[idriveblackcars]

After 4 years without a polish it's hard for any car to stay completely swirl free.

 

[The Guz]

...All that being said, I still think there's maybe a 7% chance this 4yr. old Infinity is swirl free...

So with this logic there is a 93% chance of swirls.

W could also add the assumption that Infiniti is considered to be soft paint. Which is finicky and prone to swirling.

I'm going to have to agree with Rsurfer on this one. Good advice for finding swirls in white paint.

As an owner of a white vehicle lighting is important as is looking at the paint at various angles. The scangrip light is a good light source on white paint.

 

[Mantilgh]

It can be really hard to see them on white paint in the full sun.

Try looking for them at night under parking lot or gas station lights, or with a flashlight at home.

 

[2black1s]

Here's my take... Whether the car has swirls or not, if you need to look that hard trying to find them and you can't seem to find any, then whatever minor swirls [may] exist aren't worth chasing for a daily driver.

 

[01GreyStangGT]

Sometimes it's easier to see swirls with a parking lot light on light colors. Go over to Wal Mart and park under a light.

 

[custmsprty]

Here's my take... Whether the car has swirls or not, if you need to look that hard trying to find them and you can't seem to find any, then whatever minor swirls [may] exist aren't worth chasing for a daily driver.

:iagree::iagree:

 

[mudhog79]

Is this four year old Infiniti a daily driver? If so, you have swirls. When looking for swirls in direct sunlight..sun must be overhead and look on the outsides of the sun light.

Daily yes but not many miles. I am sure it has some swirls i am just having a hard time finding them. I can see them in direct sun on my very neglected white honda accord. I will try the overhead sun route.

Thanks

 

[mudhog79]

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that the original owner knows how to properly wash & dry his own car... People do exist out there.

Would it make a difference if it were a garage queen? Slim chance considering it'd probably see a California Duster... And we all know how 90% of the people are misinformed about those things... [BTW that was sarcasm]

We do a two bucket wash etc. and do our best. I know this car has scratches but i am having a hard time seeing them. Just looking to get some guidance so i can see what setup i need to use to get the paint ready to be coated. I am sure it needs to be polished. I am just wondering what level of compounding does it need.

 

[mudhog79]

...All that being said, I still think there's maybe a 7% chance this 4yr. old Infinity is swirl free...

Have a better look in direct sunlight. Sometimes it takes a trained eye to be able to see swirls. I sure as heck didn't exactly know how to spot them for almost 20yrs. Lol. [and I had nothing but white cars during that time]

Thanks i will try it out!

 

[mudhog79]

I have a pearl white car as well, and coming from a jet black Mercedes and black magic pearl VW, I love the fact that swirls are harder to spot for a daily driver, or dust and dirt for that matter would drive me nuts! This does make it much harder when doing paint correction though of course.

As Rsurfer mentioned, sun overhead and look just to the outside of light. I've noticed using super bright LEDs or my iPhone light haven't been the best. White is very reflective and shining an extremely bright white light at the paint and looking into it is just painfully blinding.

In saying that using a "warm" colored bulb has helped me to see it, I have an old handheld shop light and my regular garage light are more of a yellowish hue, maybe try that.

Eldorado2k could be right too, slim chance, but maybe you are swirl free!

HA! I dont think it is swirl free. I will try different light sources. I was leaning towards a black truck but i am kind of OCD and chickened out!

 

[mudhog79]

Here's my take... Whether the car has swirls or not, if you need to look that hard trying to find them and you can't seem to find any, then whatever minor swirls [may] exist aren't worth chasing for a daily driver.

I hear ya, i plan to polish the car either way. So i was thinking of using a less abrasive pad and a quick polish prior to paint prep and coating on both the new truck and the infiniti.