Terminology Question: Spider-Webbing and Swirl Marks

[Brenton]

I'm having trouble understanding some of the shop talk here. It is one thing to keep up with all the acronyms, acrostics, and shortcuts, but I am confused about the way people speak on this point.

The way people I know personally in detailing talk, we have two terms: swirl marks and spider lines or webbing or spider-webbing.

Swirl marks are what we call the results of detailing, the "halos" or distortions of light that appear on coloured cars and which we can't see on lighter cars, but are still there.

Spider lines or webbing look light what they are called, and are part of the texture of the clear coat after some time.

In a couple of posts I've read here, though, it seems some people are saying these are the same.

So am I misreading the posts, or do I misunderstand myself? Have I screwed up the terminology?

[Big Leegr]

Nope. Some people use the terms interchangeably, but I agree with your definitions. They are not the same thing.

[Brenton]

Originally Posted by Big Leegr

Nope. Some people use the terms interchangeably, but I agree with your definitions. They are not the same thing.

Thanks, that lets me no I'm not completely off. I've been dealing differently with each.

What causes the spider lines?

[Big Leegr]

I'd say using dirty wash mitts, threadbare towels, spinning brush carwashes. Stuff like that.

[Picus]

I actually call these swirls:



Looks like you guys call them spider webbing, which is cool. They are just marring over the course of time, marring caused by improper washing, daily use, stones, dust, rocks, keys, people rubbing against the car, quick details, you name it.

I call these holograms (marks left by rotaries after detailing):



I guess you guys call them swirls.

Oh well.

[Brenton]

Thanx for the posts.
For the first time I got swirls or holograms when I tried SSR2.5. Those webbing marks didn't come out with 2.5 though. I thought they were supposed to.

[Poorboy]

Yes unfortunately the terms have become too interchangeable :yes:

Swirls are technically just reflections of products not fully removed and most often left by products that have oils in them like polishes or waxes. You will see these typically after you use an overloaded towel for removal or use too much product and you just can seem to even out the "look". Using a fresh towel and some QD will usually remove these.

Scuffing / Marring these are caused by poor maintenece and normal wear and tear of a vehicles finish. These tend to be fine scratches in the paint or clearcoat (if you look through a magnifying glass) and will be in many different directions. These can be removed by PC's , sometimes by hand , & rotarys.

Spider Webbing / Rotary marks these are your perfect looking circles when the light is refracted/ reflected through the clearcoat at certain angles. You are seeing scratches in or under the clear or paint that are sometimes removable and sometimes not depending on how deep they are and what stage of the painting or polishing process they were imbedded. These can be reduced by the PC and sometimes removed with patience and the right pad /product combo, rotarys, and sometimes wet/dry sanding is needed. (again sometimes these are not completely removable on a factory paint job due to when they might have been put in.)

Holograms these as explained previously are left by rotarys using too an aggressive a pad or product, and can be removed by PC or sometimes hand.

Hope this helps

ps...there is much more that can be added to this, but this is just a basic summary...others can add their comments

[norahcrv]

Thanks Steve!!
I've been confusing "swirls" with "spiderwebbing"!! :stuart:
Guess it's a good day when we learn something new! :yes: