mensoc
08-25-2020, 01:55 PM
Well, the title says it all.
One door is painted a few years back with a dual paint with multiple layers of clear coat.
This company generally works on expensive cars, but did this as well.
The color match is flawless and the paint finish was too.
Now after years of use and parking in garages of appartment buildings, there are swirls marks as to be expected.
During some minor work on the car, the mechanic used a brick wall as a door stop, and that didnt help much either.
It resulted in scuffs and some scratches, but all in the clear coat.
So i got white microfiber pads, and ultimate polish and ultimate compound and some microfiber towels from meguiars.
And after some testing first and "some" free exercise, the scratches and scuffs are completely gone, and no more swirl marks, a true mirror finish.
I use a bright led light to check for any left scratches, swirls or marks, but it's all gone.
The compound left a light haze (but to get rid of the scratches some paint had to come off), but the polish got the shine back.
But then i looked at the rest of the car.
Yikes.
Scratches and swirl marks galore.
So i began testing on the other door which has a single stage paint, just as the rest of the car.
First a non abrasive polish, nothing.
Then the ultimate polish, not much either.
The compound leaves a haze, but a haze with some light scratches in it. I only use the compound at points where a isolated scratch sits, so not the whole panel ofcourse.
Not good. You would expect this haze to break the existing swirls at least, but no.
The polish gets the haze out again but the swirls remain.
So i tested further ( the underside of the door, the least visible part) with some more pressure, some less pressure, yellow foam pads, making the pads lightly moist to make it go smoother, you name it.
I looked at dozens of videos, read dozens of articles, but the swirl marks remain.
I make sure the product doesn't get to dry, and wipe it of with every pattern i can think of, so to make sure i'm not causing new ones, all in a garage not outside, and all with clean suplies.
I also don't want to polish too much or too long, because i have no idea how much paint is on the car. (it's a mazda, so probably the least they can get away with).
The paint is very soft, it scratches when you look at it.
What ever i do, the swirls remain.
Is it better than before?
Yes.
Is it a mirror?
No.
If i shine a light direct on it, the swirls are much less visible, while on the untreated panels they are clearly visisble.
So its better but far from perfect.
But when i take the light further away and in an angle, there come the swirls.
These are very light, because when i put some wax on the panel, the swirls are gone, in every light setting.
But i want them gone.
Any advise?
One door is painted a few years back with a dual paint with multiple layers of clear coat.
This company generally works on expensive cars, but did this as well.
The color match is flawless and the paint finish was too.
Now after years of use and parking in garages of appartment buildings, there are swirls marks as to be expected.
During some minor work on the car, the mechanic used a brick wall as a door stop, and that didnt help much either.
It resulted in scuffs and some scratches, but all in the clear coat.
So i got white microfiber pads, and ultimate polish and ultimate compound and some microfiber towels from meguiars.
And after some testing first and "some" free exercise, the scratches and scuffs are completely gone, and no more swirl marks, a true mirror finish.
I use a bright led light to check for any left scratches, swirls or marks, but it's all gone.
The compound left a light haze (but to get rid of the scratches some paint had to come off), but the polish got the shine back.
But then i looked at the rest of the car.
Yikes.
Scratches and swirl marks galore.
So i began testing on the other door which has a single stage paint, just as the rest of the car.
First a non abrasive polish, nothing.
Then the ultimate polish, not much either.
The compound leaves a haze, but a haze with some light scratches in it. I only use the compound at points where a isolated scratch sits, so not the whole panel ofcourse.
Not good. You would expect this haze to break the existing swirls at least, but no.
The polish gets the haze out again but the swirls remain.
So i tested further ( the underside of the door, the least visible part) with some more pressure, some less pressure, yellow foam pads, making the pads lightly moist to make it go smoother, you name it.
I looked at dozens of videos, read dozens of articles, but the swirl marks remain.
I make sure the product doesn't get to dry, and wipe it of with every pattern i can think of, so to make sure i'm not causing new ones, all in a garage not outside, and all with clean suplies.
I also don't want to polish too much or too long, because i have no idea how much paint is on the car. (it's a mazda, so probably the least they can get away with).
The paint is very soft, it scratches when you look at it.
What ever i do, the swirls remain.
Is it better than before?
Yes.
Is it a mirror?
No.
If i shine a light direct on it, the swirls are much less visible, while on the untreated panels they are clearly visisble.
So its better but far from perfect.
But when i take the light further away and in an angle, there come the swirls.
These are very light, because when i put some wax on the panel, the swirls are gone, in every light setting.
But i want them gone.
Any advise?