FAQ- " Common Paint Defects"

[AmyAtAdamsAustralia]

Many of us usually start our car care routine with the advise and technique of others, whether that be parents at a young age, friends or club mates. Some routines are sound and only need minor adjustments however some are completely wrong and these are the culprit to contributing to the most common paint defects.

 

"Some of us may have stated out washing our cars with one bucket, dish soap and a coral sponge. Then rinse after every panel then throw the suds bucket on the car at the end for the final rinse and chamois?" If this was you and you've changed, great! If this is your current routine read on.

 

This guide is by no means gospel and should be taken as an FYI. Many paint defects can be caused by a number of things through the wash/dry routine and general maintenance of the vehicle.

 

Paint Defects

 

Swirls

 

Heavy Swirls & Scratches

 

 

Swirls & Scratches are the most common paint defect on cars today, some swirls and scratches come free direct from the dealership. 

 

Swirls are minor scratches in the clear coat and are generally caused by incorrect cleaning techniques. Some may even be caused by dry rubbing the the paint with no lubricant (think car dusters). Swirls can be circular or straight, this will depend on which way the car is washed. Over time the swirls become so dense that it looks like a million tiny spider webs over the paint- this is where the term 'webbing' stems from.

 

The best way to identify swirls is in direct sunlight. Halogen work lights are useful as well if there is no sunlight available. They are difficult to completely avoid in daily drive cars, however with correct maintenance they can be minimised.

 

Here is a 50/50 shot of the same area. One half has been polished, or "paint corrected".

 

 

 

Etching

 

The most common type of etching is water spotting

 

 

This is where minerals/metals in the water that are left behind on the surface etch themselves into the clear coat. There are a number of different types of water spots and they will vary on their source and contents i.e acid rain, hard water from hoses and sprinkers, rain water, water droplets from trees or buildings, road water.

 

One way to avoid water spotting is to ensure the car is dried properly after washing, and always to have a layer of protection over the paint to act as a barrier between the elements and your clear coat.

 

The other common type of etching is from bird poo

 

 

Acidic in nature, bird and bat droppings can be damaging to paintwork if left on for a sustained period of time. If not removed promptly it will cause damage to bare unprotected paintwork. If it's a hot day and the car is in direct sunlight this will accelerate the process.

 

Holograms

 

These are not a natural and are 100% caused by humans using machine polishers incorrectly. 

 

 

 

Holograms are a by-product of heavy machine polishing. Sometimes while paint correcting, a detailer will need to work some areas quite heavily to remove deeper swirls and scratches. This will quite often generate heat in the panel due to the friction of the polisher working out those swirls. This will manifest as buffer trails (holograms) in the paint surface.

 

 

Refer to this graphic for those that like visuals