What am I doing wrong?!?!
What am I doing wrong?!?!
Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.
Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.Ok. Please help. Today was my big detail day and it started good and ended bad. I started off by washing the car with dawn, did the engine bay, door jams, wheels, tires, wheel wells. Then went on to clay, took my time and made sure I got it all, including windows. Then I used Mothers Back to Black on the trim and other black plastic around the outside of the car. Then I spent forever taping up the car. So I moved on to polishing, I started with swirl with an orange pad. I did the whole car, then started swirl with a white pad. This is when I noticed that instead of the paint being clear and scratch free, it was not. I did not see any swirl marks, but a few light scratches here and there, also, and what seemed to be everywhere were I guess holograms. I'm not sure if that is what they were, it was like the reflections in the paint were out of focus, also a little hazy. So I tried amigo with a white pad, just to see if that would take it away, but it didn't. So what should I be doing different. More product? Less? different pads? More time? This is the first time I have used the PC I bought from Octainguy (also watched his DVD), and the first time I have used Swirl and Amigo. I have epic but did not put it on yet because I stopped detailing the car when I couldn't get the marks away. I was really excited to use the PC today but now I am just worn out and very frustrated. Sorry for the monster post.
you're probably not breaking down swirl's diminishing abrasives enough.
did you apply swirl until the surface was dry? you got to work the product in very well with your RO or by hand until it's gone.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
Now THAT's a Monster post Ken! lol.
To achieve success in polishing you need to do two things.
1.) Be able to see and identify what is wrong.
2.) Take corrective steps to fix it.
First off, did you do a "test spot"?
Second, what did you conclude from the "test spot"? I.e. what pad, speed/arm motion did you need to make a visible difference?
If you can't answer these questions, I would highly recommend reviewing the DVD.
Richard
To achieve success in polishing you need to do two things.
1.) Be able to see and identify what is wrong.
2.) Take corrective steps to fix it.
First off, did you do a "test spot"?
Second, what did you conclude from the "test spot"? I.e. what pad, speed/arm motion did you need to make a visible difference?
If you can't answer these questions, I would highly recommend reviewing the DVD.
Richard
I did a test spot on the hood of the car, I thought it looked really good. But what I think happened is I did not have enough light on the hood, because when I got to the side of the car with more light I noticed those things. And also, I did not work swirl until it dried, in fact if I saw it was drying I added more swirl! From everything on here I've read I thought you were supposed to buff until it was clear. I thought dry buffing just caused scratches.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
You don't work the polish until it dries, but the polish does start out creamy and as you work it in, it becomes translucent but still moist. Usually in 2 to 3 minutes in a small 16x16 panel. Remember you are lubricating the pad with diminishing abrasives so you want it wet so the pad can spin freely, but not so wet that it's not removing defects. As you polish, the abrasives break down and become finer, so that's why you need to work the polish in long enough.
Remember you don't let polishes dry. You work them in, and wipe them off before they dry.
For waxes, you let them dry before wiping them off.
Like I said before, to polish paint effectively, you need to be able to see the defects you are trying to remove so you can see the difference you are making while working. If you can't, you will be disappointed. Get a flash light to shine at the paint and learn how to hold it so you can see the condition of the paint. Work the paint, and check it with the flash light. There is a Brinkman Xenon flashlight that is popular for this. Very bright LEDs can also work from the right distance.
Keep working at it....this is why not everybody can polish paint. It takes technique and practice and it won't happen overnight.
Richard
Remember you don't let polishes dry. You work them in, and wipe them off before they dry.
For waxes, you let them dry before wiping them off.
Like I said before, to polish paint effectively, you need to be able to see the defects you are trying to remove so you can see the difference you are making while working. If you can't, you will be disappointed. Get a flash light to shine at the paint and learn how to hold it so you can see the condition of the paint. Work the paint, and check it with the flash light. There is a Brinkman Xenon flashlight that is popular for this. Very bright LEDs can also work from the right distance.
Keep working at it....this is why not everybody can polish paint. It takes technique and practice and it won't happen overnight.
Richard
I did a test spot on the hood of the car, I thought it looked really good. But what I think happened is I did not have enough light on the hood, because when I got to the side of the car with more light I noticed those things. And also, I did not work swirl until it dried, in fact if I saw it was drying I added more swirl! From everything on here I've read I thought you were supposed to buff until it was clear. I thought dry buffing just caused scratches.
OG is dead on
First time I used the polisher I used way to much Swirl and got so so results. Takes time to learn the correct amounts.
As a rule of thumb-It is better to use smaller amounts of Swirl, PC until it breaks down, repeat, repeat until you get what you want.
It's a art that takes practice.
Padowan learner Tim signing off!
First time I used the polisher I used way to much Swirl and got so so results. Takes time to learn the correct amounts.
As a rule of thumb-It is better to use smaller amounts of Swirl, PC until it breaks down, repeat, repeat until you get what you want.
It's a art that takes practice.
Padowan learner Tim signing off!
i work polishes until they are dry to the touch. there's residue there that smears if i touch it, but it is definitely not 'wet' to ensure full breakdown of abrasives. 
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Ok so here is what I have tried today. I rewashed the mini just to get the dust and such off from my driving today. I clayed the test spot just to be sure nothing was in the paint. Then I started working with Swirl with a white pad. I made sure to not use to much, and to work it until it was a haze that would smear with my finger but not be wet. I had plenty of light today and could see all the swirls clearly (The swirls are probably the size of dimes and quarters) and unfortunately they did not seem to be going away after 2 coats. I moved to a orange pad with swirl and did the same process 3 times. However I really don't see that much difference. I worked nice and slow, and changed direction just like in the DVD. Now I am just unsure of what to do next. Should it really take more than 3 coats of swirl with out seeing hardly any change?
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
First of all, you are not applying coats. You are doing passes. A coat implies you are putting a product on there and protecting it or sealing it.
Second if you are not achieving results with the orange pad, there has to be something wrong with your technique. MINI paint isn't that hard.
What speed is the polisher set to? Should be 5 or 6.
When you says the swirls are sizes of dimes and quarters, I find that statement confusing. Maybe you can take a picture of what you see and post it.
Richard
Second if you are not achieving results with the orange pad, there has to be something wrong with your technique. MINI paint isn't that hard.
What speed is the polisher set to? Should be 5 or 6.
When you says the swirls are sizes of dimes and quarters, I find that statement confusing. Maybe you can take a picture of what you see and post it.
Richard
Ok so here is what I have tried today. I rewashed the mini just to get the dust and such off from my driving today. I clayed the test spot just to be sure nothing was in the paint. Then I started working with Swirl with a white pad. I made sure to not use to much, and to work it until it was a haze that would smear with my finger but not be wet. I had plenty of light today and could see all the swirls clearly (The swirls are probably the size of dimes and quarters) and unfortunately they did not seem to be going away after 2 coats. I moved to a orange pad with swirl and did the same process 3 times. However I really don't see that much difference. I worked nice and slow, and changed direction just like in the DVD. Now I am just unsure of what to do next. Should it really take more than 3 coats of swirl with out seeing hardly any change?
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Where the small swirls there before, or after working the RO?
My first thought is that if they are a result of using the RO, then something is embedded in the pad. You need to wash the pads, I use dawn dish soap on a wet pad, couple of drops on the pad then work the pad with my hands, then rinse with LOTS of water.
Mark
My first thought is that if they are a result of using the RO, then something is embedded in the pad. You need to wash the pads, I use dawn dish soap on a wet pad, couple of drops on the pad then work the pad with my hands, then rinse with LOTS of water.
Mark
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iTrader: (6)
Let's look at this car for example that I inspected yesterday (2009 Pontiac G8)...
Looks ok from here
But lit right, I see swirls of all sizes not dimes and quarters.....
Those are holograms at the lower side of the bright area..they move as you move
Is this what you are seeing??????
Looks ok from here
But lit right, I see swirls of all sizes not dimes and quarters.....
Those are holograms at the lower side of the bright area..they move as you move
Is this what you are seeing??????
woaah! halogram. 
not sure how abrasive Swirl is, but im pretty sure it's about Polish#3 on the Griot's system. for that i apply using my RO at speed5.5, medium density pad, and the pad turns once every 2-2.5sec to work the polish into the paint. i would do maybe a 2x2ft at a time... it can take a while.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
Swirl is a medium cut polish that's pretty versatile. It can be used with a variety of foam densities for finish polishing to nearly cutting, though really I have other favorites when I need to cut like M105. When I say cutting, I'm referring to polishing out wetsanding marks, not just aggressive polishing being a step up from medium cut polishing. Now if that didn't confuse you...Swirl has never let me down..whether I'm polishing an Aston Martin or a Nissan, lol. It's my go to chemical for every polishing job.
Richard
woaah! halogram.
not sure how abrasive Swirl is, but im pretty sure it's about Polish#3 on the Griot's system. for that i apply using my RO at speed5.5, medium density pad, and the pad turns once every 2-2.5sec to work the polish into the paint. i would do maybe a 2x2ft at a time... it can take a while.
Richard
woaah! halogram. not sure how abrasive Swirl is, but im pretty sure it's about Polish#3 on the Griot's system. for that i apply using my RO at speed5.5, medium density pad, and the pad turns once every 2-2.5sec to work the polish into the paint. i would do maybe a 2x2ft at a time... it can take a while.
Swirl is a medium cut polish that's pretty versatile. It can be used with a variety of foam densities for finish polishing to nearly cutting, though really I have other favorites when I need to cut like M105. When I say cutting, I'm referring to polishing out wetsanding marks, not just aggressive polishing being a step up from medium cut polishing. Now if that didn't confuse you...Swirl has never let me down..whether I'm polishing an Aston Martin or a Nissan, lol. It's my go to chemical for every polishing job.
Richard
Richard
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
Haha no doubt about that!!
Ok, I was not able to try anything today (no time) but I did go out and try to take some pics. I just could not seem to get a picture of the swirls (pepper white). But the pics above are not what I am seeing. They look the same, but much smaller. I just washed all my pads and they are drying now, so maybe I just had something in one of them? I did get a picture of the fuzziness I was seeing 
See how the reflection of the lights is a little fuzzy.
Also, just for fun, a quick before and after...
Anyway, I will keep trying to figure it out this weekend when my pads dry. Thanks for the help so far.
See how the reflection of the lights is a little fuzzy. Also, just for fun, a quick before and after...
Anyway, I will keep trying to figure it out this weekend when my pads dry. Thanks for the help so far.
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
The way to photograph swirls on white paint is to take a picture in the dark or very dimly lit room. Where there is light, the ambient light obscures the defects and that's why white and silver cars look ok even when dirty.
But look at your paint in your garage where it's dark but lit by an overhead light or at night under a street lamp and the defects become plainly visible.
Back to photographing the defects. You'll need to use your flash or use a flash light to light up the defects.
Here's a silver Porsche..under normal sunlight you don't see the paint like this.
White Lotus Exige on a cloudy day
White GMC Envoy
You can photographs swirls on a white car. The severity of them as well as your technique will determine your success!
Btw, from your picture the lights don't look fuzzy to me. I see the orange peel which causes that distorted, mottled appearance to the edges of the lights. Those are not swirls. Those are defects that can't be removed easily.
But look at your paint in your garage where it's dark but lit by an overhead light or at night under a street lamp and the defects become plainly visible.
Back to photographing the defects. You'll need to use your flash or use a flash light to light up the defects.
Here's a silver Porsche..under normal sunlight you don't see the paint like this.
White Lotus Exige on a cloudy day
White GMC Envoy
You can photographs swirls on a white car. The severity of them as well as your technique will determine your success!
Btw, from your picture the lights don't look fuzzy to me. I see the orange peel which causes that distorted, mottled appearance to the edges of the lights. Those are not swirls. Those are defects that can't be removed easily.
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