What are swirl marks? Swirl marks are actually micro scratches caused by improper washing and drying methods, dirty towels, washing with sponges, cleaning your car with a quick detailer or a car duster that isn't clean Buff marks aka holograms are a different kind of swirl mark where untrained or improper rotary buffing techniques result in micro scratches from a compound that is too aggressive for the paint or they have used a dirty pad or a pad that is also too aggressive for the paint or simply they have not refined their work by dropping the machine speed down to finish better These can be removed via DA machine polishing and are generally only surface to very low sub surface deep and thus usually are the easiest to remove with scratches being the harder to remove as they are a groove in the paint film itself.
Can all scratches be removed The short answer is no. some scratches that are too deep are best left alone or reduced only to reduce the sharp groove in the paint to a barely visible thinner groove. Many deep ones can be removed via sanding but whether or not we remove the deepest ones or just reduce them depends on how much paint film thickness there is. Before we attempt to remove any deep straight line or angled scratches, we will measure the paint thickness around and in the area effected and then make a decision on the course of action. Paint that is below 100 microns will have the area polished only, any paints above 110 microns, we will attempt to totally remove it via polishing and then sanding and polishing if needed How long does our work last Our work is the longest lasting in the industry. No matter what service you choose, the only way for the paint to fade, discolour or oxidise again is from a lack of care by the owner or if the vehicle is cared for the wrong way by washing improperly, using the brush at the car wash or any wipe downs with car dusters or other items that will instill new swirl marks and scratches in the paint. Whilst our work is a permanent result, it only will stay that way with light to moderate proper maintenance Automotive paint is designed to reflect light to create the dazzling shine we see in most new car showrooms. If your car were washed daily and kept indoors 90% of the day, the shine would last for years because there would be no surface contamination to dull, stain or oxidize the finish and little exposure to UV rays and oxygen which cause oxidation and eventually paint failure Are polymer sealants and coatings good for my car? Yes. Our polymer sealants, deep cleaning carnauba wax and our coating provide protection for the clear coat which in turn is protecting the colour coats underneath the clear. All that is required is some light maintenance By applying any of our protective products, this is prevented for a time of up to two years and a minimum of three years with our coating
What is the difference between an orbital and a rotary polisher and which is best? Both these types of machine polishers have similar and different uses and one of them has two different actions. The orbital features a rounding and oscillating motion whereas the rotary is direct drive circular action only. Both are definately needed. whilst in the past, a rotary polisher was always used as the machine to remove swirl marks, scratches and other paint defects and is blamed for buff marks in paint, how well one finishes with it is all up to the owner's technique and the products he or she uses and most operators get it wrong. Rotary is still the best tool for doing low speed high end paint enhancement and perfecting work due to the special slicing action of the machine which breaks down polishes more evenly and creates a richer darker finish It is always best however to finish with an orbital polisher for guaranteed no issues and that is what we do. Our rotary polishers are used primarily to refine and enhance the paintwork to it's highest level before finishing out buff mark free with an orbital polisher. The rotary polisher will provide a richer sharper gloss to the paint than any orbital, alhough the orbital can get it close We use orbitals for our better buff and first step of our colour fx service but we do use the rotary for the colour fx and beyond polish service as it is still the gloss making king and we own the best rotary polishers in the world today. How can I tell if my car is contaminated Although your paint may appear to be clean, microscopic particles of contamination such as tar, rail dust, sap and other contaminants may be present such as the chemicals deposited by acid rain, iron based fallout from foundries and brake dust. This material gradually bonds to your paint—and even repeated washing won't remove it. We recommend you use the "Smooth-As-Glass" test to determine whether your surface has accumulated significant contamination and needs to be cleaned. First, wash your car and dry it thoroughly. Then gently run your fingertips over its top surfaces (the hood, roof and boot). The paint should feel as smooth as glass-with no sense of roughness or texture. If your paint doesn't pass the test, it's time to have your car cleaned, decontaminated and either polished and sealed/coated or just sealed/coated again Our proprietary deep cleaning process removes stubborn environmental contamination, as well as dead paint that dulls your finish and impurities. Polishing restores the paint, deepening the colour and creating a brilliant gloss while it erases imperfections.
Why does paint fade and how to stop it Most modern car finishes consist of a base coating that contains the colour, and a protective clear coating on top that is designed to keep the colour paint from oxidizing. This outer clear coat adds UV protection that helps prevent the sun's rays from drying out the coloured layers of paint. Oxidation was an obvious problem ten years ago because you quickly saw the colour fade. Now that the outer paint layer is usually clear, oxidation is less obvious-yet it still occurs. Constant exposure to the sun plays havoc with your cars paint, UV light that damages your skin does the same thing to your car's paint. If the paint isn't maintained it oxidizes and the surface gradually becomes duller and duller and a vicious circle of attracting more UV light becomes the issue. Even more than paints from decades ago, today's clear coat finishes look faded whenever the surface becomes contaminated by airborne pollution, acid rain, industrial fallout and countless other factors. If the contamination isn't removed frequently, it reduces the reflective quality of the finish until it looks dull and lifeless. If the contamination is left on the car for some time, it can begin to etch into the thin clear coat paint layer and expose the base coat to direct UV rays and even greater damage. Once the clear coat protection is gone, the car usually requires costly repainting. To prevent damage, we highly recommend the application of our True gloss seal, crystal seal or our ceramic nano coating for many years of protection against the elements, after any of our polishing services or on their own in the case of a new car
What is the difference between polishing, glazing, sealing and waxing? Polishing involves the use of abrasive polishes that remove a small amount of paint that the swirls and scratches are instilled into. polishing removes these and enhances gloss by maximising the clarity, colour richness, depth of reflection and wet look by slowly resurfacing the paint film to a freshly undamaged layer. Glazing is an old school technique where silicone, oil or clay based products are used to fill in defects and create a rich deep wet look. However these soon wash away and any marks in the paint return and your paint returns to the state it was before We do not use any glazes in our shop as we do not believe in filling defects if it will only last a few weeks to a month. Sealing is the process of applying a product via either hand or machine to create a protective layer over the paint to resist UV rays, water, oils, petroleum based materials, tar, sap, water spots and much more Waxing involves the use of natural carnauba wax from brazil which creates a reflective and wet look and protects the paint for six to ten months (our crystal seal) Our wax however is unique as it contains the highest amount of carnauba wax content and does not contain the petroleum solvents of other inferior waxes and also features special deep cleaning agents to restore plastic, urethane, ABS and other car exterior trim, polish glass, deep clean paint of impurities and inground dirt, old waxes and polishes etc
What is paint correction Paint Correction is the thorough machine polishing of a vehicle's paint finish to levels beyond that of a cut and polish using the latest in state of the art water based products with Burnproof technology for a safe buffing action as well as the very best and latest polishing machines and accessories available worldwide
