Just washed up my car real good, only to discover all the little swirl scratches in the paint. From like 20ft away it looks awesome, but up close it's kinda...meh.

I bought the Meguiars clay kit and I think next weekend and I'm going to learn the clay technique and give it a go and hopefully it will knock out most of the scratch. It's going to need a good solid seal and wax as well, so I'll need to make another run for waxing supplies.

I've been reading through the forums and getting a feel for what's in-store for the detail. If anyone has any lessons learned or useful tips and techniques that they've picked up, please share! I'm a noob to car detailing and need to get this black cobalt slick looking.

 

Have fun it's lots of work but worth it.

 

Clay will have 0 effect on the swirls. It only removes impurities in the paint. You need to have someone that knows what they're doing remove the swirls using the correct da and polish/cutting compounds.

Join autopia forums and do some reading. And if you clay, make sure to wax after, the clay will remove any protection you may have added.

 

Also, for future reference, start using the two bucket wash method using grit guards, and invest in an electric leaf blower for drying the car. Sears has a cheap craftsman one.

 

Electric leaf blower eh? So I would use this to blow off the remaing water instead of using an absorbant towel?

 

Yes.

 

For swirl marks

 

i use a 30 year old sheep skin shammy to dry my car. it works really well but takes a long time to work it in. glad my dad did all the hard work for me.

 

Yep and yep! If you plan on doing it yourself it's worth the investment for a start up porter cable 7424xp kit. It will have the pads, backing plate and DA polisher you need to get started.

 

the previous owner of my car really didn't take care of the paint either. Freakin swirls everywhere and it drives me crazy. doesn't help that my cars black either. Really irritates me lol.

 

this pretty much nailed it. Good posts.

 

ls1 said what needed to be said.

 

this and this

 

also, while drying heres a good tip: throw away your shammy. use/buy a big plush microfiber towel or waffle weave microfiber, and use detail spray. get the towel wet, spray some detail on the towel or the paint, or both, then use the towel like you would a shammy. really helps to reduce the swirls.

always keep that, your wash mitt and any other things you use to wash your car fresh and contaminant free. i.e., wash those cloths with your laundry. any dirt/particles that get caught in the rags and cloths will scratch your paint whether you're washing or drying just keep that in mind.

never buff, wax, clay, or touch a dirty car. doesn't matter if you drove it to the gas station and back. there is hard dust on it, and leaning on the car or touching the paint WILL leave swirls and 'love marks'