Swirl Removal not working! Advice?

[lacastel16]

hey guys, just wanted to see if i could get some advice. Just got my Megs DA and decided to use it this weekend since i had some time. i have a 2008 nissan altima coupe, dark slate (grey) color with lots of swirl marks. i washed the car, and clayed it. i used a yellow foam pad (w8207) with swirl x on the hood (test spot). i put the DA to a 4 or 5 setting and did the overlapping as well as moderate pressure but it didn't seem to do anything to remove the swirls. should i

1) use the yellow pad with the UC compound (105)? or

2) get a burgandy cutting pad with swirl x, ultimate compound, or UC compound? (although i have read on the forums that this cutting pad shouldn't be used)

any suggestions? also, is it a good idea to do the polish (205) after removing the defects? or is it ok to just remove the defects and wax it? if i should polish, what pad should i use with the 205. thanks.

[CHzo6]

Re: Swirl Removal not working! Advice?

SwirlX is a pretty mild cleaner polish that may or may not be able to remove swirls depending on a number of things. Sounds like you were working the SwirlX properly, so you may need to step it up to using Ultimate Compound, on the yellow pad as well. You really don't want to use the cutting pad with the DA, and like you said, it's not advised.
The UC may finish out wax ready, but if it leaves a little haze behind, you can always follow up with SwirlX or 205 and then go to your wax.

[jaymz]

Re: Swirl Removal not working! Advice?

I would recommend an orange pad (LC) and Ultimate Compound before going to #105. Also, is your pad spinning as you work? If not, you won't accomplish much. Make sure your travel time with the DA is about an inch a second.

Jim

[lacastel16]

Re: Swirl Removal not working! Advice?

thanks guys. i appreciate the advice. i just bought UC and will try that first, (been raining here for days) before i move on to the orange cutting pad or the 105.

[lacastel16]

Re: Swirl Removal not working! Advice?

tried the UC and the yellow pad. made a pretty big scratch less visable which i'm happy about but it seems to still leave swirls there. guess i have to step up to the 105 and the orange pad.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Swirl Removal not working! Advice?

What kind of car are you working on?

How much pressure are you applying?

How fast are you moving the buffer over the paint?

How big is your work area?

All of these can and will impact the results anyone achieves. We've used Ultimate Compound and a W8207 foam polishing pad on so many different cars in our Saturday Classes, always with excellent results, that we're always hesitant to suggest just stepping up to a more aggressive liquid (M105) or pad. There is no substitute for proper technique.

Give Ultimate Compound and the W8207 yellow polishing pad another shot before changing liquies or pad. You mentioned "moderate pressure". We'd suggest applying enough pressure to stop the pad from rotating, then ease up just enough to get it rotating again. Move very slowly over the paint, working an area no larger than 2' x 2' - even smaller if need be. Keep the pad flat so that it continues to rotate - in our classes this is one of the things people struggle with the most, and it will greatly compromise your ability to achieve the desired result. Take your time.