Removing swirls
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,330
Likes: 1
From: Kerrville Texas
Removing swirls
Okay it's time to start thinking about spring so naturally I want get the car looking really good. My car is Torch Red and the paint job is about a 7.5.
The problem that I have is that I have the infamous swirl marks that are really noticeable in the sunshine. What do you do to remove them and what did I do to cause them?
Kona
The problem that I have is that I have the infamous swirl marks that are really noticeable in the sunshine. What do you do to remove them and what did I do to cause them?
Kona
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Originally Posted by kona
Okay it's time to start thinking about spring so naturally I want get the car looking really good. My car is Torch Red and the paint job is about a 7.5.
The problem that I have is that I have the infamous swirl marks that are really noticeable in the sunshine. What do you do to remove them and what did I do to cause them?
Kona
The problem that I have is that I have the infamous swirl marks that are really noticeable in the sunshine. What do you do to remove them and what did I do to cause them?
Kona
Assuming they're light scratches in the clearcoat they can usually be polished away. A random orbit polisher/sander with the appropriate polish and pads can help with the job a LOT. Griots is more than a little expensive for the polisher, but their hook & loop pad system and polishes and waxes are a great combo:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=10625
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,128
Likes: 3
From: Deltona (son of Deland and DAYTONA) FL
Turtlewax also has some colored wax.....Red, Blue, Black, White, etc that actually has paint in the wax. The paint fills in the swirl marks. I've used it on a black car, works great! Use gloves when you apply it. The stuff really stays under fingernails.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 378
Likes: 3
From: Oregon City Oregon
Originally Posted by wnmech
3M puts out whats called swirl remover. It runs around $12 for about a 16oz plastic bottle. I have used it to remove swirl marks in my Camaro it works real good
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Originally Posted by kona
Found the Turtle Wax Red O"Reillys carrys it will give it a try thanks for all the help.
Kona
Kona
I used everything and the best for paint is Maguires. They have a #9 for removing swirls and a # 7 for a deep polish then a # 6 yellow wax for protection. Each bottle cost about $9 and you can get 3 applications from them. 
For chrome and aluminum I use mothers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,434
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '07
Swirl remover just hides them( I have many high quality used car waxes that shine better than anything and show no swirls until you wash it 
) .
Your going to want to polish them out to actually remove them. Then you will wnat to do a hand glaze for a better shine. Then follow it up with a good wax. We did this on all of our cars and none have swirls even my dads black truck.
We used mothers professional series for the polish and hand glaze and mothers paste wax.Liquid or paste is just preference.
Also make sure to stick witht he same brand or the shine will be somewhat dull becuase the companys chemical compounds react with each other.
) .Your going to want to polish them out to actually remove them. Then you will wnat to do a hand glaze for a better shine. Then follow it up with a good wax. We did this on all of our cars and none have swirls even my dads black truck.
We used mothers professional series for the polish and hand glaze and mothers paste wax.Liquid or paste is just preference.
Also make sure to stick witht he same brand or the shine will be somewhat dull becuase the companys chemical compounds react with each other.
Last edited by Yellow73SB; Jan 10, 2006 at 04:09 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Originally Posted by 427basketcase
I had them real bad in my big black car, Until I was turned on to Adams Polishes The stuff works!
Here's another vote for Adam's. Use the link above and go to their web site. There are videos you can download that will show the whole process of getting your car to look new again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
Originally Posted by Jims79
Kona, DON'T use the turtle wax. I used everything and the best for paint is Maguires. They have a #9 for removing swirls and a # 7 for a deep polish then a # 6 yellow wax for protection. Each bottle cost about $9 and you can get 3 applications from them.
For chrome and aluminum I use mothers.
I used everything and the best for paint is Maguires. They have a #9 for removing swirls and a # 7 for a deep polish then a # 6 yellow wax for protection. Each bottle cost about $9 and you can get 3 applications from them. For chrome and aluminum I use mothers.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Jims79
........the best for paint is Maguires. They have a #9 for removing swirls and a # 7 for a deep polish then a # 26 yellow wax for protection. Each bottle cost about $9 and you can get 3 applications from them.
For chrome and aluminum I use mothers.
For chrome and aluminum I use mothers.
i agree this stuff is the best its all i use....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Swirls are hard to prevent and even harder to remove. Even your hands can scratch a clean surface. Dry cloth towels can scratch, as can wash mits that are not really clean. I have separate mits for the body and tires/dirty body areas. Use a damp chamios to dry the surface. Swirls are an inevitable side-effect of washing your Vette. The less you wash it, the less swirls. Lots of wax can't hurt either. Most swirl removers merely fill the micro-scratches...that's ok, the look is good!
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: Northern Idaho
Kona,your swirls are scratches from washing,drying,touching,ect...they only way to really get rid of them is to cut and buff.this should be done by a pro if you havnt done it before.what they do is replace your swirls(scratches) with smaller sctraches by wetsanding with 1000 to 2500 grit ect.,then they go through diff.stages of buffing using diff.pads,first wool then foam and then a finish pad,when done right even a black car will have no swirls and wont reappear for a long time if you are carefull.different componds will fill the scratches without taking them out,they are just a temporay fix and the swirls will come back sooner,you will have to keep applying and applying.3m hand glaze is one of them.I use system 1 as you can use it through the whole process where diff. manafactures have you use several compounds through the cut and buff process.once your car is cut and buffed right ,only wash and dry with micro fiber towels , when washing use lots of water and dont push hard,Hint;when washing and drying,dont move in a circular motion,but a stright motion ,this will helpthe swirl problem,Darryl