Who does the best detailing in Austin? I've got swirl marks and it's driving me nuts.

Thanks

 

I can't speak for who does work in Austin...but you ought to give some thought to getting a Porter Cable polisher and removing the swirl marks yourself....I was in the EXACT same position you are, got the PC, practiced, and found swirl mark removal is FAR easier than you might think...When I see the swirls starting back I'll break it out again and get them with the ones I missed the first time...it is FAR easier than I'd been led to believe, and I like hands on stuff with the Car anyhow...Just a thought, considering Swirl removal is usually pretty expensive, why not give it a try? As for a good Detailer, someone will have a name for you if it's something you'd rather not try yourself... Either way, Great to see you keeping the Car looking great!!

~Maverick

 

Ok, I'm feeling some confidence starting over here. I've been led to believe that a good "buffer man" is next to a good doctor! So let me ask, what products do you use and what RPM do you run the buffer at? Thanks

 

I start with a White pad, Med Abrasive polish, Either pinnacle XMT, or Zaino Z-pc Fusion...I apply about a quarter size dolp in the center...kinda spread it lightly in a 2'x2' area with power off, then set the polisher to 3-3.5...spread the polish in that area...then turn it off, put the polisher up to a 5-5.5 and work it slowly overlapping...don't over work the polish...(takes about 2-4 minutes to work that 2'x2' area)...I then wipe it clean (microfibre towel) and if it's not pulling the marks out I'll go up to a Orange pad....I've found a Orange pad is all I've ever really needed and that if you let the polish work it will take out the vast amount, going slower would have allowed the polish to work better still....for deeper marks you MAY need a Yellow pad...(I never have yet)........the secret is to not get in a hurry, to work the area slowly and let the polish work, but to stop once the polish has worn down...There are some interesting Videos over at autogeek.net that you can watch that pretty much explains the steps with videos...I was timid at first, but once I started I quickly gained confidence and considering it was my 1st car to really polish I felt pretty good....Got about 70% of the swirls with the 1st attempt, cleared up some more when I went back over the car again...Wound up going over the car 2x's for swirls, then 2 for polishing, glazing and waxing...I was VERY happy and expect better results the next attempt...plus now I have the polisher and don't have to pay those fees again unless I just get lazy and want to have someone else do it...(not likely) Also, Junkman made a video where he explains the PC polisher as well...do a search on his threads and you should find it....it was AJ's vieo that gave me the confidence to try mine....looks wonderful compared to before, and I FULLY expect even better results with each attempt as I learn more.... A Porter Cable is pretty safe on the paint too...that really helped me with the 'fear' part of messing up my paint...(You'll be fine!!!)

~Maverick

 

I'm sorry, but a PC will only get out very light swirls in a Corvette hard clear coat.

You'll spend too much money and too much time to not get the results you're looking for.

If you want your car to look perfect you are going to have to use a rotary as the PC just doesn't generate the heat needed to remove swirls completely.

Yes a good "buffer man" is like a good doctor. You get someone who doesn't know how to use a rotary or uses a rotary but doesn't allow the abrasive to completely break down, cause he's in a hurry, and you finish out with buffer trails everywhere which is just as bad as swirls...

If the swirls are deep enough, you'll have to really compound them out and then follow up the compound with a finer abrasive polish to take out the holograms.

As mentioned of using a glaze, that will only fill in and temporarily cover up the swirls and after a couple washes, the oils run off and your swirls magically reappear.

And if you're in the garage buffing under floresent lighting then you're fooling yourself thinking the swirls are gone as that lighting is just not bright enough. Try pure sunlight with no cloud cover, or 500W-1000W halogens when it's dark out, then you'll see what the PC really accomplished.

Polishing a Corvette hard clear with a rotary making it even 95% perfect will easily take 8-12+ hours.

Some are just satified with shiny, I'm not, I like pure paint with no flaws.

Josh

 

As Maverick has so well pointed out, he's gone over his car now at least 4 times with the PC and still has not gotten out all the swirls, PC just doesn't cut swirls enough.

You need a rotary for real correction.

Josh

 

I'm more than happy with the swirls I've removed, 4 times yes, but only 2x's were for swirls, and I admit I'm a beginner. Considering the 'pros' were quoting me $700. plus for a detail, on a car they had never even laid eyes on, and my time is 'free', and working on the car is 'relaxation' to me...I think I'm wayyyy ahead. If the swirls come back I can polish them out again...and even a pro can't get them out so good they are not going to come back...unless I just quit using the car. $700. for a show car, maybe...but not for a daily driver. I only had to buy the Porter Cable 1 time....and my abilities will improve with each use, No,..I'm not a Pro...but I've gotten MANY, MANY compliments on what took me 4-5 hours to do, plus I have the satisfaction of knowing I did it myself.

Not all cars need the power of a rotary, my Swirls were actually pretty light, although I missed some, I still think I'm way ahead. The Porter Cable may NOT have the power of a Pro Rotary....but then again, I'm not a pro, but the PC has PLENTY of power to remove the VAST majority of swirls...and safely, as long as I don't rush the results. I was simply suggesting that there ARE alternatives. I'm thrilled with the results I obtained, absolutely not 'perfect', but even a pro would not have gotten EVERY imperfection out. I believe I DID suggest if he wants a 'Pro', someone would provide a name in the Austin area eventually (I don't know of any personally)....I simply suggested alternatives, and from my experience, results ARE quite achievable.

~Maverick

 

Maverick,
I have to partly disagree, a pro who knows what they are doing can in fact get every single flaw and defect out of the paint. It may take a little wetsanding on some deeper scratches, but it is very achievable.

And yes $700 is not a bad price for a quality swirl removal job provided the detailer is not using any glazes, or fillers to cover anything up. That's about 10 hours of work for me and figure somewhere between 8-12 hours for swirl removal. Some clients call me and want a quote without even seeing the car, so you have to figure worst case sinario when you give a quote. Personally I try not to quote and rather tell them for swirl removal is hourly as it can take as short as 8 hours or as long as 12-14 hours. I am very honest about it all.

You know swirls don't just magically come back??......it has nothing to do with a detailer's skills and abilities with buffing the car so well that they won't show back up..... YOU PUT THEM THERE.

The key to making them not come back is in the regular maintaince of the vehicle on a weekly basis. You're swirls are coming back due to improper washing and drying technique. Try the two bucket washing method, use only new and clean wash mitts, leaf blow dry the car and touch up with a quality and clean micro fiber and a good polymer spray like Zaino Z8 or Meg's Ultimate QD.....and people for the luv of all things good, stop dry dusting your cars and using CA dusters and thinking after a week of sunny weather the car only needs to be wiped down with a QD all the time?

The reason swirls exist is due to dirt particles in the wash water, wash mitts and towels you wash and dry your car with, those dirt particles get dragged across the surface and cut into the clear coat, depending on how light or heavy you push down will determine how deep they go, but never the less they will be there. So change your techniques and your swirls will not reappear so rapidly.

Josh

 

I'm definatly learning here. I'm researching the PC and UDM and their capabilities right now. Quite frankly, I'm of the mind set that a $170 or so investment for a unit isn't a risk as it would be an easy sell if I decided that it's not the avenue I want to travel.

Thank you both for the imput, it has helped me a great deal.

 

It's not that cheap....

Figure $150 for the machine.

Figure you will need at least two abrasive polishes, one for a heavy cutting and another for light cutting. The most popular swirl removal combo is Menzerna SIP and 106F (with a rotary) which are both expensive but definately some of the elite polishes in the world. You'll also need a good sealant to protect the new finish. All that together will easily be another $100 for small quantaties.

Figure pads, I like Lake Country pads, 2 orange cutting pads, 2 white pads, 2 black pads at least will run you about $50.

You can clean the pads by letting soak in Dawn and scrubbing with a soft brush.

All and all said and done you'll probably spend closer to $300+. Not to mention the 20-40 hours you'll spend learning on the car.

But I think you'll find it well worth it.

Josh

 

Check this out and let me knopw your thoughts - http://www.autopia-carcare.com/udm-daspol-na.html

 

That looks okay, but you'll need twice the pads and also all the polishes....

Check www.autogeek.net as well as they have a pretty healthy selection of kits too. just another option.

 

That's where I found the UDM. Thanks again.

 

I used a good guy name Blake and he was pretty good. He lives in Cedar Park/Leander........I will send you a PM with his number. Did my Vert for good price.

 

Josh,

Are you saying I'm adding swirls when using a CA duster as directed, not to scrub off dust that's really dirt? Don't ask me how I know the difference. :o

5 minutes after my car is dry after washing, it's dusty.

 

Got it, thanks!

 

What I'm saying is that there's an increased risk of swirls whenever you touch the car.....especially when it is dirty or heavily dusty.

The kind of dust I'm referring to is not the two little particles that appear on your hood after washing....

So where do all those dust and dirt particles go on the CA duster? just magically disappear? or are they still on the duster being dragged accross the car?

Answer me this question. Go outside on the next nice sunny day with no clouds and look the the finish. Is there a bunch of little spider web looking lines everywhere or is the paint pure and the color perfectly solid?

I only recommend what I feel is the safest thing for the clear coat and I dont' feel that is the CA duster.

I know many who use it and swear by it, but not me, there are safer ways to remove dust from the surface.

Josh

 

 

 

I can say that Josh does a great job because he has done alot of work on my vette and he has made it look great. He treats the car as his own.

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...t=ZMachine.jpg