what did i do wrong

87rx7chick

87rx7chick

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so my scion XD is covered in swirls. right before thanks giving, it was night time and i had a 4 gallon bucket filled with 3-4 gallons of water. i put 2 ounces of Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine: clay lubricant, optimum rinseless wash, no rinse car wash, optimum detailing products into about 3-4 gallons of watter. i had something similar to Cobra Blue Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt: Microfiber Wash Mitt, car wash, shampoo mitt only i bought it at a local autozone. i dunked the mitt into the solution went over one panel from top to bottom and placed the mitt into the bucket and used my other hand to agitate and rinse i then used a CLEAN never used microfiber to wipe down the wet panel. microfiber i bought from cosco a pack of 24 for 10$ very plush microfiber.

after washing the whole car as i had seen at a local shop. making sure to agitate the mitt well in the water before moving to next area. my microfiber cloth was still clean, as it should be with a no - rinse wash. the microfiber cloth does not get dirty only the mitt.

i then used miguiars clay bar on the rear of my car and then the front of my car.


after i covered the car with a layer of miguiars NXT liquid wax and the next day day i had a lovely deep glossy car.


i did nothing to the car untill 2 days ago. we had alot of rain come and go and i had not washed the car since, i brought it to a coil wash next to my work, which i had always used in the past. and i sprayed down the car with pre-soak, soap, high power rinse and spot free rinse like i always do, i never use the brush. now i know this car wash removes waxes but its been so cold, and the car is a lease so i dont really do much for it.


heres the problem

after letting the car dry for a few min i noticed the whole car had HORRIBLE swirls all over it. worse then after the no rinse wash. i know NXT wax has alot of fillers and apparently it hid what when i used no rinse

i barley had any swirls on this scion before i washed it with no- rinse. i never use any towels or anything on my scion because i know how easy it is to get swirl marks.


where is the problem. is it my microfiber cloth. is it the mitt. is it the no-rinse or WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

i also have swirls on my rx7 after detailing it with meguiars quick detail and a clean never used before microfiber cloth... apparently the lubricants arnt doing the job?
 
Perhaps using too much pressure with the microfiber? Dunno, just an idea.

Are you positive that the Scion didn't have swirls before the ONR wash?

Since you recently achieved a swirl free finish on your RX7, it seems like it should be pretty easy to pin point the problem there. If a QD with some microfiber is the only thing that has touched it at this point since that, I would have to guess either bad MF, or using it too harshly. Or, using the QD when you needed a wash.

DLB
 
-Not using the 2 bucket method??
-I always use a coin spray wash before ONR washes to get large debris off.
-What grade clay did you use???
 
Everything will come down to how was the paint touched and what was it touched with.

One thing for sure, the nicer you make a finish look the more work it is to maintain the level of finish you've achieved and the more any defect or defects will stand out in the future.

NXT can fill but it can't work miracles. Technically, ANY wax or paint sealant that works is filling because it's coating over the surface this it's filling.

:)
 
loudog2 said:
-Not using the 2 bucket method??
-I always use a coin spray wash before ONR washes to get large debris off.
-What grade clay did you use???
Click to expand...

i never read about the 2 bucket method its not in the "how to" section on autogeek store site.

grade of clay? no idea its what you can buy from autozone. the gray clay from miguiars. but i only used it on the back and the front.


i did have swirls on the scion before but nothing nearly this bad.

is there a such thing as poorly made microfiber? this stuff is pretty darn plush... and brand new.
 
Yes there are different qualities of MF (I would not use ones from Cosco, Autozone, etc); also did you wash your MF towels prior to using them? You don't know what they have been subjected to after leaving the manufacturer and prior to you recieving them (they may have collected dust, sand, or other contaminates while along there journey to you). However at this point I would also be concerned as (previously asked) about proper wash techniques?

-2 bucket method
-Use a coin spray wash before ONR washes to get large debris off
-Using the QD when you needed a wash.
 
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Beware of the microfiber towels from the box stores. We were using some of the yellow towels from Sam's, probably similar to the pack from Cosco. We foung out we were putting swirls into the paint after polishing them out with Menz nano. We then switched to Cobra and griots towels and had much better luck.
 
I can think of 3 things

1. You didnt use 2 buckets or rinse the vehicle before hand
2. You used to much pressure apply the wax
3. You used to much pressure removing the wax
 
If I had to bet my bet would be on Costco microfibers.
 
It could be that the "never used" microfibers still had bits of grit in them. I would always recomend washing any microfibers before first use.

It could also be that the microfibers were of a bad quality and caused the swirls.

Last but not least, the microfiber mit. I use these when washing my car with a normal wash shampoo, but when washing using ONR or DP RW&G, I **ALWAYS** use a sheepskin mitt as there is nowhere for the grit to hide if it gets among your microfiber mitt. It will be dragged along your paint untill you next dunk it in the wash bucket. (A sheepskin is thick and fluffy so the grit can migrate to away from the paint untill the mitt is next rinsed in the bucket). I only feel safe using the sheepskin mitt when using ONR.

Maybe you could polish the trunk lid so it's nearly 100% swirl free, then tape off 3 sections, each section has different products (as in wash media) used on it with ONR.

For the first section, try the wash mitt and then don't touch the paint, just sheet the water off with a hose and see if you can see any swirls left there.

Then for the next section, use a different mitt, and dry with the microfibers. Then for the 3rd section.....well that can be the control, wash that as you would with a normal shampoo solution. Hopefully that will help you pinpoint what is causing the swirls.
 
ZoranC said:
If I had to bet my bet would be on Costco microfibers.
Click to expand...
I'll take your bet. I use them with no problem. They have been written up in other forums and no one has had a problem with them. Highly unlikely Costco or Sams mf is your problem.
 
I'm thinking the wash mitt and technique, especially if you didn't rinse it after each application (aka two bucket method or derivation thereof).

Regards,
GEWB
 
every one's information is confusing and contradicting.


no i made the mistake of not using 2 buckets, but at the shop i bought the product from he was not using 2 buckets. and was able to wash a new audi just fine using the same microfiber mitt i had bought. maybe different company but looked the same to me.

he did not rinse the vehicle prior to his washing and i followed his advice on how to wash and dry. its not rocket science.


there is so much back talk and contradicting information in this thread.


the microfiber were in a plastic wrapped package.


but thats ok. i will toss every ones advice out the window and never let another microfiber touch my car and just go to the shop and have them work on my cars instead, and teach me there. mods can close this thread. its useless to me.


ya'll need to work together not work against each other... you'll confuse the FUK out of new people like myself.
 
First off, RELAX!!!

Second, if a couple people want to argue about costco microfiber towel. So what!

Most of the posts on here told you to use the 2 bucket method and rinse the car before using the washing. How is that so confusing?
 
87rx7chick said:
every one's information is confusing and contradicting.

ya'll need to work together not work against each other... you'll confuse the FUK out of new people like myself.
Click to expand...

It's just like the Boars Hair brush, some people love them, some people swear they put swirls in their finish. Everybody has an opinion!
You need to pinpoint exactly what it was the caused the swirls. But this will take experimentation by yourself.

loudog2 said:
First off, RELAX!!!
Click to expand...

Agreed 100%
 
87rx7chick said:
there is so much back talk and contradicting information in this thread.
Click to expand...

The problem is there are many reasons why the paint got swirled (wash-dry-wax technique) so people are speculating to help.

Since there are many ways to get results, people sometimes disagree on techniques or products...it is actually healthy discussion at times.

I suspect if someone actually watched you wash they may spot the problem.
 
feslope said:
I'll take your bet. I use them with no problem. They have been written up in other forums and no one has had a problem with them. Highly unlikely Costco or Sams mf is your problem.
Click to expand...

I haven't had problems with the Costco mf either. But will say they don't hold up as long as the premium ones as well. I just rotate them to tires/wheels much quicker--but at that cost who cares?

Like some others have said, you shouldn't "scrub" your paint with an mf. Just lightly glide over paint--even when using an ONR type product.

That said, mf towels are a magnet and do pick up everything. Even when putting in covered bins, I tend to inspect them before using. Taking a little extra time when working on the paint goes a long way.
 
Jess,

You know where you are able to go there in SA. You know he is always able to assist you.

87rx7chick said:
every one's information is confusing and contradicting.


no i made the mistake of not using 2 buckets, but at the shop i bought the product from he was not using 2 buckets. and was able to wash a new audi just fine using the same microfiber mitt i had bought. maybe different company but looked the same to me.

he did not rinse the vehicle prior to his washing and i followed his advice on how to wash and dry. its not rocket science.


there is so much back talk and contradicting information in this thread.


the microfiber were in a plastic wrapped package.


but thats ok. i will toss every ones advice out the window and never let another microfiber touch my car and just go to the shop and have them work on my cars instead, and teach me there. mods can close this thread. its useless to me.


ya'll need to work together not work against each other... you'll confuse the FUK out of new people like myself.
Click to expand...
 
Just to note...

Clear coats and most automotive paints scratch easily...

This is why if you look at the finish quality of the average car in any parking lot you, as a detailing enthusiast can't help but notice how the paint on most daily drivers are filled with swirls and scratches.

Clear coats are easy to scratch, even if you do everything right, that is use the best quality products you can find and use expert technique whenever you touch the paint, clear coat finishes are still easily scratched.

I've had customers that thought after I detailed their car, (removed all the swirls and scratches), that after that the finish would stay nice forever with no special attention to keep it that way. These people have unrealistic expectations.


I'm not sure what could have caused the scratches you're seeing but maybe do what you already know how to do and that's remove them and then pay careful attention to how you "touch" the car as you maintain it and see if you can troubleshoot where the scratches are coming from.

:)
 
1 - Didn't use two bucket method (get the Schmitt and quality soap)
2 - Costco and Sam's Club MF's are ok, but I only use them for interior detailing. They are a tad harsh on the paint.
3 - You applied too much pressure claying?
4 - Too much pressure waxing
5 - Too much pressure removing the wax

All these things come into play, but my bet is going with washing, the cheap MF's, or claying. Good luck and keep us posted!
 
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