Swirls, SMR, stupidity, repeat.

schoi

New member
So... yeah, dumba$$ me. I had SMR'ed my car a couple weeks ago, hit it with AIO, and topped with P21S (wanted to finish it that weekend and didn't wanna wait for the 24-hour cure time of SG, although I will next time). Looked great. No swirls or those streaky-looking marks (I have a black car... I'm assuming those are technically "swirls" also?)



Yesterday, I washed her to get some of the rain-induced crap off. Stupid me, I used the same worn down terry towels on her. I should have known something was up when I heard squeaking on the paint while just drying :shocked so now, I have a nice collection of swirls / those swirly-looking marks on my car. Again.



Doing the car w/ SMR so soon again is okay, right? Also, how do you guys use it: Do you SMR (and anything else, for that matter) in the direction of airflow (that is, from the hood directly to the trunklid, including the sides), or on the doors, do you go up and down (from the top of the door to the bottom of the car)?



And now I get to start all over again, again. Yay. :rolleyes:
 
Are you going to use a PC to use SMR? If so, look for DavidB's video on using the PC, it's extremely helpful. Sorry to say this, but do a search, It's floating around here somewhere. :rolleyes: If you're doing it by hand, go front to back and up and down. Hope this helps! :D
 
Yep, I've seen the video, it's great.



Unforunately, this will be, just like last time, an all by hand job. As always, until I get an orbital of some sort.



Back and forth AND up and down? As in, polish in perpendicular motions on all surfaces of the paint and NOT just in the direction of airflow?
 
It's been a long time since I've polished by hand. If I remember correctly, on the hood/roof/trunk, go in a back and forth movement (from headlights to windshield for the hood). For the doors/fenders other panels that are just flat (can't find the right word for these panels) go up and down. I think this is how you're supposed to do it. Sorry I can't be of more help.



You've used SMR before and had good results with it, why worry about it now?



Anyway, here's an article on FI-2, it might help you a little. http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11598&highlight=SMR+hand
 
Thanks. I've heard you do it up and down... er, lol, little ambiguity there... on the sides of the car because of the way you'd be looking at it, which is to say, at an angle not very favorable for showing defects. And yeah, it'll all be by hand. Which sucks.



I'd like to get a PC but I'm not too anxious about spending $150 and more on it, the velcro backing plate, all the pads, etc. And I dunno about all those "other" orbitals... you know, the ones at about half the price? They look awfully tempting sometimes, you know? Any good?



Then again, I've never used a PC or even seen the results of one in real life, so... yeah. Are orbitals hard to "learn"? Get used to? That sort of thing?
 
Polaris said:




Then again, I've never used a PC or even seen the results of one in real life, so... yeah. Are orbitals hard to "learn"? Get used to? That sort of thing?



Not difficult at all,

pretty foolproof if you ask me.

Just don't drop it on your car,

don't use dirty pads



Christiaan
 
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