[KyleY911]

is there any point? even though it won't remove swirl marks will it help a little bit? bring out the color a little bit more?

I don't really feel like making the investment in a porter cable would be worth it for me as i really don't have that kind of time....I just do the weekly quick wash and everyone once in a while wax and what not but i'm starting to notice some minor swirl marks......I have a TiAg so its impossible to see them unless under direct light at night time so it's not that big of a deal... any advice would be great thanks in advance

[haper]

Originally Posted by KyleY911

is there any point?

i think you'll be surprised at the scratches you can remove by hand, all depends on how much effort you're willing to put into. and you should be able to remove any layer of stain, stubborn dirt that doesn't come off in a regular wash - this will make the paint 'pop' again.

the key is finding a good polish that can be used by hand (ask the forum sponsor) , you'll never generate the heat needed to break down a machine polish.

[TwinPowerF30]

if using hand, use circle motion or just back and forth motion? and microfibre pad or any of those foam pads?

[Haywire]

well youre going to need an applicator, thats for sure... ive been told back and forth motions opposed to circular. when I do the hood, i go bottom to top. I dont think a gentle circular motion would hurt, altho im guessing it would make for some more obvious swirling.

[npb]

Originally Posted by KyleY911

is there any point?

NOPE

[npb]

Originally Posted by Haywire

well youre going to need an applicator, thats for sure...

that's what she said

Originally Posted by weiweiwei

if using hand, use circle motion or just back and forth motion?

that's what she said

Originally Posted by Haywire

I dont think a gentle circular motion would hurt,

THATS WHAT SHE SAID

[Haywire]

LoL!

well done.

*applauds*

[AJerman]

@ npb

Yeah, polishing by hand is basically pointless unless you're just doing spot polishing like you did a chip repair and wet sanded and are restoring the shine.

Hand polishing may get a little more shine out of the paint, but you're not really going to remove any swirls or scratches unless you do it for a week straight.

Get a Flex or PC, your arm will thank you.

[TRICKE90]

Once you start using a machine you will never go back.

[SpecC]

by machine is the only way to go if you have serious issues with swirls and such. maybe if your swirls are very very light, scratchX may work. If you don't want to invest in a porter cable or any rotary polisher, perhaps you could go to a shop and have them detail your car.

[haper]

Originally Posted by AJerman

Yeah, polishing by hand is basically pointless

here's a thread on the e46 forum where the guy polished w/o a machine. using a machine would have yielded better results - not to mention been a lot easier - but his results are still pretty good.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=574920

[AJerman]

The problem is that that picture doesn't show what the before looked like. I'd be willing to bet it was pretty good. It's not a matter of who is better than who, it just isn't realistic. To polish an entire car, by hand, that actually had swirls in it, would take you literally a week and several arms.

A hand polish can shine up the paint a little if it's not already bad, but it's not going to be much use for actually getting out swirls and scratches.

[SpecC]

Originally Posted by haper

here's a thread on the e46 forum where the guy polished w/o a machine. using a machine would have yielded better results - not to mention been a lot easier - but his results are still pretty good.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=574920

that guy's arm must be limp!

[haper]

Originally Posted by AJerman

A hand polish can shine up the paint a little if it's not already bad, but it's not going to be much use for actually getting out swirls and scratches.

i think we all agree that a machine buffer is the way to go, both from results to ease of use. but for folks that don't want to use a machine, you can get some improvements.

[BYAW]

Originally Posted by npb

that's what she said



that's what she said




THATS WHAT SHE SAID

I lol so much from this. office crew checking in

[Reopropf]

I am NO expert for sure! but,...

I do wash, wax and hand detail all my cars. For my daughter and wifes car, it's just fine. Damn, if I didn't do it, they'd just go thru the car wash every once in awhile.

For me, I am 51yrs old; I have always done my cars by hand including those old volkswagons, my dads 2800cs coupe, the alfa & fiats, the subaruXT, the first 3series BMW, my jeeps, my X5 and now my X6.

I always use my cars as commuters, and wash weekly. I do AGREE that a professional with a skilled hand and an orbital would do a better job than me, but NOT once in my lifetime has anyone said to me my cars look shitty.

I do wonder NOW that what I am going to do, because you fanatics have me thinking that I cannot go down the road with ANY swirls or less than a prefect looking machine. Oh shit, what am I to do. One thing for sure is that I am going to keep some kind of spritz and a mf cloth in my car and try to be vigilant to the vagaries that fall from the sky.

So thanks guys, for getting me up to snuff!

Peter

[haper]

Originally Posted by Reopropf

because you fanatics have me thinking that I cannot go down the road with ANY swirls or less than a prefect looking machine.

i too did all my cars w/ 'elbow grease' and i agree that the swirls i didn't get weren't a big deal. but i went to the flex mostly for ease of use as i hated the rubbing, buffing, spreading, etc. and while i did notice the machine buffer removed more swirls then my 'elbow' could, it also got more of the dirt - my paint 'popped' more then ever.

so for me, i like a machine buffer for ease of use and getting the paint to pop more so then the swirl removal - although that is a very close third on my list.

[cyba]

this link might help

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detaili...oval-hand.html

[KyleY911]

is Meguiars scratch X really considered a polish? i mean i thought its just a temporary filler of swirl marks?

[SpecC]

Originally Posted by KyleY911

is Meguiars scratch X really considered a polish? i mean i thought its just a temporary filler of swirl marks?

yes it is a polish. only light swirls though. very light

[rogerdiaz]

So whats a good "hand polish" for not so bad paint and light scratches...i was reading detailed image and picked meguiars 205, but doesnt comment if it is a good "hand polish"

[TOGWT]

Will require patience and a lot of ‘elbow grease’ but in some circumstances adequate results can be obtained

Hand polishing is necessary around door handles, especially those that are recessed, around badges and emblems and around trim and panel edges, once masking tape has been removed and water drainage channel in trunk and hood.

The application of detailing products with a random orbital has the advantage of ensuring an even consistent pressure and contact speed, mimicking free hand motion but at a far greater pace and a greatly reduced physical effort. By allowing the weight and the random motion of the machine do the work, thus ensuring that the product is applied in a thin even layer, and will allow products to get embedded deeper into the paint film surface's porosity.

As a caveat I would say that very little correction can be accomplished by hand polishing, this is especially true with dense (hard) clear coat finishes like CeramiClear. If you are going to polish a large area by hand use a non-diminishing polish as they only require pressure, whereas diminishing abrasives require both kinetic energy (friction) and consistent pressure, which hand polishing cannot maintain over a long period of time.

Plus you’re going to feel numb for a week if you try and polish an entire car by hand. What can be accomplished however is with the use of an abrasive all-in-one type product to remove defects such as surface water spots, oxidation, etc.

Autoglym's Super Resin Polish (especially suited to older ‘soft’ paint); a polish, glaze, and a synthetic wax in one easy to use, gentle formula, for the removal of oxidation and light surface marks, and it will also 'fill' in some of the deeper marks, creating a visually stunning appearance.

I don’t vilify products that contain fillers; especially in a situation where you have thin paint and when working by hand, they can be a great assistance to improving the look of the finish

Z-PC™ Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover- a finishing polish that safely removes minor scratches, swirls, oxidation, wax build-up and other blemishes with fused tri-particulate, diminishing abrasive system

G|Techniq® P1 Nanocomposite Polish - for normal paintwork correction P1 produces great finishes both by machine and by hand. For best and fastest results removes scratches and swirls safely and quickly without leaving holograms.

You might think that because most hand polishes contain a high percentage of fillers, P1 would be an also-ran if used by hand. In fact the opposite is true. Even we didn't expect P1 to be a strong performer when used by hand but when we tested it against products widely regarded as the best hand polishes. Furthermore because P1 doesn't use fillers your new finish that also used a lot of elbow grease won't deteriorate. However for fastest and for best results we recommend a machine polisher

Iz Einszett Paint Polish- will bring the dullest finishes back to life with a lack of effort that will surprise you.

Meguiar’s ScratchX 2.0- for isolated scratch and scuff removal, this new formula has been specifically developed for hand application to quickly remove isolated scratches, fingernail marks, paint transfer and parking lot scuffs. Unique micro-abrasives correct these defects fast

Meguiar's Ultimate Compound don’t be put off by the name compound, this polish offers sufficient abrasiveness for hand application and finishes down well.

Product application: use a soft foam applicator and work a small section (18 x 18 –inch) working the product into paint. This will provide the paint with a deep high gloss

CCS Euro Foam Polish Applicators - are available in three grades; White is for general polishing, Orange - used to remove light to moderate swirls, Red - designed specifically for the application of waxes, sealants, and glazes and has no cut or cleaning ability.

These foam pads allow you to match polishes to the appropriate foam variety, just as you’d do if you were applying the products with a polisher. Now you can get better results by hand because the applicator is enhancing the performance of the product.

See also-

"Hand Polishing Paint" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ml#post1459982

"Detailing 101; Introduction to Detailing" - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ml#post1451986