Re: Whats the Fastest and Easiest way to rmv Swirl marks?
To remove swirls you really need to bring it to a detailer or purchase a buffer... I am an avid detailer, did it in high school and now just on my own car, I use a Porter Cable 7424xp which was relatively cheap and definitely reliable and is 100% user friendly, someone who's never laid hands on a buffer/polisher can work this machine, its random orbital as opposed to rotary... rotary will do irreparable damage if you dont know what youre doing, with an orbital you can hold it in the same spot for extended amounts of time with no damage. For a cost effective solution you can hide swirls by using a quality high content carnauba car wax such as Pinnacle Souveran, however wax (even the best of kinds) will only last roughly 4-6 weeks, if you want longer lasting protection try going synthetic with a sealant such as Klasse High Gloss (however the swirl hiding abilities arent quite there). Actually repairing swirled and/or oxidized paint, not just covering or hiding, is really a 5 step process, it requires buffing with an abrasive compound, which, will smooth edges of the swirl/scratch to the extent where the light no longer catches it and makes the swirl disappear, you are basically removing a minute layer of clear coat or "exfoliating" your paint...
1. Wash (try using just regular dish washing soap, as it will strip the paint, which is your goal before polishing)
2. Clay bar (any automotive clay bar kit will do, im not too particular on brands here)
3. Polish using a compound or (true) swirl remover (such as Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover, not some off the shelf garbage swirl repair)
4. Polish using a finishing polish or glaze (such as Wolfgang Finishing Polish)
5. Protect using a wax or sealant (such as Pinnacle Souveran or Klasse High Gloss)
The above mentioned products must be purchased online, to my knowledge I dont believe any stores carry these brands.
If you take a product like turtle wax rubbing compound or polishing compound to your paint by hand you will undoubtedly do damage, if you follow my instructions above your car WILL have a factory-like finish, blacks come out with that deep buttery-wet gloss in a finish you can shave in, and metallics will be smooth and pop as they did when you picked your car up at the dealer.