Hey guys, I had a few quick questions...

What OTC products do you use to get out swirls? (plz be specifc)

I've heard scratchX is decent. Any other ones?

And afterwords what do you use to seal?

I was recommended menzerna IP and PO106FF, but are there any comparable products at a local auto parts store?

TIA!

 

Scratch X will work, but it requires a LOT of elbow grease and doesn't work well with a buffer. If your whole car has swirls, you'll kill yourself trying to treat it with X. I'd borrow or buy a random-orbital Porter-Cable 7424 ( I think that's the right model) and do it right with other products. I use a variety of Meguiars stuff with mine ( polish, sealants, wax). Their website explains them all and has a link to their forums which have all sorts of good DIY videos.

 

swirl removal by hand? Good luck....You are probably better off using a product that has a lot of fillers to hide the swirls and applying that regularly, or buck up and get a real polisher if you really care about removal

 

I just purchased a pc 7424. All I'm waiting on is the LC pads. I just have no idea where to start in terms of polishes that remove swirls, etc.

 

try this link for Meguiars products. The higher the red arrow, the more abrasive they are- copy and paste these links-
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm?sectionname=Professional%20(Mirro r%20Glaze%20Brand)>Auto%20Paint%20Care>Car%20Polis hes>Cleaner/Polishes&sectionID=31402

Join or at least learn all you want from this forum
How to use your PC (referred to as the G100 here)-

http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm?sectionname=Professional%20(Mirro r%20Glaze%20Brand)>Auto%20Paint%20Care>Car%20Polis hes>Cleaner/Polishes&sectionID=31402

 

I thought that I was going to detail my car by hand to get the swirls out.......bad idea. It was never going to happen. I started by using a paint cleaner, followed by a clay bar to get the paint as clean as I could. I bought the Mezerna PO106ff from Detailed Image and tried a small section of the hood by hand and quickly figured out that doing it that way was worthless. So I bought a good random orbital polisher and it made a huge difference. If you want the swirls out then go this route, don't waste your time and energy doing it by hand. If you aren't really sure where to start or what products to use I would go the the "Ask a Professional Detailer" thread and tell George from Detailed Image what color car you have, the condition of the paint, and what you are trying to achieve and he can recommend that right products for you (plus you get 10% off).

 

I would purchase some good polishes online. autogeek.net or from detailedimage.com. They are worth he money. I personally like the menzerna line, others like different stuff. You will notice the difference. You get what you pay for. How bad are the swirls? If the are medium, i would go with the menzerna SIP w/white or orange pad. Then follow up with menzerna 106FA. Remember try the least aggressive approach first. If that doesn't work the go more aggressive.