How do you prevent swirl marks?

[Loco5.0]

How do you guys keep your paint from getting swirl marks? What do you use to wipe down, wash & detail the car?

I'm mainly looking for what rags, etc you apply stuff with, but if you can recommend any great detailing products to aid me that would be good. I have been using Meguiar's for a while now and have no complaints.

 

[1985MustangGt]

What color is your car? I only use camel hair brushes on my car (and at work too, detailing) because they are soft enough for black paint even. How course is the wax your using? Get some really fine final inspection wax for the last coat to get rid of the swirls. Just a microfiber towel or other wax rag will work for taking it off. If you have black, keep the cotton stuff away from it.

All we use is meguires and have not had any complaints with it.

 

[Loco5.0]

What color is your car? I only use camel hair brushes on my car (and at work too, detailing) because they are soft enough for black paint even. How course is the wax your using? Get some really fine final inspection wax for the last coat to get rid of the swirls. Just a microfiber towel or other wax rag will work for taking it off. If you have black, keep the cotton stuff away from it.

All we use is meguires and have not had any complaints with it.

Car is red. I use Meguiar's NXT wax & their showcar glaze polish.

 

[1985MustangGt]

http://www.midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?11584

I like that stuff too, meguiars also makes a swirl remover. After you use the swirl remover the spray on/wipe off stuff really makes it stand out.

 

[JimC]

Go to autopia.org. Everything you wanted to know, and more, about detailing and maintaining swirl free paint

 

[streetstang03]

i use a leaf blower to dry the car, or some microfiber towels. Use a high quality wash pad and NEVER let it hit the ground. Throw it away if you drop it. Use two buckets when washing your car, 1 all water, 1 soap and water. Rinse the pad off before dipping it in the soapy bucket to get the dirt off of the pad before using it on the paint again. Also, start at the top of the car and work down when washing. I use a seperate wash pad for the wheels, inner fender lips, bottom side of the rocker panels, and the tail pipes.

use 100% cotton towels to wax with also, not cheapy ones either. I paid ~$25 for each cotton towel i use on the stang from Linens and Things. Wash them after every use with liquid detergent. Powder detergent can stay in the fiber and scratch your car.

To treat swirls, look into Poorboys Super Swirl Remover

www.specialtymotoring.com

the Clearkote products do great on dark colored cars as well, especially black

 

[Loco5.0]

Does anyone here use microfiber towels to apply wax or polish?

 

[1985MustangGt]

They soak up a little bit too much wax for me. Ive always liked the little round pad that came with my cheap can of turtle wax.. or course the turtle is in the garbage though.

 

[spree]

I use microfiber for everything. I have a microfiber wash mitt, drying towels, and detailing towels.

One of the most important things you can do to avoid swirls is to use proper washing techniques. Get a good quality mitt, don't blast the water when you have dirt all over the car, and rinse out your mitt frequently. Use the two bucket technique.

To get rid of swirls, I personally use the Poorboy's SSR line along with my Porter Cable 7424 buffer.