Understanding Tropi-Care TC-8 Swirl Cutter
03-11-2007, 12:28 PM
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Understanding Tropi-Care TC-8 Swirl Cutter In the picture below is an example of what I consider to be "swirl marks." Notice the hologram appearance in the markings on the rear deck. This particular type of tightly packed ultra fine lines will change when viewing from different angles. These were inflicted by a rotary polisher prior to arrival here.
To address this type of blemish, I used the PC equipped with an orange LC cutting/polishing pad and TC-8 Swirl Cutter. Setting the pad to speed 5-6 and moving across the surface at the rate of 1"/second was necessary to realize improvement. To move any quicker, you're just moving the material around the surface without seeing marked improvement. Lightly misting the pad surface with water allowed to product to cut more efficiently while preventing the pad from loading up with excess product. If needed after the orange pad, you may use the white polishing pad with minimal cutting properties for a even finer finish. The Swirl Cutter was designed to effectively remove swirl marks/holograms and ultra-fine lines as shown here. The key is to start with the least aggressive approach and work upward.
With that being said, for your experienced rotary polisher users, try a combo of black or white foam pad with the Swirl Cutter at speed 1200-1400 RPM before stepping up to a more abrasive cutting compound.
In this second photo, here's what I consider "spider scratches" or "spider webbing" as may also be known. These stubborn lines run in concentric circles on the surface. These can be seen consistently when viewed from different angles in day or night time lighting. Using the Swirl Cutter/orange pad combo will provide little relief as its cutting ability is comparable to 3000 grit wet-sand paper. Asking the Swirl Cutter to attack this task is one that it was not designed to accomplish.
In this particular situation it was necessary to use the rotary polisher equipped with a yellow then orange pad and appropriate rubbing compound such as 3M Perfect-It II.
Once satisfied with the rotary leveling, we used the PC equipped with the orange pad/Swirl Cutter combo to remove the micro-marring and swirl marks left behind by the rotary polisher.
The "afters"
We brought this back to a 90% recovery rate
Questions or comments are always welcome.
To address this type of blemish, I used the PC equipped with an orange LC cutting/polishing pad and TC-8 Swirl Cutter. Setting the pad to speed 5-6 and moving across the surface at the rate of 1"/second was necessary to realize improvement. To move any quicker, you're just moving the material around the surface without seeing marked improvement. Lightly misting the pad surface with water allowed to product to cut more efficiently while preventing the pad from loading up with excess product. If needed after the orange pad, you may use the white polishing pad with minimal cutting properties for a even finer finish. The Swirl Cutter was designed to effectively remove swirl marks/holograms and ultra-fine lines as shown here. The key is to start with the least aggressive approach and work upward.
With that being said, for your experienced rotary polisher users, try a combo of black or white foam pad with the Swirl Cutter at speed 1200-1400 RPM before stepping up to a more abrasive cutting compound.
In this second photo, here's what I consider "spider scratches" or "spider webbing" as may also be known. These stubborn lines run in concentric circles on the surface. These can be seen consistently when viewed from different angles in day or night time lighting. Using the Swirl Cutter/orange pad combo will provide little relief as its cutting ability is comparable to 3000 grit wet-sand paper. Asking the Swirl Cutter to attack this task is one that it was not designed to accomplish.
In this particular situation it was necessary to use the rotary polisher equipped with a yellow then orange pad and appropriate rubbing compound such as 3M Perfect-It II.
Once satisfied with the rotary leveling, we used the PC equipped with the orange pad/Swirl Cutter combo to remove the micro-marring and swirl marks left behind by the rotary polisher.
The "afters"
We brought this back to a 90% recovery rate
Questions or comments are always welcome.
03-12-2007, 08:00 AM
#6
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Thanks for the comments. The photos of the Prowler really show the Swirls well, that car was relatively easy to work them out. The Corolla on the other had took a bit more effort. But as you can see from the results it can be done.
