Getting rid of old wax and removing swirls?

[V8ish]

My car has plenty of very light swirl marks on the body, especially visible in my garge under the lights. I have polished it with autoglym then waxed with Meguirs (the purple one?) but the swirls & very light scratches are still visible.

I can only assume that 17yrs of wax is preventing me from penetrating the actual paintwork???

I've thought of T-cutting it back, or washing with a high concrentartion of Fairy to strip the old wax?

Any thoughst or advise please?
Thanks

[jilapau]

Machine polish. I know someone who can do this at a reasonable price. PM if if you want details.

[T_Pot]

clay bar.

will leave it like new

[randlemarcus]

T_Pot said:

clay bar.

will leave it like new

No it wont. Claying removes surface dust/grit from the paint, not swirl marks.

Wax stripped off, machine polish, wash, clay, polish, wax and wax again.

[V8ish]

Thanks for the replies guys, but I want to do it by hand. Will T cut strip whats already down, follwed by waxing?

[Steve_T]

Use panel wipe or a decent degreaser to get the old stuff. I'd leave the machine polish to someone who knows what they're doing though as you don't know what the paint thickness is like and you could burn through.

[TheGriffalo]

V8ish said:

Thanks for the replies guys, but I want to do it by hand. Will T cut strip whats already down, follwed by waxing?

T-cut is way too coarse. Try Scratch-X, it's much less abrasive and will remove the fine swirl marks that build up with time.

Do you wash the car with ordinary detergent? If so that's the most likely cause of the fine swirl marks.

[T350 Brad]

I'd recommend reading the car-care guides on www.polishedbliss.com ... very comprehensive and interesting reading!

This guide is also very good: http://bbs.scoobynet.com/car-care-380/662582-how-s... (ignoring the fact it's intended for Subaru's many of the principles / products are still relevant).

As per the thread, for polishing by hand I'd recommend washing / claying and then using Menzerna Intensive polish. Has good 'cut' and will remove light swirls.

Bradders

PS. If you're using a sponge and chamois at the moment i'd highly recommend replacing with a lambs-wool mitt and waffle weave towel to minimise swirls in future ... I know it sounds a bit @nal but like I say, well worth it!

Edited by T350 Brad on Thursday 31st January 16:18

[T_Pot]

randlemarcus said:

T_Pot said:

clay bar.

will leave it like new

No it wont. Claying removes surface dust/grit from the paint, not swirl marks.

Wax stripped off, machine polish, wash, clay, polish, wax and wax again.

sorry, listen to what he said i was wrong ....


clay bar wont get rid of swirls sorry for the bum info

[LordGrover]

I paid for someone to detail mine. That worked!

[red griff roger]

See thread on cutting compound, just a few below this one

[V8ish]

Thanks people!

Grant

[V8 GRF]

No need to machine polish, granted the first time I did it I spent about 10 hours doing this but I was complimented by Mike of The Polishing Company at The Griff Growl as having got aa good a shine as possible without using a machine and the depth of shine in the panel he did with a machine polisher was only marginally deeper than mine

This my process

Wash car with sheepskin mitt, preferably using the two bucket system and then dry off with silicon blade and microfibre cloths

Mothers California Gold Clay Bar System (once or twice a year) This gets the surface feeling like glass
Mothers California Gold Pre-Wax Cleaner (twice or three times a year) This removes the swirl marks
Mothers Sealer & Glaze (As often as you have time or feel the need) This prepares and smooths the surface
Mothers California Gold Pure Carnauba Wax Paste (Ideally everytime after you've washed it)
Mothers Reflections Advanced Top Coat (My car lives outside so this protects the wax and gives it a deeper shine)

A car with this kind of base is a whole lot easier to wash as well as the dirt doesn't stick.

All bought from Maxx-Waxx

[macdeb]

Use 3M hand glaze. Can be bought from paint shop suppliers. Comes in black bottle and it will get rid of all the swirls.

[lwt]

Try and avoid using T-cut. It only works on cellulose paint by relying on a chemical reaction with ammonia (thats why it pongs...). On any other paint such as acrylic or 2-pack it will actually make the surface go dull - very smooth, but dull. Good stuff is Farecla G3 compound, sold in 500ml bottles by motor factors only. Not cheap but good. Ideal for use with a low speed rotary polisher, but good for hand use too.

Ian.

[tbdgriff500]

macdeb said:

Use 3M hand glaze. Can be bought from paint shop suppliers. Comes in black bottle and it will get rid of all the swirls.

what he said!
i have got a couple of ex car sprayers working for me and they gave me this stuff.!!
all i can say is "brilliant" and not that hard to put on

[amazon]

LordGrover said:

I paid for someone to detail mine. That worked!

Same here - brilliant result and still great 6 months later, so money well spent .

[Ali-D]

amazon said:

LordGrover said:

I paid for someone to detail mine. That worked!

Same here - brilliant result and still great 6 months later, so money well spent .

Approx how much for the detailing?
Nev

[Mustang Baz]

V8 GRF said:

Wash car with sheepskin mitt, preferably using the two bucket system and then dry off with silicon blade and microfibre cloths

Mothers California Gold Clay Bar System (once or twice a year) This gets the surface feeling like glass
Mothers California Gold Pre-Wax Cleaner (twice or three times a year) This removes the swirl marks
Mothers Sealer & Glaze (As often as you have time or feel the need) This prepares and smooths the surface
Mothers California Gold Pure Carnauba Wax Paste (Ideally everytime after you've washed it)
Mothers Reflections Advanced Top Coat (My car lives outside so this protects the wax and gives it a deeper shine)

A car with this kind of base is a whole lot easier to wash as well as the dirt doesn't stick.

All bought from Maxx-Waxx

Ditto this - absolutely superb system and products and I have used twice a year since ownership. All said, takes about 5 hrs, and well worth the effort.

[LordGrover]

Ali-D said:

amazon said:

LordGrover said:

I paid for someone to detail mine. That worked!

Same here - brilliant result and still great 6 months later, so money well spent .

Approx how much for the detailing?
Nev

£200-ish. Ian187 on here.