I'm trying to remove some buffer swirls on my car. Question is... Would using too much swirl mark removing compound eat through the paint or damage it somewhat? Would it make the paint lighter? (my car is black) Because I heard that the compound is abrasive like polish. I took it to a detailer once before but he didn't remove all the swirls so I'm wandering if I should get it done again... Thank you for the help.

 

If there are swirls on your car, use a swirl remover to elminate them, hence the name "swirl remover". There are all types of polishes out there, and some can be abrasive as hell, but a swirl remover such as 3M's Ultrafine Micropolish barely even gets warm when used with a good glaze pad. If you burn a paint job with the swirl remover, then you've done it on purpose.

Wash your car, clay bar your paint job to remove any contaminants, old wax and compound residue, then polish away! Be sure to wax your finished project to seal in and protect your results!

Swirl marks are defects and do not belong on your car. They are too easy to remove if you use the correct products and striving for that perfect finish won't make your paint lighter. The only things that will make your paint appear lighter is severe oxidation, fading, or sunbleaching, IMO. Hope that helps!

 

what machine are you using or are you doing this by hand? you probably wont have much luck with a polish by hand. i am assuming your using some sort of da, if so grab some menzerna sip and nano.

 

yeah i was thinking about buying a porter cable 7424 (Orbiter) to wax and use swirl remover on my car. I'd buy it mainly to use swirl remover and waxing.

 

with a pc, i recommend the menzerna polishes for swirl remover along with the lake country ccs pads. i like to apply wax by hand, but whatever youd like to do.

menzerna super intensive polish
menzerna 106ff polish (aka nano)

you can also use megs 205 and 105, but ive heard they tend to be a little finicky with a da/orbiter.

there are other cheaper polishes like wolfgang total swirl remover and poorboys workd ssr polishes, but i think most will recommend menzerna products.

 

I nomally use a rotory polishing maching and use meg 9 + foam polishing pad on around 1200 rpm to remove light swirl mark, But if you need to remove more scratches, you can use 2000 grit sand paper to wet sand scratches and use meg 84 + wool pad 2000 rpm then change it to a foam polishing pad 1600 rpm to polish it, then use the meg 9 to remove the remaining swirl marks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2218757...n/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2218757...n/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2218757...n/photostream/

 

O yeah and that wouldn't damage your paint if it's done correctly