Paint question
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 77
From: Forney Texas
The clay will remove the contaminants from the paint, but won't remove the swirls. You will probably have to put a high speed polisher to it and if you don't have alot of experience with that, I recommend paying a professional to do it. The color sanding will just add more scratches to the paint as it removes the orange peel texture and then to take the sand scratches out, they will use a series of compounds, polishes and pads to remove those sand scratches, so might as well just polish out the sand scratches. Be careful on how you dry your car once you get it polished, because most of those spider web scratches and swirl marks are typically from drying off the car improperly and therefore they will be back sooner.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 401
From: Palm City
St. Jude Donor '06-'11
The clay will remove the contaminants from the paint, but won't remove the swirls. You will probably have to put a high speed polisher to it and if you don't have alot of experience with that, I recommend paying a professional to do it. The color sanding will just add more scratches to the paint as it removes the orange peel texture and then to take the sand scratches out, they will use a series of compounds, polishes and pads to remove those sand scratches, so might as well just polish out the sand scratches. Be careful on how you dry your car once you get it polished, because most of those spider web scratches and swirl marks are typically from drying off the car improperly and therefore they will be back sooner.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 14,109
Likes: 26
From: 4th on the list of top 100 in USA Ga.
The clay will remove the contaminants from the paint, but won't remove the swirls. You will probably have to put a high speed polisher to it and if you don't have alot of experience with that, I recommend paying a professional to do it. The color sanding will just add more scratches to the paint as it removes the orange peel texture and then to take the sand scratches out, they will use a series of compounds, polishes and pads to remove those sand scratches, so might as well just polish out the sand scratches. Be careful on how you dry your car once you get it polished, because most of those spider web scratches and swirl marks are typically from drying off the car improperly and therefore they will be back sooner.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 631
Likes: 3
From: Joppa AL
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 538
Likes: 0
From: Edmond Ok
This is what I do. I use old worn cotton bath towels. Remove any of the end stitching or tags, cause the thread may not be cotton. I also test on an AOL free internet CD. (I never found a better use of the AOL CD) Rub your towel on the CD if it scratches the CD it will certainly scratch your finish, if it doesn't then you have a drying towel.
Good Luck
Oh and I use the leaf blower for the tail lights and side mirrors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,939
Likes: 0
From: norfolk virginia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,788
Likes: 137
From: center of Kalifornia
This is what I do. I use old worn cotton bath towels. Remove any of the end stitching or tags, cause the thread may not be cotton. I also test on an AOL free internet CD. (I never found a better use of the AOL CD) Rub your towel on the CD if it scratches the CD it will certainly scratch your finish, if it doesn't then you have a drying towel.
Good Luck
Oh and I use the leaf blower for the tail lights and side mirrors.
Good Luck
Oh and I use the leaf blower for the tail lights and side mirrors.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 11
From: Powell TN
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Since you have a black car, I would suggest going to a couple of your local dealerships and drive around back to the paint shop. Ask one of the painters who they would suggest to polish your car. Black is very hard to get the swirl marks out of and there is usually "that one guy" that is very good at what he does. This is the guy that you want polishing your car, not the guy that gets your car because it is next in line. A lot of the time, the clean up guys do this on the side and could save you some money.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,370
Likes: 8
From: Slave to the evil empire
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04
Why do you think it's killing your paint???
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 401
From: Palm City
St. Jude Donor '06-'11
Since you have a black car, I would suggest going to a couple of your local dealerships and drive around back to the paint shop. Ask one of the painters who they would suggest to polish your car. Black is very hard to get the swirl marks out of and there is usually "that one guy" that is very good at what he does. This is the guy that you want polishing your car, not the guy that gets your car because it is next in line. A lot of the time, the clean up guys do this on the side and could save you some money.
