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Thread: Removing swirl marks from a black truck!

  1. #1
    Worlds Shiniest HD F-150!
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    Removing swirl marks from a black truck!

    For me this is a ongoing quest for the perfect finish.

    This is what I did so far...

    PREPARATION:
    You know the drill...

    A GOOD wash (two bucket - soap/rinse) method.
    Put a sandwich bag on your hand, feel your paint.
    If you feel bumps you need to clay bar.
    Spray, Clay bar , repeat until there are no bumps.

    OK, on to the fun stuff...

    Below is the Poor Boy Product, Porter Cable speed and Lake Country pad combo.

    PB - SSR 2.5, PC speed 5, LC Orange Pad
    Followed by
    PB - SSR 1. PC Speed 4, LC white Pad

    RESULTS:
    This combo worked with very little effort and gave very good results.
    The SSR 2.5 takes out the swirls but left the finish slightly dull.
    The SSR 1 brightened up the finish after the SSR 2.5 did it's job.

    THOUGHTS:
    You may wish to try the SSR 2 and SSR 1 combo.
    (This is the recommended starting combination.)

    CONCLUSION:
    This is the first time I have used Poor Boy's products.
    This combo got out the swirl marks that other products left behind.
    I am very happy with the PB ease of use and finished results.

    EPILOGUE:
    Swirl marks, fine scratches and in my case even some paint imperfections are gone!
    Follow up this PB combo with your favorite polish/sealant/glaze/wax for a shiny swirl free finish.

    To really bring out the shine here is a link to the complete detailing process I use.
    Last edited by Merlin; 12-28-2009 at 10:26 AM.

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    Registered User
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    This is worthless without pics...............

  3. #3
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    Truck Hood after process...Pic does not do it justice.



    Looks like a black mirror.

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    DAMN! Very Nice! Want to polish up my truck?

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    Cool

    That is awesome !!!!!

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    Nice finish! I have a Griot's Garage machine, and like it a lot. About once a year I clay it down, go over it with # 3 machine polish & the Best of Show Wax with the appropriate Griot foam pad. About a week later, I go over it again with Klasse All-in-one sealant with a foam pad to seal everything up, and it stays looking top-notch for about a year, even though it's my daily-driver & tow-queen. She sits outside uncovered all year long in the Florida sun, and I still get compliments all the time about the finish.

    Once you get it looking the way you want, the only trick to keeping the finish up is; wash it every week with a proper car washing solution and be sure to get the water spots off so they don't etch the surface, and NEVER run it through a car wash - no matter what they say - any mechanical car wash will ruin your wax job in no-time. Whenever a bird or lizard makes a donation to the surface (far-too common down here), I hit it with Griot's Speed Shine, Meguire's or Mother's instant detailer spray as soon as possible; those little t*rds are murder on a black finish if you don't get them off right away.
    I use a microfiber washing mitt and microfiber wand from Griots, a California Water blade & a high-speed bike air dryer to dry it off (from Harley Davidson - it's like a leaf blower on steroids) . It only takes me about a half-hour or so a week to keep it looking good.
    Last edited by ddmau; 11-02-2009 at 10:07 AM.

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    Worlds Shiniest HD F-150!
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddmau View Post
    I use a microfiber washing mitt and microfiber wand from Griots, a California Water blade & a high-speed bike air dryer to dry it off (from Harley Davidson - it's like a leaf blower on steroids) . It only takes me about a half-hour or so a week to keep it looking good.
    What is a microfiber wand?

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    Quote Originally Posted by ddmau View Post
    I use a microfiber washing mitt and microfiber wand from Griots, a California Water blade & a high-speed bike air dryer to dry it off (from Harley Davidson - it's like a leaf blower on steroids) . It only takes me about a half-hour or so a week to keep it looking good.
    microfiber wash mits are hard on the paint. They have a very low napp, so there's not much area for dirt to be sucked away from the paint. Cotton or wool mits with a deep nap are best for washing since there's a large area of the deep fibers for the dirt to get sucked away into rather than wiped across the paint.

    A cali water blade works great, but can quickly damage the paint with a single grain of dirt that may blow on the truck. There's zero place for any dirt to go except across the paint. I use a cali water blade on my beater and absolutely love it, by far the quickest way to dry it, but for the trucks, I don't take the risk, and use a waffle weave microfiber for drying.

  9. #9
    Worlds Shiniest HD F-150!
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harley#356 View Post
    Microfiber wash mits are hard on the paint.
    A cali water blade works great, but can quickly damage the paint with a single grain of dirt that may blow on the truck.
    I don't take the risk, and use a waffle weave microfiber for drying.
    Thanks for the heads up.

  10. #10
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    Since my post I have compiled and modified changes to a few items.
    I have found by trying new things this process becomes a living document.
    I will try to edit this post as products, processes and procedures change.
    I am NOT a detailer, just a weekend enthusiast that likes shiny things.
    Any thoughts, modifications or feedback is appreciated.

    Exterior Products and Procedures

    Tools and Acronyms:
    PC = Porter Cable 7424xp DA buffer
    LC = Lake Country Pads
    PB = PoorBoy's World

    I personally have found the Poorboys's/Natty's to be one of the best values for shine versus cost.

    Do each process below in order.

    1)
    Wash:
    Wash by hand with Dawn (regular) dishwashing liquid
    This will strip off the previously applied old wax.
    The two bucket method.
    One bucket for soapy water & one bucket for rinse.

    2)
    Clay Bar:
    Meguiars Blue Clay bar
    or
    Clay Magic Fine Grade Clay Bar
    or
    Clear Kote Clay Bar

    Keep it wet!
    Meguiars Quick Detailer NOT Ultimate Quick Detailer
    or
    a squirt bottle with water/dawn dishwashing liquid solution

    3)
    Polishing:
    Orange LC Light Cutting Pad on the PC at speed 5/5.5
    and PB SSR 2.5 (Med abrasive) $12
    or
    PB SSR 2 (lighter abrasive) $16
    Then
    White LC Polishing Pad on the PC at speed 4.5/5
    and PB SSR 1 (fine abrasive) $16

    Do an Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) spray (50/50 water) & wipe
    down to check for swirls & clean before proceeding to step 4

    If you still have scratches & swirls repeat step 3 until gone.

    4)
    Glaze:
    Black LC Final Finishing Pad on the PC at speed 4
    ClearKote Vanilla Moose (contains wax) $18
    Vanilla Moose is a little easier to use than Red Moose.
    CK VM does a bit better job than Red Moose of hiding
    the swirls or marring that couldn’t be polished out.
    or
    Red Moose Machine Glaze (contains no wax) $18
    Red Machine Glaze has a deeper look than Vanilla Moose
    Pink Moose Combo (a bottle of Red and Vanilla) $25
    or
    For dark colors only
    Poorboy's Black Hole $16
    Helps hide light scratches and swirl marks missed in step 3

    Glaze is an additional step that produces a big WOW factor!

    5)
    Sealant:
    Blue LC Polishing Pad on the PC at speed 4
    Zaino Z2 $15 (can also be applied by hand)
    or
    PB World EX-P $17
    or
    PB EX Sealant with Carnauba $17
    or
    For dark colors
    Zaino Z5 $17 (can also be applied by hand)

    For dark colors I like applying Z-2 on top of Z-5
    Wait 12 hours between each Zaino application
    unless you are using the ZFX accelerator
    or
    If using PB Sealant wait 12 hours before applying wax



    6)
    Wax:
    By Hand
    For Dark Colors/Black
    PB Natty’s Blue Paste Wax $20
    Light colors only
    Pinnacle Paste Glaz $35
    Both
    ClearKote Carnauba Moose Wax
    or
    Collinite Marque D' Elegance #915 $30
    or
    Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845 $14
    or
    PB Natty's Red Paste Wax $20

    I like applying Collinite 845 on top of 915

    7)
    To maintain that shine:

    Zaino Z-7 Show Car Wash $9
    Zaino Z-6 spray detailer $10
    ClearKote Quik Shine
    PB's Spray & Gloss
    PB's QW+ quick detailer w/carnauba wax.
    Meguiars Ultimate Quick Detailer

    For that "Special" event
    Zaino Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal $20

    8)
    Wheel Cleaner:
    Eagle One Chrome & Wire Wheel Cleaner $6 (works 4 me)
    PB's Spray & Rinse Wheel Cleaner
    Griots Garage Wheel Cleaner
    P21S wheel cleaner gel $17 (this size incl. sprayer)

    9)
    Wheel Sealant:
    Helps make cleaning off dirt and brake dust easier.
    (Chrome / Aluminum)
    PB's World Wheel Sealant
    Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal
    (Painted)
    DP Wheel Glaze

    10)
    Tires:
    Meguiars Nxt Generation Insane Shine Tire Spray $9

    11)
    Plastic, Rubber, Vinyl trim etc.:
    Lexol Vinylex $10
    I DO NOT use Armor All

    I have tried to include average prices for some of the products.
    For more information here is a link to multiple Car Wax Reviews
    I tried to keep it to mostly inexpensive products that work well.
    This eliminates the high end stuff like Zymol Royal Glaze
    Last edited by Merlin; 01-14-2010 at 10:10 AM. Reason: Updated and revised...

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    Quote Originally Posted by merlin View Post

    7)
    To maintain that shine:
    Zaino Z-6 spray detailer
    ClearKote Quik Shine
    PB's Spray & Gloss
    PB's QW+ quick detailer w/carnauba wax.
    Meguiars Quick Detailer NOT Ultimate Quick Detailer


    You say not to use Ultimate Quick Detailer, is there any particular reason for this? I have been using it with impressive results

  12. #12
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    Good catch...my bad.

    Should have been under clay bar.
    Revised above post.

    I have used a squirt bottle with water/dawn solution to clay bar also.
    If you just did a clay bar the water/dawn works fine and it's cheaper.
    Keep it Wet!
    Last edited by Merlin; 12-16-2009 at 04:34 PM.

  13. #13
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    yep don't need to waste the money on quick detailer for clay bars. a soap and water mix will also keep the paint more lubricated than a quick detailer will, and you'll be more likely to use it more liberally than you will an expensive bottle of QD.

  14. #14
    Worlds Shiniest HD F-150!
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harley#356 View Post
    yep don't need to waste the money on quick detailer for clay bars.
    Thanks, I'm still just learning...
    Please post any suggestions on different processes or products that you have tried.
    Last edited by Merlin; 12-28-2009 at 10:26 AM.

  15. #15
    Worlds Shiniest HD F-150!
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    See next post for flow chart.
    Last edited by Merlin; 01-04-2010 at 04:42 PM.

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