Swirl marks

[bigrhino]

I have a black tahoe. What's a good product to use by hand to get rid of them or make them less noticeable.

 

[Surf City Garage]

Good Morning!

With how hard today's clear coats are, it will be tough to remove those swirl marks all by hand. You can certainly make things look a little better or hide them with a heavy glaze. However, to remove them from the clear coat you will need to do that with a machine.

If you don't feel comfortable running a machine, maybe have it polished out, and look into picking up some products for maintaining that swirl free finish. Premium Microfiber, a really good Rinse-Free wash diluted as a Waterless Wash for dusting, a nice Polymer Detail Spray to enhance the shine and protection, etc.

 

[ScubaJim]

I have had good success with the Menzerna Polishes. You do need to have the right pads and a good random orbital polisher as well. (as SCG said) Black is tough. Mine is black as well.

 

[bigrhino]

Thanks you.

 

[MarkD51]

I agree with all the other posters who responded to you, you will never truly be able to attain the proper show quality end results by hand, like you could with a DA Polisher, and Foam Pads. Plus it will be a lot of work doing these large SUVs by hand.

As some say, black is not a color, it's a full time job.

DA machines are a lot easier, and safer for the hobbyist than a rotary polisher. That even a first time user can easily get the results they desire.

But, if you must, and wish to at least make the paint look better, then a very good polish which is usually very easy to get, and works well either by hand, DA, or Rotary, is Meguiars 205 Ultra Finishing Polish. About $23-$25/qt.

True Glazes can make a paint look better, feed-nurture the paint, but glazes only fill, and hide swirls and fine scratches, they do not permanently remove them.

 

[Goodinblack]

I personally would never fully correct black paint. Paint WILL scratch from just washing........ and black will show it the most

Own a few black cars so I know

 

[bigrhino]

Thank you everyone for your respones. My Tahoe is a daily driver and I just hate it when I go to the car wash and more swirls and light scratches show up. I know whatever I do it won't be perfect but I would hope for very good. Once again, thanks.

 

[MarkD51]

Thank you everyone for your respones. My Tahoe is a daily driver and I just hate it when I go to the car wash and more swirls and light scratches show up. I know whatever I do it won't be perfect but I would hope for very good. Once again, thanks.

It commonly is washing, and what techniques and tools are used to wash a vehicle. Running through the auto washes is just about the worst for being swirl makers.

Study up on two-bucket washes, and perhaps at least buy some grit guards for the buckets, a good chennile wash mitt.

Many vehicles today are two-stage paint. It is the top clear coat that is swirled, not actually the black paint underneath.

Basically any protectant wax, sealant etc lessens such from occurring to paint, but to what point, and for how long?

As for hand polishing with something like M205, it applies like a wax and is not that hard to apply, nor remove, use a soft clean MF Applicator, and lightly spread a decent quantity like 5-6 drops or so in a 18"x18" area, put a little elbow behind the pad, but try for even application and pressure throughout, and to duplicate what you do on an entire panel. As the pad gets dirty as you go, either wash, and dry as best you can, or switch to another clean applicator. Working clean always helps. Same with MF Towels.

Always do such processes in total shade, out of the sun, and on paint that is cool, not hot. Same with waxing-sealing, always out of sunlight.

Masking trim is always a good idea, as many polishes can stain trim, and be tough to get off.

Such by hand, can take a good number of days to do. If you have the time, and the will, one can eventually get though a vehicle, hand polish all panels, and then as always, protect with a good sealant, or wax.

A good wax that won't break the bank, and is very durable are the Collinite products, such as 845 Insulator Liquid Wax, or Collinite 476 Super DoubleCoat Paste.

For good very durable and very inexpensive Sealants, some great ones are Duragloss 105, or choose Duragloss 501 for even more cleaning power. Car Quest commonly carries this brand. Sealants need to cure, apply thin, let sit 30-40 minutes, then remove. Then keep up the finish with something like Duragloss Aquawax after washes.
Mark

---------- Post added at 05:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:06 AM ----------

All Paints at some point become contaminated with many things. Saps, paint overspray, industrial fallout, iron particles, etc.

Polishes can remove some, but its usually the wrong tool, and process for such. Claying a paint is a step that is commonly performed before polishing ad claying will more easily remove such bonded on contaminants.

A simple plastic baggie test will tell you the surface condition of your paint. Find yourself the thinnest dollar store sandwich bag, place your hand inside of it, and feel the surface of your clean and dry paint. Yes, like sandpaper, right?

Even after hand, or even machine polishing, the paint may feel no different, just glossier. That's why Claying is usually advised.

 

[Goodinblack]

Auto car washes are the work of satan

 

[Yukongk]

I did a full detail with a DA last summer....I now need to do it again bc of the swirls. Mine is black too, and a daily driver. I maintained the shine and deep wet look of the paint, but when the sun hits it......I get upset bc I can see swirls.
I use a 2 bucket wash and am very careful, but it was such a snowy/salty winter, I had to use a brushless car wash on a few occasions bc it was freezing outside and I needed to get the salt off.
My new approach is to lightly polish every summer and use products that contain "fillers" when the swirls start to show up to make them less noticeable until I can do a full detail. Black is rough man, my wife has a silver SUV and it always looks clean and you can barely see swirls, even in direct sun light. I always say that her vehicle is always looking pretty and my Yukon needs a full day at the spa before it can go anywhere.