OK, this is the problem. When I found the rust spots which I posted about a few weeks ago, my first course of action was to try Autoglym super resin polish. This didn't work well, and I stopped after doing the bonnet, and 2 passenger doors. Today however, I gave the car it's weekly wash and dry, and got ready to send in the clay bar, when I noticed very fine swirl marks on the bonnet, though they can only be seen from a certain angle when the sun is really shining on them.

I'm guessing I've caused them myself whilst polishing, but how (if at all) can I get rid of them?

I got a quote off the waxwizard the other day (before I found the swirls) to get the car fully done over and sealed. Do you think this will sort out the swirls?

Fingers crossed Mark wil be able to work some magic...

Cheers

Ventmore

He'll certainly be able to sigificantly reduce them, if not eliminate them entirely. The Autoglym is a polish, so contains a mild abrasive, and either this or dust on the surface of the paint when you have been polishing will be the root cause of the swirls.

Mark will also impart many of his tried and tested tips (the peanut butter trick being just one of them).

The "Illustrious" Mr Kentish eliminated a lot of swirl marks from his Superb simply by using Swissol* wax

*Other cleaning products are available, but frankly i couldn't care less

If Mark cant no one can, sounds a strong statement to make but Ive seen what he can do. He will tell you he cant perform miracles but it looked like miracles to me !!

Another one of Marks tips from the Kitchen, to remove tar spots use Margarine, simply take a bit of time massaging margarine into the tar & it sort of re lubricates it & off it comes without destroying any layers of wax etc already on the car.

My Furby had hazy smeary paint when I picked her up - they had Autoglymed her This might be your problem rather than swirls (scratches)

Any decent cleanser (Zymol/Swissol etc) will get rid of this so long as they arent major

Marks Swissol treatment will be 1000 times better than the Autoglym

Another one of Marks tips from the Kitchen, to remove tar spots use Margarine, simply take a bit of time massaging margarine into the tar & it sort of re lubricates it & off it comes without destroying any layers of wax etc already on the car.

Is that real margarine as sold in paper-wrapped blocks, Stuart? We don't use the stuff but I think I can afford a packet for car use.

The "Illustrious" Mr Kentish eliminated a lot of swirl marks from his Superb simply by using Swissol* wax

Just wax or a polish. I have meguiars clear coat wax which I was going to apply. Will this help?

Cheers

Ventmore

Wax.

As said by others, polish is abrasive and might well cause more Swirls than it removes.

Cheers Geoff...Will be waxing it tomorrow...

Ventmore

...on the other hand, wax just hides swirl marks, it doesn't remove them. thats what polish is for.

The "Illustrious" Mr Kentish eliminated a lot of swirl marks from his Superb simply by using Swissol* wax

I have been called lots of things..but Illustrious,,never

As for wax only hiding swirl marks, and polish being the thing to remove them...so you use polish to remove the original swirl marks only to create a fresh load......why doesnt that inspire me with confidence? :confused:

I think I will stick with what I know and use on/with/about my car as I know with what I use swirl marks are definately a very minor issue now.

I have been called lots of things..but Illustrious' date=',never

[/quote']

Well it was "Illustrious" (Note the quotation marks)

Well it was "Illustrious" (Note the quotation marks)

Yes I did

so you use polish to remove the original swirl marks only to create a fresh load......why doesnt that inspire me with confidence? :confused:

Fresh load?

I was at the eye doctors a while ago. I actually got to see them grind and POLISH the lenses for my glasses. They have no swirl marks.

To find how bad your swirl marks really are, you would need to strip all the wax and oils from your paintwork with alcohol. This is because even polish contains oils and oil fills swirl marks. Wax actually contains special fillers designed to fill swirl marks, this is no accident.

Ask the missus, It's a lot like putting on make-up, there is a big difference between exfoliating and cleaning the skin, and slapping on a load of foundation and face powder. Of the two, I bet your wife would prefer perfect skin.

The problem is that if the swirl marks get too bad, it becomes harder for the wax to fill them. And besides, wax doesn't last forever. As you probably know, the one drawback of Carnauba is that it has a low melting point and tends to evaporate quickly in hot weather (we all know how hot car bodywork can get in the sun) and so it thins down to show the swirls. And that

Cheers guys for your replies. Have just finished the car. Washed it, went round with the clay bar then waxed with Meguiars Gold Class Clear Coat Wax. It may only hide the swirls rather than removing them, but it does it very well, and I am very happy with the results. My baby is shining like new pin, and even looks better than the day I picked her up...

BTW...anyone wondering about the virtues of a clay bar......worth it's weight in gold...and that goes for peanut butter too...

Cheers all

Ventmore

Ive just used this wash AND wax from tortoise wax. Bought one got one free!

Pretty impressed with results. I know it washes off quickly,but it help keeps the shine up! Got enough here now for 60 washes apparently.That'll last me about 10 yrs :eek:

Careful not to wash the windscreen with it though.

Apparently voted best tried by Auto Express

You tight wad CJ....and you want me to share my Becks and whiskys??? :eek:

BTW...anyone wondering about the virtues of a clay bar......worth it's weight in gold...and that goes for peanut butter too...

Ventmore

yes i am wondering about the virtues of stuff that i wouldn't normally let anywhere near paintwork - enlighten me please! :confused:

We use twin head oscillating buffers with soft foam pads and various swirl removers and this does the job

any chance of the name of these swirl removers :P

cheers

Graham

yes i am wondering about the virtues of stuff that i wouldn't normally let anywhere near paintwork - enlighten me please! :confused:

Basically, a clay bar is used to remove contaminants from the surface of the paint. Tar spots, industrial fallout, tree sap etc. You spray on a lubricant and then rub the bar over it. It literally lifts the contaminants from the surface.

Are swirls something that all cars eventually get? I am more annoyed that I caused them myself, than the fact that they are there at all...

Cheers

Ventmore

Swirls are I,m afraid normal wear and tear, its what you might do about them to limit them.

What Clean Image has to say has to be considered, but (and I realise this may sound iffy but no malice or hurt is intended) I would accept it a little more if it wasnt coming from the same nik as his company name..if you get my drift.

Ive just used this wash AND wax from tortoise wax. Bought one got one free!

Pretty impressed with results. I know it washes off quickly' date='but it help keeps the shine up! Got enough here now for 60 washes apparently.That'll last me about 10 yrs :eek:

Careful not to wash the windscreen with it though.

Apparently voted best tried by Auto Express [/quote']

Turtle Wax clour magic plus came out on top in the 'Which?' wax and polish test. And I have heard on the grapevine that their latest wax works along the same lines as NXT and is fantastic.

Just goes to show that you can't write off a company just because the name isn't as trendy as it used to be.

Swirls are I' date='m afraid normal wear and tear, its what you might do about them to limit them.

What Clean Image has to say has to be considered, but (and I realise this may sound iffy but no malice or hurt is intended) I would accept it a little more if it wasnt coming from the same nik as his company name..if you get my drift.[/quote']

I get your drift Kentish.

But even if I do try to sell you some wax, which I won't. Then I suggest you continue to be sceptical. There is as much BS in the car care product world, as there is in the anti-aging cream or hair conditioner business... in fact, they often use the same ingredients as well as the same sales tatics.

I'll tell you why I'm here apart from the fact that there is bugger all on telly right now. since we launched our web site, we have been getting loads of customers who are just like the people on this message board. They don't come to us for valeting nor do they need it, they come for stuff like alloy wheel restoration and bumper scuff reapir. Now I am pretty much in charge of the marketing at our comapny and it's my job to know our customers. and you guys are a definite unique sub-catagory which I need to get to know about. I'll make no secret about that, and thats why I use this nick. so it is all up front. We sell the idea that a well maintained car holds value. Thats out service. We don't sell wax or polish. In valeting, we are selling a service which frankly, you guys don't need. But please continue being sceptical of me, as I am happy for my opinions to be scrutinized and challenged.

The other reason I am posting here on this very lively message board, is that you guys are doing stuff which is really making the guys around the firm scratch our heads. I mean here we are talking about swirl marks, and you dismiss swirl removers in favour of claybar!!!! whats that about? Swirl marks are normal wear and tear, but if you want avoid really nasty ones, stay away from the clay bar! Unless you live next door to a railway station, it shouldn't need doing more than once a year.

Think about it... the clay wouldn't be able to suck out stuff like rail dust unless it were pretty hard. Now compare that to what they say about terry toweling and how it absorbs the grit and helps prevent it from scratching. See what I mean? I could be wrong. But I suspect sometimes the advice you guys get is aimed more at making you buy a whole range of expensive products and not just the right products for the job.

The clay bar wasn't being used to remove the swirl marks...it was to remove the incredible amounts of fallout that I had peppering my paintwork before I proceeded to wax it.

I tried polishing the fallout off initially, which is how I got the swirls in the first place...either from rubbish cloths/polish or just a sheer incompetence when it comes to polishing cars

Cheers

Ventmore

Polish won't remove fallout I'm afraid. but it will cause swirl marks.

It was probably your cloths that caused the swirl marks, although cheap sponges are also a common cause. Only use damp natural sponges for putting your wax and polish on with, you just can't be sure with with synthetic ones.