Here's the low down. The previous owner of my car neglected it big time.

I tentatively waxed one side of the car tonight (it's all I had time to do).

What I used to do on my 4Runner is apply the wax with an orbital waxer, then remove most of it with a soft cloth, then polish with my circular Wen variable speed polisher, first with what I assume is a wool pad, then finish off with some sort of terry cloth pad.

Now, with the bimmer being Cosmos black, I first used a sealant/glaze (Mother's california gold), polished that, then waxed using Mother's california gold carnauba wax (cream, not paste). I applied the wax by hand in some palces, with the waxer in some others.

Now, the previous owner obviously went a little overkill with some rubnbing compound around one particular scratch, and despite two cats of sealant and two coats of wax, the scratches still show from up close.

What the hell can I do? Am I using the correct products? Should I switch to another brand of wax? Should I use a foam pad to polish the sealant?

TIA

First, how about we get some definitions right:
-A polish commonly refers to a paint cleaner mixed with oils to help bring out the shine in the paint. This has no protective properties and will get rid of any previous form of protection. While some Polishes are just pure polish with no cleaning properties (Glazes will usually fall into this catagory like Meguiar's #7 or their consumer Polish) so all they do is bring out the shine in the paint without cleaning it and will not remove scratches. Cleaner Polishes remove scratches either via abrassives or chemical cleaners.
-Wax commonly refers to a carnuba based form of protection, though some refer sythetic sealants and 'waxes' as well.
-Sythetic sealants (like Zaino or NXT) have no carnuba in them and work a little differently than carnuba waxes, though serve the same purpose

When you say polish, I really hope you mean simply removing the wax...not actually using a polish.

Now with that in mind, if you are waxing, then polishing, you are already waisting your efforts. Wash, clay, polish, protect, maintain. If you want to get rid of the scratches in your paint, then first wash the car (NOT WITH DAWN), clay it, then use a cleaner polish on the paint. To do this you are going to want nothing less than a Porter Cable random polisher. Those big 10"+ random polishers just simply do not have the strength to do anything outside of waxing. Then get some good cleaner polish like Meguiar's #80/#83, Pinnacle's XMT 360, or something along those lines.

If you are dedicated to working by hand, well then prepare to have your arm fall off, and use some good paint cleaner like ScratchX or even #80.

Wool pads are NOT good for anything outside of a rotary as they simply do not have the power to utalize it (opinion on the Ultimate Detailer Machine on hold!). For removing wax, look into a microfiber bonnet.

If you are set in your ways and just want a cheap way that works, look into a Cleaner wax. ColorX is one of the best I have found, along with Klasse AIO.

www.autopia.org thats all i can say

Autogeek.net has several packages including foam cutting pads and polishes to help you remove swirls/scratches. many are only $40 bucks... If the scratches are deep, wetsand with 2000 grit if clearcoat depth is deep enough.... Then polish...

Good luck

www.autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org) thats all i can say

Autogeek.net has several packages including foam cutting pads and polishes to help you remove swirls/scratches. many are only $40 bucks... If the scratches are deep, wetsand with 2000 grit if clearcoat depth is deep enough.... Then polish...

Good luck
That is what I forgot to add in!
AutoGeek (http://www.autogeek.net/) has some VERY helpful videos and tutorials (http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html)for a beginner.

Interesting. I will conduct tests on Cosmos black hood that I have laying around.

You will need a Porter Cable 7424 polisher to remove the swirls. Your wen is not powerful enough to do this. The severity of the swirls will determine the type of polish and pad combination you will need to use. For minor swirls, something like Zaino ZPC and a polishing pad will be sufficient. For deeper swirls you will need a cutting pad and something like Menzerna Intensive Polish. Once you've polished the surafce, you can protect it with any quality wax or sealant.

Really? The Wen does spin nicely, I'm always afraid to burn the paint... then again, I'm a n00b.

What is a polishing pad made of? I will try to use Zaino products and my Wen until the porter cable comes on sale...

Really? The Wen does spin nicely, I'm always afraid to burn the paint... then again, I'm a n00b.

What is a polishing pad made of? I will try to use Zaino products and my Wen until the porter cable comes on sale...
Did you buy the Wen at Canadian tire? Does it have multiple speed settings? What diameter pads does it accommodate? Actually, if you have a link to it, I'll take a look at it.

Polishing pads are typically made of foam (though more aggressive ones can be made of wool as well).

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Try to stay away from wool pads if you don't really know what you are doing. They can do some serious damage.

Did you buy the Wen at Canadian tire? Does it have multiple speed settings? What diameter pads does it accommodate? Actually, if you have a link to it, I'll take a look at it.

Polishing pads are typically made of foam (though more aggressive ones can be made of wool as well).

Yeah I did, 5-6 years ago. It's mustard yellow and looks like it was designed in 1979. :rofl

7" pad diameter, I do have a foam pad with it (will try it, obviously), and it is a multiple speed.

It's EXACTLY like this, but with an uglier color. Specs are the same.

http://www.wenproducts.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=10

Try to stay away from wool pads if you don't really know what you are doing. They can do some serious damage.

Good to know. Thanks.

OK, it's a rotary! I take back what I said! Can you screw off the backing plate? If so, all you need to do is buy a backing plate and foam pad kit and you can use it on your Wen. Just make sure that the backing plate you buy can screw into the Wen.

Here is a link to a good pad kit:

http://www.autogeek.net/bf300.html

Since it's a rotary, I have a feeling the white polishing pad will work well for your situation with both a polish like Menzerna Intensive Polish and Menzerna Final Polish or Zaino ZPC (or something of similar cut).

Try to stay away from wool pads if you don't really know what you are doing. They can do some serious damage.

But a wool pad under a terry or mf bonnet is ok, right?

But a wool pad under a terry or mf bonnet is ok, right?
No. Microfiber bonnet only unless you are doing serious paint correction.

Yeah that one is fine; I was thinking you had one of the 10" things.

You might want to look into Meguiar's Solo One-Step system. It is a great price for paint correction when you aren't that experienced with a rotary. Again, Autogeek and Autopia also offer numorous other products that work great as well, and that is really up to personal preference.

I would recomend nothing more than a polishing pad, maybe cutting if you have serious defects. Wax with a polishing pad, and remove with a microfiber bonnet over any clean pad.

I have a velcro attachment method on the backing plate.

I have a velcro attachment method on the backing plate.
Even better. Then you just need some quality pads. AG sells kits without the backing plate as well.

Oh man, thanks to you guys, I'm on the right track.

I used my old hood, wet sanded parts of it, and tried a few techniques.

So far, I've managed some good results using just what I already had in hand.

I applied some Zymol cleaner wax by hand, and buffed it with a clean cloth. I then used a standard wax applicator bonnet and used it to apply Mother's sealer/glaze with my Wen 7" circular buffer. I did three coats/passings of that. I wiped off any excess with a microfiber cloth. The shine was already impressive. I then applied Mother's carnuba wax and buffed it to a shine using a terry cloth bonnet.

Oh man! :eek:

The results are great.

Parts of my old hood still exhibit some wet sanding dullness, but I'll try a foam pad eventually.

Since the scratches on my quarter panel were way more superficial than a thorugh wet sanding job, I used the technique described above.

As far as I can tell, the swirls are gone!!

:redspot

Sounds good! Got any pics to share?

I wish... :rolleyes

Should've done a before/after, but it slipped my mind completely...

This is what all the pro detailers are using now....

http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=PV7001C

I'm an amateur at best, but I never turn down any advice! :)