I detailed this 01 Highlander on the weekend. Sure turns out wet with the Prima product. The process was:
wash ( all the rubbers were green and growing things)
clay with Mothers
Prima swirl on the orange pad and PC
Megs m80 on the w8006 pad
Prima amigo on the black pad
Prima epic on the black pad
windows with clarity
interior with nero

I've got a question for you swirl users out there. I found it to cake up on the pad really quickly. Am I using too much? What do you do to clean it mid car?

Thanks for looking

 

I've never had problems with Swirl on my orange pad, you might be using too much? As far as how to wash mid-way thru, no idea, sorry :(.

 

Nice job! It looks really good. I like how the paint is different colors in different light.

I haven't used Swirl yet, but I do remember someone (maybe Richard?) saying it tends to gum up if you use too much.

As far as getting excess out of the pad mid-polish, all you can really do is blot it onto a dry towel and see how much you can get out. Better idea is to have extra pads on hand just in case.

 

looks good. probably looks even deeper and better today, huh?

 

That was my old opinion with using Swirl and the Meguiar's W8006 pad. Now that I'm using the Prima (LC) Orange Pad and Swirl, I don't have the gumming issue.

I don't think the problem is that too much Swirl is being used--it's the fact the pad needs to be cleaned-if you polish several cars using that same pad--product will build up if you don't clean the pad.

You could wash the pad, or you could spray the pad with a quick detailer and use another absorbent towel to transfer as much product to it as possible--squeezing and massaging the pad to get the polish out.

Richard

 

^^ i started out using one pad and a bucket with warm water to rinse
out some of the used polish as dust particles started flying out once
it was pretty saturated. now, i just pull out a fresh pad. but
ofcourse, i only got one car to detail per day (at most).

 

It got rained on the next day, hopefully that didn't hurt any of the curing process.

 

I always start with a clean pad. But it was gummed up by the time the hood was done.

I was trying to transfer it to another towel , like in your DVD. But it was stuck on there, the QD will help. Thanks for the tip!! I'll get more orange pads. I didn't think I'd use it much, but most cars seem to need it.

 

I was getting some gumy residue with Swirl on the default white PC pad this weekend while doing my friend's Miata. It did seem to help when I used a microfiber cloth to clean off the extra product. The gummy stuff came off the paint OK with a bit of elbow grease, but it scared me for a minute at first.

I think it might have been an issue with too much product in his case though - I noticed that when *I* polished (using less product and more passes, allowing the product to dimish a bit better) there was far less gummy residue than when I allwed him to polish.

JEREMY - have you had any hazing issues with Swirl on the orange pad? heather was telling me that the orange pad, which is a mild cutting pad, might be a bit harsh/agressive for MINI paint. I'm holding off polishing actually because I'm not sure I have the right pad - I have an orange and 2 black (fine) pads - one is slated for wax use but I'm not sure of the other is what I should use for the Swirl or if I should use the orange. I have some Finish in case I get hazing, but I'd rather not have to do that step if I don't have to, y'know?

Thanks!

 

No problem there! Rain doesn't affect the curing process at all. Only detergents (ie, soap) affect the curing process. In other words, you just want to avoid washing the car within that initial 24 hours.

-Heather

 

I'm not Jeremy but....I haven't had any hazing issues with the orange pad on my Jet Black. I've used the orange pad/white pad combo on mostly black paints--unfortunately that's what most of the cars I work on are---and haven't had issues--of course I go Orange with Swirl, then White with Amigo, then Black with Epic--so if there is any hazing going on, it's being polished out with successive processes. I have Finish, but haven't used it in awhile.

Richard

 

I have a bottle of Amigo as well... I guess I'll try the orange pad and see what happens - I can always use Amigo on my white pad in case of minor hazing. I'd think you'd see it on your black paint though, so if you're not getting any then it's probably OK.

 

Swirl shouldn't cake or gum up on the pad unless:

1) You're using excessive amounts -or-
2) You're working in really hot conditions (mid-upper 80s and above)

If you end up in this situation though, then as Richard already said... try to work some of it out by spritzing the pad with some quick detail spray and then massage it out with an absorbent towel.

*Try not to get the pad too wet though... just a few light spritzes of QD.
Why? Getting the pad too wet will thin out the polish too much, which typically diminishes your lubricity, thereby increasing the aggressiveness of the polish.

-Heather

 

good thing i got more pads.

 

I think it was the heat, then... we were in the shade, but I was sweating as I worked... But it could have been too much product as well - he was using a lot until I reigned him in, and I got far less of it.

 

I guess I am using too much then because it certainly hasn't been too warm.
I squeeze out a circle around the outside of the pad and do a spot about 16x16. Then reapply, What do you recommend?

 

I'm definately not an expert here, but I used Swirl on the orange pad on my hubbys DS MCS and I was having a similar problem. I thought there was a lot of build up and it was hard to wipe off, but when I worked it in longer, it was definately better.

That color is great on the Highlander too, btw. I really like the way it changes in different light.

 

You bring up a really good tip in general...

Frequently, when someone is having trouble with a diminishing polish (like Swirl, Cut and Finish, as well as many others) or when they aren't achieving optimal results, it is because they haven't spent enough time working each section.

We have a guideline that we teach newbies on the PC... 2 x 2 x 2.
This refers to working in a 2'x2' (or thereabouts) area for 2 minutes. You can always shorten or lengthen the time as you experiment and find out what works best in your particular situation, but starting at 2 minutes will ensure you are working it long enough in most cases.
For many, this means using a timer... otherwise the impatience bug sets in!

Bottom Line: Make sure you work your abrasive polishes long enough for them to diminish properly and do the work you hired them for!

-Heather

 

When ever I get build up of Swirl on the pad I just take a plastic putty knife and, using the broad edge, rest it on the pad with the PC on slow until the build up is gone.
As above, the only time I really have any issues getting Swirl off the paint is when I have not worked it enough. I usually work the Swirl until it is hazy and nearly clear - almost like it is flash drying as I work the section. Also if I do have any that is difficult to remove, a little Slick takes it right off. Swirl is harder to remove than both Amigo and Epic, but not overly so when worked properly.

mini44 - Great job. Looks great!

 

Another great tip thanks to all!!