Lacquer swirl marks

[Alan S.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Hi Michael,
My 71 was painted with acrylic laquer in 2005.
In getting it ready for Flight Judging this fall the fellow who painted it rubbed it with Maguires Swirl Remover and then Maguires #7 Glaze.
I think it looks nice in the shade or in the sun.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

[Dick W.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Fill & Glaze is all that I ever used as a final finish on a show car. Used to show a lot in AACA, and the old cars were mostly lacquer. I found that polish and/or wax would actually hide the best points of the paints.

[Jim D.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

I always used a product called "Liquid Ebony" with a buffer on my lacquer jobs and they came out flawless. I have no idea if it's still available but I would never use today's lacquer even if it was free so it doesn't matter.

[John H.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Now 3M has 3M Finesse-It II Glaze 3M 05928.

That's what we used to final polish and detail every Viper before they were loaded (indoors) into the enclosed Reliable haulers that took them direct to the dealer. Our paint finish standard was "show paint", and the owners wouldn't accept anything less than that.

[Alan D.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

All the suggestions thus far have been relative to filling the scratches as opposed to the removal. So if filling is OK (lot simpler) that's fine. It will also let you show the car without taking a deduction in paint (most likely).

If you desire to remove those scratches then it involves a completely different method of work (lots more)

[Michael J.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Filling is OK, I just don't want to see all those spider web looking swirl marks in the bright sun on an angle. It looks fine indoors or if the sun is straight overhead, but on the angles you can see the marks. They are not deep at all, just superficial, the #9 arrives next week so I will give it a try and see how it looks after that. Thanks.

[Clark K.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Once those pesky swirl marks are gone, be sure not to make more of them. Never use a "California Duster". They pick up dirt and dust and then, as you use it the second time, the dirt and dust scratches your paint, causing swirl marks.

Never dry-wipe your paint with anything. Always use lots of soapy water or at least rinse off the dust with clear water. Then, use a leaf blower to blow off all the water. The fewer times you actually touch your paint, the less times you will have to buff out swirl marks. -Clark

[Michael H.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

All the suggestions thus far have been relative to filling the scratches as opposed to the removal. So if filling is OK (lot simpler) that's fine. It will also let you show the car without taking a deduction in paint (most likely).

If you desire to remove those scratches then it involves a completely different method of work (lots more)

Alan,

I don't think Finesse-It II is a "fill in the scratches" type of material. It actually is a VERY fine abrasive and it removes the scratches/swirl marks.

[Dick W.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Filling is OK, I just don't want to see all those spider web looking swirl marks in the bright sun on an angle. It looks fine indoors or if the sun is straight overhead, but on the angles you can see the marks. They are not deep at all, just superficial, the #9 arrives next week so I will give it a try and see how it looks after that. Thanks.

Use Finesse under florescent lighting. If you get it looking good there, it will be a knockout under sunlight.

[Alan D.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

OK, thanks.
If it's an abrasive then you are in the realm of removing the scratches, much more work.

I typically use 3 types of abrasives each being a little less aggressive along with two-three applicators (again each with its own abrasive characteristic)
So one could work an area (make it small) 3 X 3 = 9 times before the scratches are removed. Once done you could use it as a mirror to shave with.
That's typically tooooo much work for me.

[Michael J.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

Alan,

I don't think Finesse-It II is a "fill in the scratches" type of material. It actually is a VERY fine abrasive and it removes the scratches/swirl marks.

It seems all the products I am looking at state they have abrasives in them. Are there some out there that are just fillers?

[Matt L.]

Re: Lacquer swirl marks

It seems all the products I am looking at state they have abrasives in them. Are there some out there that are just fillers?

hi michael,
the meguiars #7 show car glaze and hand polish are more like a filler. i detail cars for a living and love the meguiars products. it's all i use.
dick is also very correct with the lighting suggestion. if you get it looking good in flourecent light it will look great outside. just take your time. i would suggest doing a panel by hand 1st using back and forth motion and check to see if that is what you like. it will be time consuming but you will be prouod and happy that you did it when it's looking great a car show.
take care,
matt