Swirls are baaaaack

[Numbr3t]

I polished my truck about 4 months ago and apparently I have poor wash techniques. So since then I purchased a 2nd wash bucket/grit gaurd and will try to be better.

When polishing, people say bi-annually( once every 2 years, right?) is how often you should do it. What are the side effects of me going at it again and being better to illiminate swirls with better wash techniques?

Can I polish this soon again?

thanks for the help.

[ntloenuf]

I always go by the bi-annually of twice per year once in spring and once before winter hits

[Team Adam's]

bi·an·nu·al (b - n y - l). adj. 1. Happening twice each year; semiannual.

 

On average you'll probably do minor correction 2x a year... ideally neither of those will be a "full" 3 step polishing so long as you observe good wash habits and paint care practices.

 

There will likely be some spots that will need more intensive correction, just because stuff happens. A person drags a shopping bad down the side of your car in a parking lot. A bird drops a bomb on your hood on a hot summer day, etc. But overall, if you stay on top of things, an occasional pass with FMP will address your minor imperfections.

 

If you find yourself having to do major (3 step) correction more often then there is likely a flaw in your wash routine OR your car is just subjected to conditions where maintaining perfect is unrealistic.

 

Just had a conversation with a guy the other day... his black truck is parked in a gravel lot, next to a steel mill, every single day for 8 hours. When he gets home its parked outside, under pine trees. Hes just in a set of circumstances where perfection would take CONSTANT work so the biannual rule is an average expectation... you could need more or less... just depends.

Edited June 5, 2012 by Dylan@Adams

[Chewy]

I do mine every spring with FMP and then throughout the summer I hit any bad spots. It's a DD so it needs it from time to time. Plus it's black. AKA: THE DEVIL!

[Numbr3t]

I've watched the videos over and over and over again and I tend to learn a little every time I watch them. Besides not having two buckets, I appear to be doing it correctly. Now I have two buckets and will try to be better at it.

I notice even though I scrub the wash pad, I still end up with debris caught in there, can I run a fine tooth comb through it to catch the obvious debris? Or do you have any other tips?

But to sum it up, I'm going to go over it again with FMP and a couple coats of super wax. And of course I'll finish it up with American

[Chewy]

You can try two pads, one for top and one for the bottom, I rinse off the pads with the hose and fire nozzle after one to two swipes on the car. More than a couple and you may as well use sandpaper. lol After rinsing them, I put it in bucket one, remove and wring out and then into #2 and then onto the paint and start over.

 

Correcting isn't forever and as many have said, if it's a DD, don't bother striving for perfection, it just won't happen. You'll drive yourself insane.

 

Chris

2 inches away from insane.

[Numbr3t]

Yeah it's a DD. I've always had a close attention to detail with things, then I picked up the hobby of detailing....it drives me crazy but I love it.

I can't stop picking out swirls in cars everywhere and wanting to fix it.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll try that. Looks like I'll be buying another wash pad and while I'm shopping probably more stuff too.

[Chewy]

Yeah it's a DD. I've always had a close attention to detail with things, then I picked up the hobby of detailing....it drives me crazy but I love it.

I can't stop picking out swirls in cars everywhere and wanting to fix it.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll try that. Looks like I'll be buying another wash pad and while I'm shopping probably more stuff too.

 

Make sure you're using enough soap too! Should be a super thick lather! Much like shaving creme!

[DaveVY]

Like Chris said, be sure you have two different pads, one for the upper portion of the car and the other for the dirtier lower sections of the car.

 

Also, remember that the pads aren't used to scrub the surface of the car, they are used to gently agitate and loosen the dirt/film.

 

For me (and in helping train others) I have found that the initial rinse needs to be re-learned. I used to think the purpose of the initial rinse was just to wet the car down but instead had to learn to think of it as a time to try to blast off as much of the dirt as possible. Using either the firehose nozzle or a pressure washer can be used for this. Normal garden sprayers won't do a good enough job. Learning the importance of the initial rinse was an important step in my avoiding new swirls.

 

[Skywalker]

Besides relearning your washing and drying technique, it is also possible not all of the swirls were removed the first time. If you detail with poor lighting or simply overhead lights that are not strong enough the finish can look perfect, but without halogens or high powered lights it is very hard to see the smallest of marring. After polishing and waxing it might be hard to see the swirls until the polishing oils and wax have disappeared.

[Numbr3t]

Very good info there. I will try all of that. I already bought some work lights and am going to buy another pad and probably the firehouse nozzle for the initial rinse. Thanks for the pointers fellas.

[PrinceValium]

Make sure you're using enough soap too! Should be a super thick lather! Much like shaving creme!

 

I would think that if the soap bucket has a pink hue to it...there is plenty of soap in the bucket.

[Bill-V8V]

But to sum it up, I'm going to go over it again with FMP and a couple coats of super wax. And of course I'll finish it up with American

 

 

 

Just my opinion but I'd stick with a single coat of the Super Machine Sealant, it's a sealant not a wax, followed by one or two applications of Americana.

[Numbr3t]

Just my opinion but I'd stick with a single coat of the Super Machine Sealant, it's a sealant not a wax, followed by one or two applications of Americana.

 

Gotcha, thanks for the tip.

[Fit08]

Make sure you're using enough soap too! Should be a super thick lather! Much like shaving creme!

 

SO, what would you recommand in ounzes then Chevy? 3-4 oz. ??

[Numbr3t]

I believe the recommendation is about 3-4oz. Whenever I forget something or quantities, I always watch the videos again. I usually pick up something new by doing that.