3m swirl remover

[BuStA]

Okay I went to auto store and picked up some of this stuff. Now its 3M, and it says swirl remover on the front, but I'm not sure if its the same as everyones been talking about? I paid like 12 bucks for it, but I tried it on my tailgate and it didnt seem to work well with light scratches, so I'm not sure if I got the right thing... if I did, whats the best way to apply it? It seems like your supposed to just rub it on and as your rubbing it in you just polish it off.

[ELEGALCHEV]

Its gray right, if so its the swirl remover...i didnt get good results too, wonder if im doing something wrong, but i did follow the directions:think:

[RedZ71]

i was moderately happy with how it worked on mine, but i still think i could have bought something that would make it shine better. i guess imgoing to plunk the cash down for the zaino system.

[02Silverado]

Originally posted by RedZ71
i was moderately happy with how it worked on mine, but i still think i could have bought something that would make it shine better. i guess imgoing to plunk the cash down for the zaino system.

How many coats did you do? I recomment 2 or 3. Then put on a sealer/paint protection.

[OKLAGMCRUISER]

I have used this product a few times on my truck...I found it best to use a buffer for the removal phase. Use the 3m product in small 2' by 2' foot areas...add it to this small area and let it haze...then use your buffer with light to medium pressure and at a perpendicular angle...(don't lift the buffer or use it at an angle)...after you have completely covered the entire vehicle then go back over it with a carnuba wax/sealer...I prefer Fat Bobs, but others like the Zainos system which I have never used, so do not have an opinion. If you can run your thumb nail over a scratch and feel it then you can NOT get it out with a swirl remover...this scratch is deeper than the clearcoat and you are f'd.:)

[Badassilverado]

Originally posted by OKLAHOMAGMCRUIS
If you can run your thumb nail over a scratch and feel it then you can NOT get it out with a swirl remover...this scratch is deeper than the clearcoat and you are f'd.:)

Just don't confuse a scratch with leftover adhesive (say from a Chevrolet Badge ;) ) The same thing happened to me when I was removing some logos off my truck. I used a plastic scraper (bad idea) and I thought my tailgate was completely F'ed, about 5-6 coats later of Meguire's it looked perfect. It looked just like scratches but in fact it was just fine lines of adhesive.

Get some Meguire's Scratch-X and some high quality wax like Meguires Gold Class or Zymol and buff it out. :rocking:

[89 cheyenne]

the 3m swirl mark remover does not work the way you guys are using it.
its made to elimenate swirl marks left behind by the buffer.
if you want to get rid of scratches you need to buff,polish and wax you vehicles.
i recommend using 3m products they are very good to work with.
start off by buffing your truck with a buffer not a orbitor using
3M PERFECT III COMPUND # 5974.
then polish with 3M PERFECT III POLISH# 5996.
and then use any wax that you guys feel confertable with i like to use MEGUIERS LIQUID GOLD ethier by hand or orbitor.
this will give your truck a hell of a shine and elimenate any swirl marks left behind by the buffer .
i speak from experience i work as a detailer at a local collision center here in boston and have my own partime detailing service. its what i use to give my customers the wet look!
i don`t recommend using the 3M SWIRL MARK REMOVER to me its just a waste of time. any wax would get the swirl marks out as long as you know how to use it.

try and you`ll see the difference.
:read:

[melncal]

Originally posted by BuStA
Okay I went to auto store and picked up some of this stuff. Now its 3M, and it says swirl remover on the front, but I'm not sure if its the same as everyones been talking about? I paid like 12 bucks for it, but I tried it on my tailgate and it didnt seem to work well with light scratches, so I'm not sure if I got the right thing... if I did, whats the best way to apply it? It seems like your supposed to just rub it on and as your rubbing it in you just polish it off.


3m swirl remover is not a waste of time, this stuff works great for swirls and light scratches, but it's a PITA to work by hand. Unlike a compound, it has a mild, diminishing abrasive, so as you work it the abrasive will breakdown and poilsh to leave you a nice finish.

The problem is if you don't breakdown the abrasive enough you will get hazing or micro-marring (see the picture below).

http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/swirl.jpg

I worked and worked the hood by hand and still ended up with the same results. Then I used my Porter cable random orbital polisher/sander and got these results below.

This is how 3m Swirl remover breaks down,
-1st stage is a creamy consistency
-2nd is a clear, almost liquid consistency
-3rd is drying or hazing

At the 3rd stage it should wipe off pretty easy with no micro marring.

This is the hood after 3M Swirl Remover, 3 coats Zaino Z5 and 1 coat of Caranuba Wax:
http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/swirl_2.jpg


http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/hood_2.jpg


http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/hood_7.jpg

Remember this will strip any wax or sealant on the truck so you will have to apply a wax or sealant after you're finished.

Also, if this doesn't get out the swirls or scratches you can try 3M finesse-it II or Perfect-it III. They are a little more aggressive, still the same principal with the diminishing abrasives, but again they are hard to breakdown by hand.

One other option is to use a glaze of finishing polish to hide the swirls like, Meguiars #7 or 3M Imperal Hand Glaze. Top that with a good wax and it should hide most of the problems, but these just hide them it doesn't remove them.


Good luck!

[02Silverado]

Originally posted by melncal



3m swirl remover is not a waste of time, this stuff works great for swirls and light scratches, but it's a PITA to work by hand. Unlike a compound, it has a mild, diminishing abrasive, so as you work it the abrasive will breakdown and poilsh to leave you a nice finish.

The problem is if you don't breakdown the abrasive enough you will get hazing or micro-marring (see the picture below).

http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/swirl.jpg

I worked and worked the hood by hand and still ended up with the same results. Then I used my Porter cable random orbital polisher/sander and got these results below.

This is how 3m Swirl remover breaks down,
-1st stage is a creamy consistency
-2nd is a clear, almost liquid consistency
-3rd is drying or hazing

At the 3rd stage it should wipe off pretty easy with no micro marring.

This is the hood after 3M Swirl Remover, 3 coats Zaino Z5 and 1 coat of Caranuba Wax:
http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/swirl_2.jpg


http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/hood_2.jpg


http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/hood_7.jpg

Remember this will strip any wax or sealant on the truck so you will have to apply a wax or sealant after you're finished.

Also, if this doesn't get out the swirls or scratches you can try 3M finesse-it II or Perfect-it III. They are a little more aggressive, still the same principal with the diminishing abrasives, but again they are hard to breakdown by hand.

One other option is to use a glaze of finishing polish to hide the swirls like, Meguiars #7 or 3M Imperal Hand Glaze. Top that with a good wax and it should hide most of the problems, but these just hide them it doesn't remove them.


Good luck!

Nice job and pics. Yeah, 3M Swirl Remover works a lot better with an orbital. I wouldnt recomment anyone going out and getting a high speed buffer and try to do this on there car. Maybe a beater. But you can get amazing results with the Swirl Remover and an orbital. Also, do not get the Swirl Remover for black cars. It does have a filler in it so it will hide some swirls. Get the 3M Machine Glaze if you can. If you can find it in stores the part # is 051131-39109. It is in a 16oz bottle. IF you apply one coat and there are still swirls, do it again. Then they should be gone.

[MOC]

Originally posted by melncal



3m swirl remover is not a waste of time, this stuff works great for swirls and light scratches, but it's a PITA to work by hand. Unlike a compound, it has a mild, diminishing abrasive, so as you work it the abrasive will breakdown and poilsh to leave you a nice finish.

The problem is if you don't breakdown the abrasive enough you will get hazing or micro-marring (see the picture below).

http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/swirl.jpg

I worked and worked the hood by hand and still ended up with the same results. Then I used my Porter cable random orbital polisher/sander and got these results below.

This is how 3m Swirl remover breaks down,
-1st stage is a creamy consistency
-2nd is a clear, almost liquid consistency
-3rd is drying or hazing

At the 3rd stage it should wipe off pretty easy with no micro marring.

This is the hood after 3M Swirl Remover, 3 coats Zaino Z5 and 1 coat of Caranuba Wax:
http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/swirl_2.jpg


http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/hood_2.jpg


http://users.ca.astound.net/cal0828/hood_7.jpg

Remember this will strip any wax or sealant on the truck so you will have to apply a wax or sealant after you're finished.

Also, if this doesn't get out the swirls or scratches you can try 3M finesse-it II or Perfect-it III. They are a little more aggressive, still the same principal with the diminishing abrasives, but again they are hard to breakdown by hand.

One other option is to use a glaze of finishing polish to hide the swirls like, Meguiars #7 or 3M Imperal Hand Glaze. Top that with a good wax and it should hide most of the problems, but these just hide them it doesn't remove them.


Good luck!

WOW......impressive results. I wish you didn't live in Northern California. I'd pay you to fix the paint on my Infiniti G35. I have swirls on it (not as bad as in the hood above), and have gotten the advice here to try 3M's Swirl Remover. I had not had the time to do it yet, but I'm hoping for good results.

[melncal]

Originally posted by 02Silverado


Nice job and pics. Yeah, 3M Swirl Remover works a lot better with an orbital. I wouldnt recomment anyone going out and getting a high speed buffer and try to do this on there car. Maybe a beater. But you can get amazing results with the Swirl Remover and an orbital.

Thanks!

Yeah, definitely stay away from an orbital buffer unless you know how to use it.

The thing about the Porter Cable is, it's a random orbit polisher which means it doesn't rotate, it oscillates. Since it oscillates, it doesn't generate enough heat to burn through the paint. Here is a great article for beginners with a Porter cable:
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/detailing/forum.php?postid=1430487&page=1


Also, do not get the Swirl Remover for black cars. It does have a filler in it so it will hide some swirls. Get the 3M Machine Glaze if you can. If you can find it in stores the part # is 051131-39109. It is in a 16oz bottle. IF you apply one coat and there are still swirls, do it again. Then they should be gone.


You're right it does have fillers but if you spray the spot after working it with a 50-50 blend of Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol and water, it'll remove any fillers or oil and you can see if you actually removed it or just filled it.

These products can be worked by hand, you just have to know when they breakdown and what to look for. Now that I know what to look for I now have good luck with 3M swirl remover by hand (in those places the porter cable can't reach).

Another good combination is Meguiars line, #9 swirl remover and #7 glaze topped with a Carnauba wax. They don't take as much work to breakdown and work almost as good as 3M's line.

Charles

[MattH]

I tried the 3M swirl remover (by hand) also and wasn't thrilled with the results. I thought it left some haze or cloudiness. But I guess maybe it really does need a machine to buff off before waxing.

I know there's lots of new stuff out there, but still like the results of 3M glazing compound (I think that's what it's called. The plastic bottle is not quite clear, it has red writing and the compound is a tan liquid). A body shop I use always uses this stuff. Follow up with Gliptone carnuba and the results are usually excellent.

Matt