how bad are these swirls?

[chinton]

Hi All,

I decided to pull my Trans Am out of the garage and try to get better pictures of the flaws in the paint that are bothering me. Im sure they are the type that most cant see, but I always do.

My detail process had always been: wash(dawn) -> dry ->absorber -> clay -> 3m scratch X -> wax (carnu-b). From there I maintain by simply dusting the car before I get in it and would wash (car shampoo)/wax(carnu-b) bi-weekly

The swirls were put in by a cheap random orbital buffer/polisher i had purchased and a yellow bonnet that came with it. I was trying to apply meguiars cleaner wax about 2 months after i purchased the car in 02. That was the first/last time I used the machine.

overview of the car: (click pics for fullsize)


example of the swirls that are all over the car:

light oxidation on the headlight/passenger door:


My question about how bad the paint is stems from the product options I am thinking of:

a. optimum PC kit
b. menzera kit or simply using SIP + others
c. possibly einzsett since I dont own a PC yet and have free time to polish.

So I guess the answer/advice I am looking to the AGO community for would be suggestions on which products WILL remove the imperfections so that I may choose what is in my price range.

Thanks!

[sal329]

PC, 4" pads (orange, white, black), Menzerna SIP, 106fa then finish with 87mc, or you can go with Meguiars #83, 82 and 80. Take your time and do a test panel.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

Absorber could be one culprit as it has no nap and can grind any dirt or sand into finish. Move to blower and guzzler.

I have never found ScratchX to work that well, and certainly not by hand. You need to move to a buffer and Menzerna IP/FP or SIP/106FF.

[chinton]

thanks for the replies - and no scratchX didnt do much by hand, but it did seem to provide a temporary solution.

while waiting for responses, ive been reading up on the Einszett line. Do you guys think that would have any effect by hand or am i best just holding out for the PC?

[conan777]

Get the PC! Both the Op and Menz lines are very good polishes. I have and use both regularly. I would recommend OC, SIP, and 106F> with a couple orange and white pads to get started with.

[sal329]

Wait for the PC