Mer Polish

[Grahamcol]

I decided to polish my azurite blue W202 yesterday and bought a bottle of Mer. It seemed to go on quite easily and also come off without too much rubbing. However, in the sunlight today, I see it has left millions of swirl marks. I won't be using that product again. Has anyone else had this result with Mer ? If so, how have you managed to remove the swirl marks ?

 

[Sp!ke]

Oddly, Mer is an abrasive polish (like T-cut) and will eventually reduce or remove swirl marks. I dislike Mer and wouldn't recommend its use to anyone.

What did you use as a polishing cloth and how clean was it?

It might be that your scratches were always there but the white dust from the Mer product has filled the scratches making them now appear more prominent.

 

[Grahamcol]

Thanks Sipke. I used cotton stockinette cloth which was totally brand new and clean, just as I've used it before with other polishes. Think I'll give it another polishing tonight using Auto Glym or something similar.

 

[Simon_M]

A lot of people say Mer is great but I found it a nightmare, lots of white dust. The tip on the bottle also said one cap full could be used it a rinse bucket, allow to dry and then buffed off - that caused carnage and was impossible to get off!!! I did find it excellent on plastic convertible windows though.

My suggestion for cheap stuff is Turtle Wax Gloss Guard or whatever it is called nowadays, a sort of chemical sealant.

I would also pick up some micro fibre cloths for wiping off wax, much better than the stockinette cloth. But buy them somewhere cheap like Lakeland or costco rather than a branded car one.

S

 

[SG CL500]

Only way I have managed to remove swirl marks is with a powered polisher and proper, graded, polish (but then i don't have the patience to do it by hand).

If you're going to polish manually I really recommed using a foam applicator pad and microfibre towel combination. Cotton stockinette, if it's the stuff I am thinking of, could have caused the swirls - as could your cleaning beforehand.

 

[crockers]

I would (in your case) polish the car with Meguairs #83 - best if you have a machine polisher - then apply a good quality wax. I like AutoGlym High Definition wax...but also Heritage wax is easy to apply and get off..

But do apply wax with a damp sponge and wipe off with 2 microfibre clothes..

Good luck.

 

[Grahamcol]

Thanks for the replies folks. I'll see how it goes but it looks like I'm going to have to do some work on it tonight.

 

[gurpz]

Stick to Autolgym Super Resin Polish simples

 

[ecossebev]

We use one of those baby sponges to apply the polish, a cotton or microfibre cloth to remove the polish, and then a clean microfibre cloth and a fine, fine mist of water to remove excess polish off paintwork and plastics....seemples :bannana:

 

[BTB 500]

I use Mer on my (white) caravan ... pretty good for removing streaks / marks.

 

[saorbust]

I decided to polish my azurite blue W202 yesterday and bought a bottle of Mer. It seemed to go on quite easily and also come off without too much rubbing. However, in the sunlight today, I see it has left millions of swirl marks. I won't be using that product again. Has anyone else had this result with Mer ? If so, how have you managed to remove the swirl marks ?

Had the same experience as you.

Detail spray will remove it - but I never used Mer again...

 

[Chrishazle]

I've read (and believe) that one of the biggest causes of swirl marks is the standard cellulose sponge that we've all used in the past for washing the car. Obvious when you think about it - cellulose has little holes to trap grit - which then scratches the paint. Recently switched to wash mitts (merino and microfibre) and am pleased with results. Other major criminals are (believe it or not) silicone blades and chamois for drying. Again, I've recently switched to microfibre for drying and feel it's a lot better.
As others have said, proper applicators and microfibre cloths are essentials for cutting and polishing.
If you want to get serious, look at detailingworld.co.uk, but be warned, some of the supposedly better waxes can be over £100 (and in some cases even more!!) - even "cutting compound" (T-cut type stuff but much much better) can be £30 for 250ml.

 

[NW_Merc]

I once watched an interview with a car valeter in America that used nappies as they were great at absorbing liquid from the paint surface.

 

[Aoraki]

I've read (and believe) that one of the biggest causes of swirl marks is the standard cellulose sponge that we've all used in the past for washing the car. Obvious when you think about it - cellulose has little holes to trap grit - which then scratches the paint. Recently switched to wash mitts (merino and microfibre) and am pleased with results. Other major criminals are (believe it or not) silicone blades and chamois for drying. Again, I've recently switched to microfibre for drying and feel it's a lot better.
As others have said, proper applicators and microfibre cloths are essentials for cutting and polishing.
If you want to get serious, look at detailingworld.co.uk, but be warned, some of the supposedly better waxes can be over £100 (and in some cases even more!!) - even "cutting compound" (T-cut type stuff but much much better) can be £30 for 250ml.

+2 for detailing world, cost me over £500 in goodies since I found that forum. NEVER use sponges to wash your car unless you like swirls.

 

[saorbust]

Yep its good.

Would also recommend polishedbliss.co.uk - lots of good information as well.

My waxes cost £65 for the Raceglaze 55, and I also use Zymol Concours as well - pricey stuff. Wife can't quite believe how much 'stuff' I have to wash the car. She's pleased when she sees how her's turns out though !

 

[Chrishazle]

Not just cost of products - and I've spent a few bob since I read how to do it properly - it's the time and elbow grease putting right what you've done wrong before.
As I have a 40w 12v polisher and did not want to spend money on a new random orbital machine (£80-160 plus pads etc!) I spent best part of 2 weeks getting my Porsche ready for a "show and shine" yesterday - did 1 panel at a time (over 2 hours just for one wing) and could not believe the difference it made. Even so, I did not even get a place in the 1990-99 class of Kent Region, came about 5th, so still have a lot to learn and do, and this was not a full blown concourse!
However, SWMBO and I both know that the car now looks really beautiful compared to before I started, and I've had a lot of compliments about her. I've also done a mini-version of the cleanup on the C270 today, and that looks a heck of a lot better as a result.
There's lots to read and learn in the concourse section of this and other forums, plus the 2 specialist ones mentioned above. You can then decide how serious you want to get - but as a minimum get wash mitts and microfibre cloths (if you know anyone with a Costco or Macro card, they're cheap there), a Bilt Hamber regular clay bar, some decent paint restorer (eg Autoglym bodyshop or Swissvax) and some decent wax - first time of asking is hard work and time consuming, but it's worthwhile - and second time is a lot easier!
Happy detailing - post some before and after pics to show us how you get on!

 

[reflexboy]

One word-"AUTOGLYM"

 

[Grahamcol]

Thanks to all for your input. I polished again last night using "ordinary" polish and the swirls have gone. Thinking it was just the "filling" properties of the polish, I washed a panel immediately again to see if the original swirls reappeared - they didn't so problem solved. I will never use Mer again !

 

[saorbust]

Not just cost of products - and I've spent a few bob since I read how to do it properly - it's the time and elbow grease putting right what you've done wrong before.
As I have a 40w 12v polisher and did not want to spend money on a new random orbital machine (£80-160 plus pads etc!) I spent best part of 2 weeks getting my Porsche ready for a "show and shine" yesterday - did 1 panel at a time (over 2 hours just for one wing) and could not believe the difference it made. Even so, I did not even get a place in the 1990-99 class of Kent Region, came about 5th, so still have a lot to learn and do, and this was not a full blown concourse!
However, SWMBO and I both know that the car now looks really beautiful compared to before I started, and I've had a lot of compliments about her. I've also done a mini-version of the cleanup on the C270 today, and that looks a heck of a lot better as a result.
There's lots to read and learn in the concourse section of this and other forums, plus the 2 specialist ones mentioned above. You can then decide how serious you want to get - but as a minimum get wash mitts and microfibre cloths (if you know anyone with a Costco or Macro card, they're cheap there), a Bilt Hamber regular clay bar, some decent paint restorer (eg Autoglym bodyshop or Swissvax) and some decent wax - first time of asking is hard work and time consuming, but it's worthwhile - and second time is a lot easier!
Happy detailing - post some before and after pics to show us how you get on!

I posted some pics of my car after detailing in the members gallery yesterday.... very pleased ! :bannana:

 

[Baron_Samedi]

I once watched an interview with a car valeter in America that used nappies as they were great at absorbing liquid from the paint surface.

Yep and the nappies have to be the best cotton going to prevent abrasion...

Oh and some literally draw the nappies flat along the length of the car, letting them pick up moisture by gravity and making sure that any scratching that does occur is linear rather than rotational.

The thinking being that linear scratches are not as visible as round ones...