Need help with approach on swirls found in hood

[stevebrm]

Hey guys last night I parked under the street light and I noticed this spot on the hood. I was planning later this month to jewel up the paint with Menzerna sf3800(sf4500) and LC crimson pads, since my last full detail last fall. After seeing this I'm not sure if sf3800 would be effective.

I'm thinking I may have to do a 2-step on the hood alone with sf3500 with LC white pads followed by sf3800 with LC crimson. What do you guys think?

These are my other polishes I have:
M105 and M205
HD polish
D300 with megs microfiber correcting pads
Menzerna 2500, 3500, and 3800
Multiple LC orange, white, blue, and crimson pads

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[VR8]

I'm not familiar with the Menzerna products, so for me I'd start with Meguiar's #205, move to D300 if needed, and maybe to #105 if they are deep swirls. It all depends on the clear coat hardness. What type of vehicle is it, and what year? Have you polished it before?

[stevebrm]

I'm not familiar with the Menzerna products, so for me I'd start with Meguiar's #205, move to D300 if needed, and maybe to #105 if they are deep swirls. It all depends on the clear coat hardness. What type of vehicle is it, and what year? Have you polished it before?

It's a 2013 VW Jetta GLI, I have read they tend to have hard paint. I have polished it twice before 2014 and 2016. Other than the hood, the rest of the car paint in 9/10. What pad combo would you go with for 205 and 105? Thanks for your help.

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[kevincwelch]

Good practice is to start light.

You could try Sf4500 (3800) but it truly is for jeweling and may not help with the swirls much. SF4000 (3500) has more cut, but it also is a finishing product. I use SF4000 a lot of my own car for swirls that are minor. Sometimes varying the pad helps if the swirls are worse. I think you'd really be shooting for the moon if you planned on following 3500 with 3800. I'd start with 3500 if that's what you have on hand. As said, m205 is also a great option to start.

I've used HD Polish on light swirls with amazing success: Flex and Rupes with white pads.
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[The Guz]

I am not a menzerna user. But I'm familiar enough with Meguiar's. I would test spot with M205 on a polishing pad. If you need more correction I would skip to D300 on the microfiber cutting pad. The reason I am not recommending M105 is due to the short working time, dusting, essentially the frustration with using it.

[Setec Astronomy]

As kevinwelch said, following 3500 with 3800 is overkill. I agree you will need the 3500 for those swirls, though.

[VR8]

With Guz's thought in mind. After you try #205, should you find its not enough cut, you can add a drop or two of #105 along with the #205 for your next trial. Depending on the ratio, 2 drops #205 w/ one drop #105, or vice versa, you'll get a nice boost in cut without the full on dust problems associated with #105 alone. The two work well together and you haven't dirtied another pad.

John @ Hill City Auto Detail

[stevebrm]

Just following up guys, I was able to clean up the hood significantly. m205 with a white polishing pad did the trick. I was able to get about a 90% correction. Thanks for all the help and info.

Unfortunately when I was done I went out to visit some relatives when walking back to my car I saw my rear bumper was scoffed up, I was able to clean that up with some 105 but was left with deep scratches from whatever hit me. I will have to live with that for now it really sucks living in the city, it has been only a year and half since my last respray of the front and rear bumper.

Thanks again for the help.

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[The Guz]

Nicely done. Seems like the paint was not that hard. Made life easier for you.