Using swirl finder on silver paint

[2L8IWON]

Hello all, I'm a newb and my name is Jesse. For Christmas I got the Swril finder and the Wolfgang twins. As I prepare to detail my baby I am having a issue.

I am detailing my silver mustang and am having one hell of a time finding swirls in my silver paint using the Brinkman swirl finder.

On the black portions of my car I have no issues seeing the flaws. Is there a special technique I'm not employing? Also I can see swirl with the regular light.

Thanks in advance

Jesse

 

[mamut]

you have to look at it at the right angle...had a hard time finding the swirls on my dark metallic silver mini

 

[Porsche Pilot]

My best practice on silver and white is to darken my garage and then use the Brinkmann as the only light source. As stated above, use different angles and you will spot the swirls more easily.

 

[alko]

My best practice on silver and white is to darken my garage and then use the Brinkmann as the only light source. As stated above, use different angles and you will spot the swirls more easily.

:iagree: I haven't tried this yet, but alot of people turn off the garage lights and only use their work light as their light source. When using the swirl finder look at the actual bulb reflection and not the light hitting the spotlight on the paint. I usually hold the light to the left or right of my head to see the imperfections.

I hope that made sense.

 

[dougaross]

:iagree: I haven't tried this yet, but alot of people turn off the garage lights and only use their work light as their light source. When using the swirl finder look at the actual bulb reflection and not the light hitting the spotlight on the paint. I usually hold the light to the left or right of my head to see the imperfections.

I hope that made sense.

Same as above. I am not sure why this works. After I position light at an angle, I move my body and light not just the light

 

[jekyl05]

side note... has anyone also noticed you see imperfections at the oddest time? walking out to your car during the day or at night... i seem to notice especially under parking lot or street lights?

 

[mamut]

side note... has anyone also noticed you see imperfections at the oddest time? walking out to your car during the day or at night... i seem to notice especially under parking lot or street lights?

Yes! Only see them under street lights. We're on a detailing forum, we should never see any swirls, ever.

 

[2L8IWON]

Thanks guys. Thus far, regardless of the creative approach I take I can still not see swirls in the silver with the "swirl finder". Pain of it is the hologens show them... Oh well, I'll keep at it.

So I tried the WG TSR tonight and I think I need more practice. I ran the PC at 5 and had noticeable results but not like I wanted. Tomorrow (when the fam is not sleeping) ill crank her up to 6 and "let 'er eat".

Thanks for everyone's tips, keep them coming.

- jesse

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

That's why having silver is so great!! You don't see swirls, scratches, dust, fingerprints, etc. On the flip side, silver is a PITA to polish because it's hard to see the defects and the actual polish.

 

[shoeless89]

That's why having silver is so great!! You don't see swirls, scratches, dust, fingerprints, etc. On the flip side, silver is a PITA to polish because it's hard to see the defects and the actual polish.

I agree. I've detailed a few silver cars and I hate it because it doesn't have the same wow factor

Sent from my DROID Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Kaban]

It's really easy to see marring and swirls on silver or white cars. As mentioned, just dim the lights in your working area and put the spotlight at an angle, you'll quickly see all the swirls.

 

[hoyt66]

side note... has anyone also noticed you see imperfections at the oddest time? walking out to your car during the day or at night... i seem to notice especially under parking lot or street lights?

The worst time for me is at a "bp" gas station on my way to work when its still dark in the a.m. Drives me crazy. Takes my mind iff the price of gas anyway. DA on the way so.....

 

[BobbyG]

That's why having silver is so great!! You don't see swirls, scratches, dust, fingerprints, etc. On the flip side, silver is a PITA to polish because it's hard to see the defects and the actual polish.

:iagree:

Silver is the easiest color to make swirl free!! rops:

After all, I should know! :laughing:

 

[TLMitchell]

Yes! Only see them under street lights.

The worst time for me is at a "bp" gas station on my way to work when its still dark in the a.m.

Mercury vapor lights highlight imperfections. I had a hard time checking my work on white with the Brinkmann & halogens before using Opti Coat. I drove to a nearby shopping plaza and there they were. Marked each area that needed additional attention with a grease pencil and headed back to my secret Lair for a touchup before coating.

TL

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I am detailing my silver mustang and am having one hell of a time finding swirls in my silver paint

The problem you're experiencing is the other side of the coin in that because swirls are hard to see in silver metallic paint, it's one reason some people choose silver colored cars... because it's hard to see the swirls in the paint. The people that actually appreciate this characteristic in silver metallic paint appreciate it because they don't want to remove the swirls they just don't want to see them either.

My best practice on silver and white is to darken my garage and then use the Brinkmann as the only light source. As stated above, use different angles and you will spot the swirls more easily.

And that's about the best tip there is for finding swirls on light metallic paints like silver or beige.

 

[Jaretr1]

I have a hard time seeing defects on my Magnesium Metallic RSX (kinda silver gray metallic). I know they are there, they have to be there, I just dont see them that well. I did buy that color because I figured it would look the nicest clean or dirty (long before I found this forum) and I was right. I have polished the car once and people constantly compliment me on the shine, so I guess the color helps!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I did buy that color because I figured it would look the nicest clean or dirty (long before I found this forum) and I was right.

I have polished the car once and people constantly compliment me on the shine, so I guess the color helps!

Great testimony Jaret!


For those that don't know, Jaret is one of the guys I can count on to help create a show car finish on our project cars...


Here's Jaret using the Meguiar's G110v2...

2004 Chevy SSR - Extreme Makeover by Blackfire - Modeled by Tasha

:xyxthumbs:

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

When you have a daily driver like this silver Ford Expedition that has NEVER been polished, swirls are very easy to see.

Before

I hit it with M105 and a B&S yellow cutting pad, but that wasnt enough for this hard Ford clear. Here are the results after D300/surbuf/Flex 3401.

 

[FUNX650]

As others have stated....Using the Brinkman Swirl Finder, or other light sources, in a darkened garage/work area could become your best way to see paint blemishes.

Besides halogen light stands, overhead fluorescent, and other light sources: I'll throw the Sun Gun into the mix. It's a pretty intense light source with "color-matching-abilities".



Bob

 

[2L8IWON]

Guys, I thank all of you for your input! I just finished the car. Keep in mind this is my first time polishing the car. On the imperfections I could see (in the Silver) I tired all of the methods listed and what I learned about using the Wolfgang twins. I could see SOME improvement but not what I was hoping for. The major marks still remained. The only thing I could think is that the clear is perhaps too hard for the product I was using.

On the other hand, the black (painted, built the car done for shows) showed noticeable improvement, much better than what I saw in the Silver. But I am still not happy with these results either. I managed to get a lot of swirl to go away but some of the major marks remain.

I'm going to chalk all of this up to learning, but damn this is a time intensive process... wash, clay, TSR, Polish, Wax.

Pics to follow:

I forgot to add that I bought a double 600watt Halogen work light that REALLY helped to show the defects. I aimed it in such a manner that the light shot up the car, exposing the scratches.