I always hand polish. Bought her on a Saturday. Spent 2 days polishing the swirl marks out from the dealer. Took her back a few days later to have a key fob they owed me programmed and to get a front license plate holder put on since it came from Michigan. When I picked her up they had half-@ssed washed her and spotted the windows up. But the kicker was they polished her and left those dang swirls on her. Grrrr!!! It was obvious when I dropped it off that it did not need a quick detailing. My daughter told me that I am the only person she knows that would by a new car and spend 2 days detailing it. :)

 

I hate to tell you this but you probably didn't polish out the swirls. You filled them in. When the dealer washed it they probably used a cheap detergent, that stripped off the wax.

I used to be like you and hand polish the heck out of my cars then I tried the Porter Cable dual action and I was hooked. Never in my 30+ years of detailing could I do in a week what the Porter Cable did in minutes. By the way, I was considered one of the top detailers in Southern California. I just got better with the buffer.

 

i have to agree as most dealers have small wash racks and they just use agressive soap to do most he cleaning.

I too am a Porter Cable deciple. It and the right combo of polishes and pad will do things many never thought possible. It is kind of like drilling a lot of holes with a hand drill and then being given a good cordless drill. Easier, better, faster.

My dealer has my filed market not to wash my car as they always leave it dirty than when I bring it in. The Pontiac Dealer we took my wifes car too washed hers right after I detailed it. I asked why did you was a clean car and make it worse?

 

OK, here's the deal: You'll never accomplish Jack on your finish by hand; to "Correct" paint issues, you'll need a D/A buffer (at minimum), unless you have a pet gorilla because hand correction is just about impossible. Fortunately, they are pretty-much idiot proof, and work great with todays compounds, polishes and waxes/sealants. The Griots is the best one out there (most power/torque; lifetime guarantee).

You'll need some foam pads for the Griots; I use Lake Country pads in Orange, white and red (coarseness of the foam).

Clay removes embedded crap from your paint and makes it super smooth.

First step is to correct the swirls, random scratches and marks from other idiots that don't know how to use a rotary buffer. The easiest correction to find OTC is Meguiars Ultimate Compound (find at any Wal-Mart); Megs #105 is also great, but harder to use. Use a higher speed on the D/A (5-6), apply downward pressure, but keep the pad spinning; travel slow - an inch per second)

Once you have removed swirls with UC and an orange (or yellow) pad, move on to the polish step. Again, Meguiars Ultimate Polish is easy to find and easy to use. It not only polishes, but feeds the paint with oils that make for a very shiny, deep, wet finish. Use the White pad for the polish. It's the polish step that really determines the final shine.

Finally, apply a wax or sealant (sealants last longer) with the red pad at a medium speed (3-4 on the D/A). I use BlackFire Wet Diamond sealant and it's just awesome; so deep and wet; easy to apply and remove. Often I'll top with Wet Glaze 2.0 for the final pop.

Use only microfiber towels for buffing and removing compound/polish/wax residue; no terrycloth; diapers; chamois or wifes panties.

That's it.

Jim

 

I live in an apartment so your power buffer suggestions are a no go for me. I always clay bar, then use foam pads with Maguire's. The dealer did not take my wax off, it beaded perfectly when it rained.
I just wish they would not do anything to your car unless they ask you or you tell them it is ok mess up a perfectly clean and waxed car.

 

Might want to try some detail spray. Often some waxes will streak and swirl and can be saved.

I used http://www.summitracing.com/parts/AAM-D-002/

Or I will use a good hand glaze and then rewax then follow with the detailer. I own two black cars and show one.

I have used most all detailers and Adams is the only one I really like. It is good on cold or hot surfaces. Dark and light colors. With a black car at a show it is the only one that never has given me trouble on a hot sunny day when I have to dust or lightly clean the car.

As stated above Micro Fiber. It is the only thing I use anymore in all detailing. I also use them up and change them out regular. Do not keep them for ever and keep using them. Even after you wash them after a while they just are not as good. The price has come down on them so they are easy to replace now. I just get a new one now an them and retire one of the old ones.

 

Costco has a 36pack for 10.00 I have never used power, but I do own a 300.00 makita varible speed machine I use to polish granite. It might work good for polishing, but its not orbital.

 

I have a variable speed machine too. It is good if you really 1 know what you are doing and 2 have a need to do some heavier cutting.

You can do light jobs on these but they can unforgiving for the novice or someone just wanting a light clean up. Either way it is a good tool to learn and master. I needed one to clean up a spare hood I had for my car. My custom hood had a flaw and I had to make the 2 AM change and have it sanded and buffed out before I had to leave for the Pontiac Nationals. I had it done in time and still won my class.

 

HHR_Style, the panel looks great and I agree that nothing beats hand waxing. It's a lot of work, but the tactile experience can't be beat. You learn every line and curve of your vehicle, and as frustrating as it is, you learn every new chip, scratch & ding.

I used to set aside an entire Sunday starting at 6am to hand wash, claybar and apply 4-7 coats of Zaino Brothers' Show Car Polish to my '96 Impala SS (black) when I had it.

 

I enjoy it as it to me is a stress reliever.

But For me it does not take as long as many. I keep my cars up to the paint I rarely hae to clay and I only polish with the needed level of polish I need to restore the finish. It is easy to clean a clean car. Now if you let it go to hell and only detail it once or twice a year......

I have two black cars and yes I have a lot of stress. LOL!

If you work a little bit at it in keeping it up it is so much eaiser as well as using the correct tools.