My car has some awful swirl marks on the front quarter panel from a crappy wax job. I want to completely take all the wax off my car and redue it. I just don't know how to get the damn wax off. What takes it off? I tried dishwashing soap and it didn't work at all... it actually looks a little worse. I'll also be using different wax. Anyone know?

 

Well, some wash with Dawn and claim that it works well..You may have to do it more than once...This is, however, not good for your paint and rubber pieces..A better option is a commercially availablo product called Prepsol...You can get this from most body shops/auto paint supply stores. It works very well, and is designed specifically for your application... If you need any more helpful info, there is a wealth of knowledge at www.autopia.com

 

Usually Dawn or any other dish soap strips wax off pritty good. But, if you still think theres some on there I'd use some rubbing alcohol with a cotton towel over the whole car and that should do it.

 

Well... Dawn original dish soap is supposed to work. It probably did take the wax off your car and that's why it looks worse.

The swirl marks most likely aren't going to be in the wax. They are usualy caused by a poor wax job or drying with cotton towels which in turn marrs the clearcoat surface. What you should do is get a polisher (porter cable) with a mildly abrasive pad and some 3M swirl mark remover (for dark colored cars) and treat that area.

Probably 2 passes with the polisher and 3M SMR should get out most swirls as long as they aren't too deep. Be sure to buff off with a microfiber towel in between layers. This will give the paint a light haze. Now you need to go over it with a cleaner polish (simple example is Zymol, but there are better out there) and a normal non-abrasive pad, Use the polisher, buff off with a MF towel and this will remove the haze and bring the paint back to a nice luster. Then add your final layer of wax (I do this by hand) and buff off with a MF towel once again.

That's the process I use on my cars to remove swirl marks. I have taken the original paint on my 1986 BMW, which was extremely scratched and dull, and almost completely restored it to 'brand new' standards. It takes patience and practice, but the outcome is very rewarding. Just be sure to dry or detail your car using only microfiber towels... it is VERY hard for them to make swirl marks.

However, if you think the wax is the problem and that it's still on the car... get ahold of some 3M Wax & Adhesive remover... it's supposed to get just about anything and everything off of your car without harming the paint at all... it would probably be a good idea to try it out on that one spot first, and then rewax the car.

I'm sortuv a detailing buff so lemme know if you have any questions: krazeezx@hotmail.com

Good luck!

-Vann

 

I can really see the swirls in the exactly places I waxed, thats why i'm thinking its the wax. I probably just messed up waxing or used bad wax. I wanted to try and remove the wax I have on now and see how it looks when I use a different wax. I'll definatley take your response into consideration, Thanks.

 

Swirl marks will never be in wax. They are in the clearcoat. It could be from applicator, towel, etc. To remove them you need a good polish. I use Menzerna and Poorboy's polishes with great success. I also use a Porter Cable random orbital buffer.

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