Is it just me or is this paint horribly cheap? I have chips in the front, and pretty terrible swirl marks. I know, I know, wax and using a microfiber cloth is key, but still, this is pretty ridiculous.

 

the swirl is on the clear coat. It can only happen from user

You shouldnt swirl when you wash or swirl when you wax and remove wax

 

Well, I mean, doesn't really matter. I baby this car with microfiber rags and wash it. I'm a situation where I can't really wax it (I live on a college campus), so I just have to take it as it comes. I'm going to wax it at a drive in car wash, but I've always been told to swirl when waxing, so that's what I've always done. I mean, my car already has dings and I put a lot of miles on it, but I want it to look as best as in my power, so swirl marks are maddening. Luckily it's cement.

 

never ever swirl when you wax. All you should do is simply apply the wax on in 1 single motion... let it dry and then wipe it off in 1 motion.

I use Collonite 845.. its liquid based and applies extremely easily. I am past paste wax.

Buy a $30 electric air dryer at sears or something ... use that to dry your car so you wont have to create any extra marks from drying.

 

In general it sounds like people are going to their local AutoZone and buying the "most expensive" wax they see and thinking it should work miracles. First thing, no wax from AutoZone or where ever you go is going to be a miracle worker, it took a rock or debris to make the swirls and its highly unlikely some soft paste wax (or spray on depending on your preference) is going to remove such blemishes. I've spent no less than $40 on a basic jar of wax and expected good results, (Migliore Primo for $100 and Pete’s 53' black Pearl for $40, or you could go with Poorboys for about $20). On a side note, the wax, unless it has filler properties, will not hide swirls holograms or any other kind of defect in the paint. In fact it just makes the swirls more reflective. You could add a glaze a sealant and so on and it still won’t get rid of the swirls. So either buy a polisher and buff those out or pay some guy $150-$200 to have him buff it out for you. That's called taking care of your car.

Btw: what would a hair dryer have to do with anything relating to your car except hard water spots from drying it like that instead of with a Ph balanced detail spray and a waffle weave towel?

 

Opinions certainly differ:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...ht-Lines/page2

 

I have to agree 100% with johnmk, its irrelevant what direction your moving your hand in if everything is contaminant free and clean. I'd also like to point out that a polisher machine, whether a rotary, porter cable or flex polisher, NONE move in a straight line. And yes, if your using a product that leaves scratches, which may be because of an issue with not removing contaminants from the car with a clay bar or a good washing, it could also be because of a dirty polishing pad or there could be foreign material in your polish its self if their stored incorrectly. Either way you’re not going to want to drag that pad down the side of your car, it won’t look any better than if you keyed your own car and ran it down the side of the vehicle. Sounds like oblivionlord may have a few scratches on his car if that's how he washes and waxes

 

I'm sure you can do a fine job moving in straight lines, I'm just emphasizing that there appears to be no harm in doing it either way.

 

If particles are present and you apply in a circular motion then you will make swirl marks. If you don't apply in a circular motion then you will form line marks.

You can't make a circular scratch if you scratch in a straight line.

 

Right, it'll be a straight scratch.