Removing swirls from paintwork

DUTR

comberspud wrote: »

If you lived close I would offer to show you how they work

Same here, but Facade is correct in post #2.
Perhaps most of the damage was done before the OP picked up the car, over the counter products will make a huge difference if used correctly and time applied, the OP is perhaps wasting their time if they are now going to aim for a flawless finish.

force_ten

www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-machines/das-6-pro-meguiars-hex-logic-kit

that would be the minimum kit you would need to start basic paint correction

comberspud

In defence to forgotmyname before I got one I was worried in case I could not use them. Now i'm an addict. If you get to a good car shop and get advice on a beginners selection of products and pads you cant go wrong. Start with light to medium pads and matching compounds. Results will amaze you!

force_ten

scotsbob wrote: »

??? I belong to two car clubs and all the members use them and I have never heard of this.

I think he may be confusing dual action with rotary which can be a bit harder for a novice to master and if used incorrectly can leave buffer trails and can burn your paint

force_ten

if you want something that you can do by hand to make the car look better rather than actually correcting the paint you could hand polish the car with a polish that contains fillers

I have used Autoglym Super Resin Polish to good effect in the past and as it is contains fillers it masks the swirls rather than actually removing them

autoglym SRP applied by hand and then finished with a paint sealer is a cheap option and will require a bit more elbow grease than using a machine and it will hide the swirls rather than removing them

facade

A half decent polisher will set you back around £100 or more. They look like an angle grinder. Under no circumstances waste money on those "polishers" that Halfords sell for £50 and B&M do for about £15. They don't do anything.

I've got a Makita polisher that I've used to turn a chalky pink vauxhall back to shiny red. They make a hell of a mess of your drive as you need lots of water that flings off with the compound, and you can pretty much throw your overalls away after too.

I usually get reasonable results with the Autoglym resin polish suggested above on a cloth by hand followed by autoglym sealant when I first buy a car, (they only get one treatment), but it doesn't last long.

Iceweasel

I would not suggest that you use a machine polisher without some experience (preferably on other folks cars first)

The best swirl remover is this one:

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/cleaning-products/paint-restorers/farecla-g3-permanent-scratch-remover-liquid-500ml

If the paint has faded as red often does this will give better results than using Autoglym right away.

By all means follow the Farecla G3 up with Autoglym Super Resin Polish and then seal the surface with Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.

Excellent results at minimal cost, and loads of hard rubbing is really not required if you follow the instructions carefully.

I find the water repellent gloss lasts at least 6 months.

You won't get really deep swirls and scratches out but you will mask/disguise most of them pretty well - at worst it'll be a great improvement.

It depends on how 'beautiful' you want the paintwork to be - if you want near showroom perfection, you'll need to employ a professional detailer and be prepared for 'open-wallet' surgery.

Lincoln_Imp

Thanks all with some great replies
Not sure about a full respray though

Will have a go with Autoglym SRP ,The reviews online for it look pretty good

force_ten

Lincoln_Imp wrote: »

Thanks all with some great replies
Not sure about a full respray though

Will have a go with Autoglym SRP ,The reviews online for it look pretty good

I think the comment about the respray was for when you messed up the paint with a bodged attempt at machine polishing

www.autogeek.net/dual-action-polisher

look at that link and you will see the section that says

Dual action polishers will improve the texture and luster of automotive paint with virtually no risk. They are the most user-friendly option for beginners and professionals, and they consistently produce beautiful results

dont be put off by people saying they will damage your paint, look on youtube and you will find loads of beginners guides to using a dual action polisher

the info given by ice is good info with the suggestion of using the farecla scratch remover before using the autoglym SRP

www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread

have a look at that for all you will ever need to know about autoglym SRP

keep an eye on halfords as the often have three for two on car cleaning products and autoglym products are sometimes included

comberspud

SRP is good for filling or masking light swirls, great for polishing after getting rid of the swirls with a proper cutting agent.

I would seriously try Meguiars swirl compound before SRP.

To remove swirls I usually use Meguiars (By machine polish), then Poorboys Swirl filler then seal and wax.

After a good machine polish which is only needed once a year then use the likes of SRP on your regular washing and polishing weekends. Top it off with Autoglym high gloss or ultra shine for complete finish

I would not rate SRP as a swirl remover.