Swirl Marks on Car: what is this BIG lie about???

What are swirl marks on a car?

Is there really a big lie in the industry when it comes to talking about swirl marks in car paint, swirl marks in clear coat, and swirl marks in general?

In this detailing tutorial, Darren discusses one of the big lie's in the industry surrounding the topic of clear coat swirl marks and what they really are.

Is there a difference between swirl marks in car paint versus swirl marks in clear coat?

Are swirl marks on a black car any different than swirl marks on any other color of car?

What exactly causes swirl marks and how do you fix swirl marks on a car?

Tune into this detailing video and expand your mind on all thigs related to swirl marks and your car paint. And play along with Darren's "quiz" as seen during the video....

#swirlmarksoncar #swirlmarksonblackcar #whatareswirlmarks

[Utubegolf]

Good to see you back Darren haven’t seen you for like 6 years.

[MiklaDfar]

tl;dr Can someone give me the abridged version? Seriously, great topic and you have an obvious master grasp of detailing, but, you need to get to the point sooner. I am guessing this video could be done in 5-10 minutes.

[jsantaite]

Great explanation! Anyone with some critical thinking ability will be able to relate to this. To the casual observer, they will refer to it as a "swirl". What is important is how you deal with it. I would also like to point out that 99% (a figure I just pulled out of thin air) of the cars you will be detailing are of the daily driver variety and will display degrees of imperfections in the "paint". Most customers are not looking for perfection (although some are) The good news is that with the right tools, products, and skill set you can get results that will leave your customers happy. Darren, we appreciate your contribution to the community. You are very knowledgeable and entertaining, and that is a big plus for Youtube viewers. In the past, I have watched many of the popular Youtube detailers, including Chris Fix. Nowadays I am too busy. That's a good thing because it means my business is busy. I have drifted away from detailing, and it represents a smaller percentage of my business because I have found that exterior cleaning is much more profitable. But detailing gives me a sense of personal satisfaction, because you could really see dramatic results. Anyway, nice video.

[TXprimeFishing]

Thanks for your help and time.
I will admit that I had to forward your video because of way too much unnecessary info.

[BulltheGreat]

I always wondered if I scratch my car with a wash mit and a towel, how come the pattern, the scratches are perfectly circular, now I finally know why and it's logical

[TheBennynyc]

Your so knowledgeable about detailing, I think is best to figure out how to make a video that you can get to the point sooner. You said it best “now that I have your attention if your still here” after 12 mins I don’t think many people would be and there is still another 12 more or so mins to go.

[eeee]

Thanks for an excellent scientific, detailed explanation. I feel more educated about the round "looking" scratches on my clear coat. I am not a person who obsesses over my car, but I am a little annoyed by the appearing circular scratches.

[chrisengland]

Really enjoying the new videos you are making glad to have you back

[mankration]

Big Topic. Big Boy. Really looking forward to your video on Big Shine! Thanks Darren, I learned an immense amount.

[TheTimwaldron]

Big boy! Quick question if I use a DA polisher as a novice for polishing do I have a much lower chance of scratching the clear coat/paint? This is the main thing that is holding me back from applying a diy ceramic coating and saving $1, 000

[bobrumpf]

question...why is black paint or any color considered soft, if it's clear coat that is being worked on? would the color have the ability to soften the clear? yes total nube here, thanks

[thomasemerson]

I appreciate this info. I'm new to all this and just logically speaking the circular motion thing didn't make sense because the swirl moves with the light (or the sun) as you move; if it was a hard coded scratch from a circular wax job, you would see the marks both convex and concave as the light source moved.
That said, is this that big of a deal? At the end of the day, the fix is the same... compound, polish, whatever. Being wrong about the cause doesn't change the need for the fix or the need for that ceramic coating or whatever.
Speaking of, whether Chris Fix has all his facts right or not, I did see a vid of him taking a beat looking, ready-for-the-junkyard SUV and turn it into a pretty nice ride using some carpet shampoo and soapy water and Rustoleum paint (or whatever it was) and Avalon ceramic coating. I didn't feel "conned" or anything or that he has bad intentions - like your videos, I thought it was pretty good info.

[gregsullivan]

You bloody beauty - a video NOT about badge removal! 🤣

[BetterThanNewDetailing]

Swirl marks are what they are and that’s what the general car public knows them by. They’re inevitable. Now to your other terms…buffer trails, holograms and I’ll throw another term you didn’t use “ghosting” are not inevitable and are introduced by detailing. I love it when the grifters say don’t wax or polish in a circular motion yet when I use my DA to polish the surface guess what….one of its motions…is circular😂

[mikefromohio]

Hey thanks for sharing ur videos Ive been doing this for 35 yours now I've wet sand and buffed thousands of cars..for the best results I'd start with wet sand with1500 go back with wet 3, 000 trizak on a DA then repeat with5000 trizak on DA then buff with 3 stage by 3M products buff with wool pad then bak over it with foam pad then apply a coat of Hand wax ..your scratches are gone and your buffing Mark's are gone..end of story..

[davidhelmer]

Drives me nuts when see-f proclaimed experts tell others - "Do not apply wax in a circular motion - you will damage your paint!!! Always apply back and Guys who talk like that just want to act like an authority... when they are not... I am a professional detailer and I apply wax back and forth, circularly, whatever I need to do in the moment.... No Problems!!!!

[wallacemarshall]

Gotta try out the big boy technique now!

[JoseHernandez-vzse]

Still reference that commercial regularly

[scott]

Big boy! The only problem with trying to convince people that what they see on their car aren't swirl marks is that they'll look at you like they're crazy. They have no knowledge or experience with rotaries or what they do. They've heard the term, swirl marks, so often, they know nothing else.

[bobbyradford]

The info you gave can be given in a 5 minute video. Why go on and on and on ! Whew !