paint swirls - United Bimmer Community

craig · 08-19-2005, 05:58 PM

HOW do i get rid of those ENOYING paint swirls? and is there anyway to get rid of small scratches?

thanks

**catalyst** · 08-19-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shpuz

HOW do i get rid of those ENOYING paint swirls? and is there anyway to get rid of small scratches?

thanks

Buff em out.

As long as a scratch isnt all the way down to the primer (you will see white or gray if it is) then it should buff out. Swirls are just scratches in the clearcoat.

craig · 08-19-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c4talyst

As long as a scratch isnt all the way down to the primer (you will see white or gray if it is)

and if it is?

**catalyst** · 08-22-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shpuz

and if it is?

You need to repaint the car. Or at least that panel.

You could try touch up paint, but it will never look right, its just an eraser so its not blatantly obvious that there is a scratch through the base coat.

**gotKRAUT** · 08-25-2005, 02:14 AM

use an orbital buffer with some Meguiars Proffesional Fine Scratch/swirl remover, be sure to use the foam bonnet and get it wet and ring it out first...works like a champ...follow it up with a good wax of your choice...all wax sucks anyway lol...or if you have the money get some zaino www.zainobros.com

**xsperf** · 08-25-2005, 02:53 PM

how do you get scratches in the clearcoat in the form of swirls? i mean, i have em too, but seriously how, especially when they are ALL OVER, is it those brushes in the carwash or what?

**VANCE** · 08-25-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

how do you get scratches in the clearcoat in the form of swirls? i mean, i have em too, but seriously how, especially when they are ALL OVER, is it those brushes in the carwashor what?

yes

**breden** · 09-26-2005, 03:35 AM

damn dawg just say no to the auto car wash. use a paint cleaning clay to remove grime and dirt, then a polish(which has mild abrasives in it to even out the uneven paint surfaces), then a wax or sealant to protect. i second the zainos

**c1apton** · 10-15-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

how do you get scratches in the clearcoat in the form of swirls? i mean, i have em too, but seriously how, especially when they are ALL OVER, is it those brushes in the carwash or what?

You get swirls from #1) waxing & cleaning in circular motions OR if using auto car washes the brushes or "wipe strips" have dirt inbedded in them from the MORONS before you. Try to avoid the public washes if possible - they recycle their water (to save money) & they RARELY clean or service their equipment regularily. The water recycling also applies to the "self serve" car washes and they can be a real nightmare! Especially the "open all nighters" - I've seen clowns changing their oil in those places and guess where the old oil goes? Yep into the recycled water and those filters, etc are not geared for oil filtration.

Wash it by hand at home (if possible) clay it to eliminate the swirls/scratches, go over with a quality glaze then a quality wax. NOTE: using clay, glaze & wax - go in STRAIGHT LINES! Painters don't paint in circular motion so why wax that way?

**jybute** · 10-18-2005, 08:12 AM

Up here we have a chain of wand wash car washs. They use only fresh water and they are very well taken care of. My canadian brothers know where Im talking about.

**c1apton** · 10-18-2005, 09:54 AM

You guys are blessed. Those places here are few & far between. I'm sure there's some but most are recycle places. The idea is good but it all goes back to the almighty "buck". On the positive side I always laugh when I see a cop in car wash - "wish I could be one of those brushes kicking the shit out of his car"

**jybute** · 10-20-2005, 10:09 AM

On the positive side I always laugh when I see a cop in car wash - "wish I could be one of those brushes kicking the shit out of his car"[/QUOTE]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHHHAHAHHAH......... ..............AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.......HAHAHAHAHAHAH AHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Stokdgs** · 11-15-2007, 02:57 PM

Only purpose is to clean embedded crap out of the paint, by shearing it off.
You should do this first after you wash the car.Claybar carefully, using a good lubricant, I have successfully used Meguiars Quick Detail, and the claybars(ClayMagic for example), includes a lubricant, only do small areas at a time, then dry it and run your clean dry fingers over the spot, it should feel really smooth. Now go on to the next section.
A good mild cleaner can now help smooth out the swirls, holograms, scratches, etc., and this can be done by hand but its harder. I like to use a Porter Cable 7424 with Lake Country foam pads. The foam pads are different "grits" (for lack of a better word), and will usually get the marks out if they are not too deep. Along the way, the paint will now be crystal clear and you should not see any marks out in the sun. Good shop lights will help this process inside too. Now you need to put a paint sealer, wax, etc, on top of your hard work, to protect the paint. Some of these products give you great shine, gloss, etc., but are only short lived; others like say, Zaino, an acrylic polymer sealer, last really long and give you great shine and protection, including uv protection.
Know going into this that to do it properly, it takes hours - alot of hours.
But if you do the preperation really good, and keep up on it, it will last a long time, and eventually you will be spending less time out in the garage.
Its all into how much you really care about getting just an average finish or a super clean, smooth, deep finish.. Good luck with your project ! DanF

**f16dude** · 03-22-2010, 05:39 PM

I was told by my auto body specialist that those swirls occur due to dust or dirt being on the car. when you wipe the dust off they can create the swirl in your clear coat or even your paint. To avoid this be sure to thoroughly apply water and soap to your car when cleaning it. Do not drag a dry cloth across your car to knock dust or dirt off, and wax your car regularly.

If it is in the clearcoat, wax should help get rid of most of it, but if its to the primer, im affraid you will have to do what I did and take it to the shop for professional work.

I recommend turtle wax ice. It goes on easily, spreads evenly, and due to its liquid state, fills in the scratches and specs verry well on older cars with blemished paint.

**Stokdgs** · 03-22-2010, 08:08 PM

If the swirls are put into the paint by rubbing the paint dry with microfiber, etc., or going through a carwash with brushes, its all the same type of damage. But it can be removed by any good detailer using the proper grit compound and pad with either a Random Orbital Machine or a Rotary Polisher, or even by hand, but it might take a lot longer.
If the scratches/swirls are really deep and bad, and the paint measures up to more than enough clearcoat, then sometimes the damage can be sanded off and the finish then compounded to bring the shine back, very level and glossy.
Sometimes, all that is needed is to buff the paint with a purple foam wool pad with the appropriate compound and this will accomplish the swirl/scratch, etc., removal.

Not sure what your "autobody specialist" meant by the scratches being all the way to the Primer, but if they went that far then you probably need a repaint..

Dan F
www.dansautodetailing.com