what have you guys done/used that has worked?

I have both an orbital and a high speed buffer, i need to do the entire truck to remove some scratches and swirls.

should I wet sand it, then buff it, or just use some compound with the buffer and be careful not to burn the paint?

 

Check out autogeek.com or properautocare.com. They have a lot of how to's on that. You'll get some really good info there.

 

thanks man i was searching for some good info but i kept getting advertisement for one line of products only

 

Meguairs makes a #9 swirl remover that I have used in the past. Works good. I would not wet sand. Don't know how much clear is on the paint. No doubt it is a softer clear then most. When buffing use a variable speed buffer with a sponge pad at 1700 rpms. You will not swirl up the paint with that setup.

 

The way mentioned above is about the safest route you can take. I have a couple of years wet sanding and buffing under my belt so I can add to this a little. I would first do a test patch with some 15-1800 grit wetsand paper in an not so noticable area, then take and buff the spot out, odds are, you have enough clear coat left to safely wet sand. Try to get your hands on some 3M extra-fine cut compound, VERY VERY good stuff. Your going to have to buf the area you wetsand probably 2-3 times before it will come up. Dont be afraid to use alot of compound, best results will come from that. If your satisfied with the way your test patch cam out, your probably safe to do the whole truck...If you do it right, it will look better than factory when your done. Oh and BTW, if you wetsand, then buff, you will want to up the buffer RPMS to about 2000-2100 rpms..otherwise, you'll be there all day trying to get it to come back up.

Good luck, any other questions, feel free to PM me

 

Not enough info .. What type of orbital? Is it a good porta cable 7336 or just one of those Black and Decker type that are only good for wax. The high speed is it a variable speed rotory? The newer paints dont take well to high speed buffing or real aggressive compound. I have the porta cable variable speed rotory buffer and rarely do I go over the #3 setting.. Most light stuff can be removed with a DA buffer using Mcquiars #83 then # 80 followed by a good wax.

Here is a link to the proper way to remove swirls and light scratches. The Mcquiars g-110 is just a rebadged Porta cable 7224/7336 orbital sander/polisher with better backer and buffing pads. I buy my supplies from Auto detailing solutions http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...&threadid=2965

 

if it just swirl marks and no blems, don't wet sand the factory finish. Everyone has there own way of doing things, but in my 11 years of high end auto refinishing, I used 3M products. start with a white foam pad with perfect it III rubbing compound, then clean all the residue off, then use a black foam pad and their perfect it III foam pad glaze. Finish it off with some spray wax once you have washed it. My friends all have me buff their black cars, nobody else can get rid of the swirl marks...

 

i'll agree with chrome.if it's just swirl marks and light scratchs don't go to the trouble of wetsanding.not worth the risk of going thru the clear.because the factory wasn't real generous with it in the first place.

 

Chromegrill,

Where do you live?

I need a friend like you...I have a black truck.

It's in need of a good buffing and wax. I may check out a shop to do the job since all of my buffer isn't variable speed. By the time I buy everything needed I could be close to paying to have it done while I do something else.

What does a good shop charge to buff a black truck? Ballpark...

 

I'm in northern Indiana, so a little to far to buff out a truck...

As far as price, it all depends on how much time is involved. Shouldn't be more than $150-200 at a paint shop, I wouldn't trust some car wash junkies to do it...might get a wool pad mixed up with some steel wool!

 

Do the make a wax made just for black?

 

No, but I have had good luck with Zymol to get rid of some minor swirls if you are hand waxing, plus it smells like pina coladas...

 

Try using 3M paste wax...you can get it at Franks Auto (if you have them near you) or look it up online, should be about 20 bucks a can...best wax ive found yet for light swirl marks on dark vehicles...well worth the 20 bucks.

 

Check out the 3M Automotive Appearance Products. I've used this in the past and it works awsome. http://www.autogeek.net/3mperswirmar.html
-Glen