bfutch

I have a black 02 Cab and the paint is in great shape. However anyone that owns a black car understands swirl marks are unavoidable.
At Christmas Santa brought me a new Groit's buffer polisher equiped with their foam pads and #3 polish. Although Groits swears their buffer will not harm your paint, I had my doubts.
A few days ago. I did the unthinkable and decided that I would dive in and attack those nasty swirl marks.

After two buffings on both doors, I can't believe how easy it was to use and the results were fantastic. I drove my car to wrk today to have some of my car buddies make their own determination. They were very impressed with the results! This weekend I will take on the fenders! I will post some pictures this weekend.

Sneaky Pete

Nice job. The Griots products are great. I have the 'I want it all kit'. Their porter cable buffers are fool proof. Much more satisfying DIY rather than pay a detailer.

RPMulli

Let me know! My car needs a nice polish and wax this summer.

C4CRNA

I too was amazed that I could buff my car and make it better(not worse) with the Griots stuff

gota911

Check out this post from a few year back.

Polishing & Buffing Paint

red911c2

Great thread, wish I'd seen that a year ago!

FLY996

Don't forget to use a clay bar before polishing...

http://www.autogeek.net/detailing-clay-bar.html

Psycho Sid

geezzz guys I must have been doing something wrong
Cause I have never had a buff job done that didn't leave those damn "ghost" swirl marks I've paid as low as $200 and as high as $900 but after a certain amount a washes (1 to 3 months) always the same Ghost swirls show up and it looks worse than it did before the buff/compound!!

I had my P. resprayed with SIX layers of the highest quality clear there is and have my own wash mits and chammy at the car wash (they thought I was crazy ).
With a wax once month the P. looks great and the black Benz (had the same problem) looks pretty good too but needs a flash wax every 2nd wash 'cause that I never got resprayed (clear).

Needless to say I'm very impressed when I see guys whom are able to do this buffing/compound themselves and get amazing results!!!
I'm jealous fellas

Cheers,

Sid.

Pac996

Heck yah mandatory. I've been tempted to heavy way with a buffer but gotta have the time to clay the car first.

SWK6Cup

I have been a fan of Griot's product for a number of years. Typically, when the timing and weather are right, it can be an all day affair, speed shine with clay, polishing with the right # polish, then a coat of carnuba, or best in show, .....about the time that my back goes out from being bent over, etc., the sun is going down and it is time to sit back, enjoy a bev., a cigar, and admire the gleaming , swirl free paint and hard work. Elbow grease really does work.

LVDell

Totally agree. Another reason I pay somebody to do my cars. I'm not young anymore and my time is worth more than that. Don't get me wrong, I'll love to do it but my choice is DIY stuff over detailing.

francars

Please share some pics of the car. I am planning to detail mine soon but not don't want to mess up the car more

Awesomo996

I've got swirl marks but I'm scared to buff because it removes a small amount of the clear coat, right?

How much buffing can be done before going through the clear and into the paint?

How do I figure out how much buffing the PO did?

Can I somehow measure how much clear coat I have left?

How good a job can be done by a paint shop to add a new layer of clear coat?

ivangene

there are ways to measure the paint/clear

if you get a GOOD ramdom orbital... you can polish till your blue inthe face and not take off more than a few microns...get rid of the swirl marks, drives me crazy when I see them!

pissedpuppy

what is that?