Firestorm hood and Waxing circles?
 

I've owned a few sports cars, always have waxed with Meguire's "premium" wax. Washed and detailed the car today. I waxed in the shade using the applicator sponge. Let it dry for an hour and I had swirl marks from the wax all over the hood! No where else, just the hood.

Do I need to clay bar first?

Suggestions? :thanks:

yeah i got them pretty bad too. some on other parts of the body, but the hood is really bad

An hour is a LONG time to "cure" on the paint, I bet you got the swirls from trying to remove the wax? OR are you saying you during the application of the wax you go the swirls?

Cheers,
GREG

The marks are from the wax setting. So you get small rotational marks where you applied the wax. When you remove said wax it leaves a ghost like image on the paint to show you where the wax was applied. It's pretty obvious. I'm sure a pro could fix it but I wonder if Firestorm is just a cheap paint in the first place.

Only my old-fashioned opinion here but red's a tough color, even with the clearcoat. I use a pure carnauba wax but apply a very thin coat, let dry only a few minutes, wipe with a dry cloth first then immediately follow up with one dampened with water. That 'levels' the wax and usually prevents or minimizes what you are experiencing.

I'll probably get some crap on here from the pros about it but this is how I've been doing things for some 35 years.

Keep in mind you are waxing the clear,not the color . Anytime using your paste wax it should be applied as thin as possible and removed per the manufacturers instructions. Some waxes such as Blackfire Midnite Sun can be remover right away but others are required to haze first. For the latter a Swipe test will be a good indicator when removal is appropriate. With credit to Mike Phillips, the swipe test is taking a finger and making a small swipe on the surface. If it wipes cleanly then it's ready for removal. If it smears then let it set up a little longer.

I have never heard of letting wax sit for an hour

give this a try let me know what happens. re apply the wax again on the paint in a small area allowed to form a skin that you can then wipe off like Paul S said. the solvents in the wax might remove the streaking.

Greg

I actually tried that later in the evening. It just made new marks. I know red is a tough color, that has something to do with it. I'll probably just stick to the spray on wax that requires less buffing.

Also, I do apply a very thin coat. Last fall I waxed the car, and then wiped off "quickly". Same problem. So I thought I would let the wax cure longer to see if that would help. I've never had this issue with Silver or White.

Humm........what type of applicator are you using? The yellow sponge one by Meguiars? I guess I'm having a hard time visualizing what you are seeing. I assume, yes we know what happens when we do that, it looks like corn rows and are they evenly spaced. Are you applying this in straight lines, or orbits on the paint?

sorry for all the questions just trying to help.

GREG

I use Meguires "premium" wax on my bright red Toyota tacoma. Shes currently 5 1/2 years old and has no swirl marks. In fact I waxed her just 1 week ago.

My method is:
Wash vehicle.
Get a sponge or wax applicator wet with warm water and ring it out.
Apply thin coat of wax to entire vehicle.
After I am finished applying wax (probably takes about 25-30 minutes) I go back to my starting place (area I first waxed).
Use microfiber cloths to buff/wipe off wax.

Works pretty well.

not sure what the issue is here. But you may want to just try a couple IPA wipedowns to strip it all off

IPA = rubbing alcohol

over the counter IPA is too strong. dilute it down to roughly 15-20% with distilled water in a spray bottle. Hopefully that along with some plush MF towels will solve your issue