Care & Detailing Washing, waxing, cleaning, caring.

Polishing for the first time! Advice needed!

  #1  
Old 12-13-2010, 12:01 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts
Polishing for the first time! Advice needed!

I am starting by buying, Meguiars Clay Kit, Meguiars M205 32oz. A lot of micro fiber towels. My big question is, can you polish by hand? If so what kind of towels are perfect. I have never done this before.
Last time I polish my car I messed it up because I did it with a regular towel with a liquid polisher. My car looks like crap in the sun.
 
  #2  
Old 12-13-2010, 01:34 PM
1trueG's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (7)
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Bay Area
Posts: 1,851
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
You can try to polish by hand, but you won't get near the same results you would get with a buffer. From the looks of your car, a buffer looks necessary.
 
  #3  
Old 12-13-2010, 02:17 PM
Detailed Image's Avatar
Former G35driver Vendor
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 2,785
Received 18 Likes on 17 Posts
Originally Posted by 1trueG
You can try to polish by hand, but you won't get near the same results you would get with a buffer. From the looks of your car, a buffer looks necessary.
+1, that's not going to be remedied completely by hand. You're best bet like 1trueG said is to invest in a quality buffer. I'd highly recommend looking into this Porter Cable 7424XP kit. I'd read over this how-to article and our polishing guide to get a better idea on what's entailed in properly polishing your paint and restoring it to a respectable condition. If you have any questions on anything or need a hand picking products out, let me know.
 
  #4  
Old 12-13-2010, 06:11 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts
Meguiar's Professional DA Polisher Backing Plate W67DA. Just saw this one on your website. Does it fit any ramdom buffers. I saw some buffer at Pep-boys for about $60. But they have cloth, not pads.
 
  #5  
Old 12-13-2010, 06:16 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts
Can you put that plate on this kind of buffer?
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...102296891.html
 
  #6  
Old 12-13-2010, 06:36 PM
superchargedg's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: maryland
Posts: 4,451
Received 65 Likes on 56 Posts
Originally Posted by salvador312
Can you put that plate on this kind of buffer?
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv...102296891.html
No and those are just a waist of money.You will need a porter cable random orbital or meguiars has one so does griots or just get the flex 3401.You can find these on Detailed images website and many other detailing sites.
 
  #7  
Old 12-13-2010, 06:59 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts
HAHAH, Flex 3401 is pricy!! Just found this on craigslist, go for it??

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/2102265439.html
 
  #8  
Old 12-13-2010, 07:27 PM
superchargedg's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: maryland
Posts: 4,451
Received 65 Likes on 56 Posts
Originally Posted by salvador312
HAHAH, Flex 3401 is pricy!! Just found this on craigslist, go for it??

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/2102265439.html
Thats not a bad price depending on what pads come with it.
 
  #9  
Old 12-13-2010, 11:21 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts
Detailed Image!! I am ready!!!!! Help me pick a package!!
 
  #10  
Old 12-14-2010, 10:42 AM
Wannabe6MT's Avatar
-MN G Crew-

iTrader: (10)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Fargo ND/Eden Prairie MN
Posts: 21,010
Received 205 Likes on 157 Posts
Oh the joys of BO.... our 08 looked like that to. Definitely need a buffer.
 
  #11  
Old 12-14-2010, 04:46 PM
Detailed Image's Avatar
Former G35driver Vendor
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 2,785
Received 18 Likes on 17 Posts
Originally Posted by salvador312
Detailed Image!! I am ready!!!!! Help me pick a package!!
Here's a link to one package that I'd recommend to get started. If you were looking for more pads or wanted to change out the polishes, then you could look at a different package.

7424XP, backing plate, 2 step polish, 4 pads, pad cleaner

PC 7424XP, 8 pads of your choice, backing plate, pad cleaner

Polish options for your paint condition will definitely be Meguiar's M105 / M205. You may even want to consider a 3 step combo considering how bad the condition of your paint is. A good 3 step combo could be Meguiar's M105 w/ cyan pads, Menzerna Power Finish w/ green pads and PO85RD w/ black pads.

I'd stock up on some good microfiber towels, you'll need a lot with 2 - 3 polishing steps for removing the product.

I'd also recommend claying your paint before polishing for optimal results. Here's a good clay bar combo.

After polishing, be sure to protect it with a good sealant or wax. Then after all that work, make sure you learn how to properly wash and dry your car so that you don't add imperfections after you clean up the paint from a long polishing session.

If you have other questions or need help selecting products, let us know.
 
  #12  
Old 12-14-2010, 06:33 PM
Frankieg35's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (41)
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 17,256
Received 856 Likes on 744 Posts
Ouch your car needs some work!! Good luck!!
 
  #13  
Old 12-14-2010, 07:37 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts
Every time my car goes through the sun I feel embarrassed!! I know how bad the paint is, my fault!! I've been reading a lot about detailing. Learn a lot of useful stuff. A lot of products out there. So many steps and rules and techniques.

Getting there. I already asked a body shop, they quoted me $300 for polishing. I rather do it myself and keep the tools. Expect more questions. Thank you for the people that reply and screw the ones that didn't. j/p
 
  #14  
Old 12-15-2010, 11:37 AM
gary c's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Valencia, Ca
Posts: 19,433
Received 1,132 Likes on 1,002 Posts
Sal you need to set down some rules with your kids, tell them Daddy's car isn't a chalk board! I've never see a two year old car look that bad....
Gary
 
  #15  
Old 12-15-2010, 01:25 PM
salvador312's Avatar
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,043
Received 127 Likes on 117 Posts


Polishing with a regular towel, without claying, random polisher, by hand, with ignorance. That's what you get!
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:
You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Polishing for the first time! Advice needed!



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:16 PM.