Hey all!

Situation - 8month old Black CL-S...last of around 8 coats total of Zaino (z5/z2 mixes) around November '02
Problem - Millions of swirls even though I use the proper equip...maybe something to do with my mom's snow broom detailing?...

Plan:

Saturday - Nice weather ~80F - Brand New Griots Garage Sheepskin Mitt

1. Dawn Wash (to get all the crap off -in my mind-, even though Sal Zaino just told me today that dawn won't get zaino off and also is less powerful than dawn! very odd..but the man is the man!)

(Not sure whether to dry in between steps?

2. Clay Bar (Zaino bar w/ Z7-Water spray solution)

(Not sure whether to WASH Z7 in between steps?)

3. Buff millions of swirls out with Craftsmen 10" Random Orbital and 3M Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Colors

(First time using this..any tips? procedures? Should I use the "Terry Bonnets" supplied with my buffer? Safe?)

4. Wash Z7 (to get off any buff residue)

5. Dry (water blade and absorber chamois)

6. Apply 3 coats of ZFX-activated Z5 and Z6 spray @ end

FOLLOWING DAY - SUNDAY

7. Z7 Wash/Dry

8. Appy 3 coats of ZFX-activated Z2 and Z6 spray @ end

9. Sleep and hope it does not rain anytime soon!

What do you think? Most important advice is needed on Buffer/3M use!

Thanks!

 

1. Dawn(when washing go side to side and up to down, not in circles because that causes swirl)
2. Clay(you can use the already wet car as the lube)
3. Dawn again(same as step 1.)
4. Megs Scratch X 2.0 w/ orbital buffer
5. Wash with a nice cleansing wash liquid(such as megs crystal wash or zaino)
6. Dry in side to side motion to prevent visible scratches
7. let sit for an hour or so to cool down the car
8. Polish by hand(repeat step as wanted/needed)
9. Wax by hand(repeat step if wanted/needed)
10. finish off with detail spray with a MF towel

those are my steps, similar to yours

 

yes for the 3m you need to use the buffer to heat the paint up. use a cotton applier or any softer material you can find(sheeps wool is the best, if you can find it). don't apply too much at a time because it will glop up and get all over the place. do 1 panel at a time. most important..... FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE BOTTLE

 

I thought random orbitial buffers barely heat up the paint while only the higher speed regular buffers heat it up

 

WATCH OUT!! is that real chamois OR sythetic?? the real stuff will drag any left over dirt with it. so be sure to wash your car extremely well if you use the sheepskin chamois.

 

Here's what I'm using:

GENUINE Sheepskin washing MITT (not chamois)

Absorber drying towel (blue color, works like a chamois, even though the company claims its not chamois, but better and all that)

California Water Blade (Silicone edge)

 

thats good, i use real chamois for my windows and for my car cause its silver and you cant see the swirl marks at all. i have lots but cant tell they are there so even if i wanted to buff them out, i couldent. i just bought the california water blade for 35$cdn (ripoff in my view) but havent tried it yet. it is supposed to be the best. use the blade for the bulk of the water and then the absorber for the spots.

 

I'd make sure the rpms are more than 2100 and no less than 1700...I got this advice from a detailer.

 

I tried the buffer last weekend w/ the SMR and had no luck!

I understood about the hazing and at one point I was able to buffer until a tiny bit of residue was left, but I noticed almost no difference in the amount of swirls. I only noticed that my Zaino had been removed and that the buffer may have left new swirls. This sucks, I spent $50 for crap! After quiting and claying my car, 3 coats of Z5 Zaino made the car look so damn good! Some of the swirls were kinda filled in and the smoothness returned.

I'm still stuck with a bottle of SMR and a $40 buffer that I can't seem to use!