can someone please explain to me how these happen on your clear coat?? how can u avoid this disgusting marks? i have a black car so it always looks worse. i use all top quality washes and waxes. and always use "the absorber" to dry it. but i have gotten lazy and have gottern washed at a local hand wash car wash, never by the machines. i wax it all the time with mothers wax and a orbital buffer and when im done it looks great no scratches. whats the best way to avoid them and get rid of them? compund? any info would be appreciated

 

i tell ya dude i have a NBP as well and its just something that happens
even on the new ones. Use a decent wax, if your paint is in other wise good condition just use a wax you are comfortable with, like a premium level mothers or whatever. I prefer the meguiers Gold Class, i have also used the turtle wax color cure, not bad but requres some patience. That wax is good on the mirrors and the lower grill area, covers alot of scratches. But you might have a newer finish then mine, i have a 94 so granted you might not even need that. just a good liquid wax really is the best bet, the swirl marks are something all black cars have to deal with unfortunatly.

 

ttt

 

I just switched to Zaino. I have my 2nd coat drying now. Do it right:
Wash with Dawn detergent first to strip the wax. First claybar the whole car and rewash with Dawn. Then use 3M swirl mark remover wherever there are major swirls or light scratches. then, hit with Zaino system using Z1->Z5->more Z5 if needed->Z6 between coats->Z2. Go to http://www.Zainobros.com for details. So far it beats Meguiars hands down. I think others are agreeing that it is one of the best.
Hope this helps.

Torin


[Modified by GruvyTune, 4:09 AM 9/17/2001]

 

what are u using to wash your car? i imagine that u are using a rag or sponge or wash mit to wash it, if so these things easily trap particles that scratch the clear coat and cause swirl marks, you should always use a 100% terry cloth cotton towel, the terry cloth actually lifts particles away from the surface rather than dragging them across the surface, also, try using 2 buckets when u wash your car, one bucket to hold the wash and another to rinse the cloth before you add more soap to it, or the problem could be in your absorber, how often do u wash it? it could be that particles are getting trapped inside it and are scratching your clear when u are drying the car, but i dont know because i have never used an absorber, only real chamois for me
by the way mequiars gold class liquid wax is the best wax that i have ever used, it is easy to apply and remove and leaves your car with a mirror finsh, i hope this helps, maybe we can get to the root of your swirl mark problem, later

 

yeah i do use a sponge. i tried to use a 100% real chamois (spelling) but i found that it would leave oily residue behind so i switched to the absorber which worked really well but like i said i have gotten it washed at a hand car was and i know this didnt help. i never used rags to wash or dry this car. this sucks cause my car is so new. today i washed and waxed it with mothers three step and it looks fantastic. if i dont wax it then u can see the swirls. how the hell can i remove most of them for good. i wash my car once a week.

 

next time u wash your car, use a 100% terry cloth cotton towel instead of the sponge, also wash that absorber, and see if that does the trick, i think one of those 2 things is causing your swirls, and about the oily residue after using a chamois thats an oil they add to help make the chamois stay in good shape until u buy it, next time u get a chamois u should gently wash it with dish soap and then rinse it, this will eliminate the oily residue it leaves behind, later

 

i hear meguirs scratch x gets rid of the swirl marks, give it a shot

 

i disagree with the idea that teri towels are the only safe method for applying soapy water to the car. I have used alot of different applicators on alot of different cars and different colors. it comes down to a matter of personal perferance as with most things related to cars. I feel that a terri can be just has harmful in draggin contaminants accross the finish as a sponge, mit, etc etc. I think alot of it is common since.

--rinse off, hose off the weapon of choice whatever it may be after each run. jsut get the dirty soap and water out of it. You are more ten welcome to use the 2 bucket method if you so choose. PErsonally, i have to come down go back up 3 stories to get to the parking lot and wash my car, so the less i gott carry back up the better.

--use common since. Dont use a dirty towel sponge, mit. If it feels soft and is clean its probably as safe as anything else.

--of course you want to match the too to the job...IE, dont want a medium wheel or tire brush for the body where you would need something more delicate and soft and likewise you dont use a gentle towel when scrupping wheel wells or underbody.

--i dont know, take it for whats its worth, just my 2 cents. But find a method YOU prefer and works well and stick with it.

 

i agree about the using common sense part, but the function of the terry cloth towel is suppose to lift the particles away from the surface, unlike a sponge that could drag the particles across, i dont know how exactly it works but thats supposed to be the general idea, another thing i just thought of is that maybe there are too many contaminants embedded in your clear coat, after u wash you car next time try a mequairs clay bar, maybe this could get rid of all the contaminents in your clear and help stop those swirl marks, later

 

Just get your car buffed professionally once or twice a year...I have some friends that do it for a living, and as long as the scratches aren't too bad, they make black cars look great.....oh, and I do see them do lots of them, since we work at a car dealership.

I just got my car buffed and polished...oh, she looks like new! (except for the nicks!)

 

I an just imagine how frustrating swirl marks are on a black car, we have a red car and white car and swirl marks are still a problem for us.
I can suggest that you try Zaino, I am going to order some for our cars next week because I have seen pics of that stuff work wonders on really bad paint even... I am sold!!! Also, don't wash your car in direct sunlight.
Anyways, I would much rather have swirl marks then have a big dent in our new Integra like happened to us this morning when we went outside . Good luck with that.

 

Ok....Zaino report:
I now have my 2nd coat of Zaino on. First coat is Z5 the swirl mark hider and second coat is Z2 their standard wax. I put the Z6 detailer spray on in between as directed.

Lo and Behold! no more swirl marks!!! the finish is phenomenal! I am sold....
I plan on putting another coat on every day this week till I have at least 5 coats. With winter and salt coming up, I want lots of wax on the car. Only problem now is that every single little ding and paint chip shows up since the rest of the finish sparkles and reflects so well.

 

i dont want to hide the swirls i want them gone. i guess buffing them out my be only option. BTW how much does that zainos stuff go for?

 

I just put 5 coats of Zaino on my black '01 GSR...I'm really paranoid about having a black car in winter, hopefully that will help!

In terms of swirlies, I try to wash/wax back and forth, not in a circle. Someone told me that helps?

- Markus

 

You need a "process" of Zaino products, which basically means that you have to buy the whole kit of Zaino in order for it to work.
For the whole shot, it will run you about $125.00. At least, that is what I pay for the kit I use. It costs a bit, but like you said, if you buff the swirls out and keep using this product, you will be very pleased!!!! .

 

By the way...the website is: zainobros.com, in case you were wondering.

take care

 

thanks for all the replies. i think im gonna get the zainos products and give it a try.