Ask a Professional Detailer...
#1021
Hey DI, very new here ![Smilie](https://g35driver.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I have about $200 I can spend to detail the car, which hasn't been done in a LONG time, many swirl marks, and a decent amount of front end rock chips![7](https://g35driver.com/forums/images/smilies/7.gif)
What would you recommend buying to get rid of those swirls, chips, and make the car actually reflective again?
Thanks!
![Smilie](https://g35driver.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
I have about $200 I can spend to detail the car, which hasn't been done in a LONG time, many swirl marks, and a decent amount of front end rock chips
![7](https://g35driver.com/forums/images/smilies/7.gif)
What would you recommend buying to get rid of those swirls, chips, and make the car actually reflective again?
Thanks!
To effectively remove swirls and other imperfections in the paint restore the depth and gloss to a maximum, you're going to want to invest in a quality buffer. It's very difficult, time consuming and your results are limited via hand application. To put it in perspective, imagine applying some force to an applicator pad and moving your arm at 6,000 movements per minute. Imagine doing this for hours on end, this is what you simulate with the Porter Cable. It's going to be tight on a $200 budget, but here's what I'd recommend:
Porter Cable 7424
4" Backing Plate
3x Orange Light Cutting Pads
3x White Polishing Pads
Menzerna Intensive Polish (used w/ orange pads)
Menzerna Final Polish II (used w/ white pads)
Chemical Guys M-Seal
This combo comes to $204.90 + s/h after the 10offG35 coupon code. You'll be able to properly remove a majority of swirls and imperfections from your paint while increasing the depth and gloss significantly. It'll also allow you to properly protect the paint for months with M-Seal. The only other products you'd need are your washing and drying step, some microfiber towels for product removal and you could clay bar your paint prior to polishing.
For maximum results with the buffer, be sure to follow these steps:
- Apply 15 ~ 20 lbs of pressure
- Move the buffer at 1" per second
- Work in small areas first until you get the hang of it, like 12" x 12", then move up to 18" x 18" or so.
- Apply about 3 pea sized drops of polish for each working area
- Pass over each spot of your working area 6 - 8 times prior to removing the broken down polish with a microfiber towel by hand
- Use speed settings between 4 - 6 when polishing
- Use at least 500w halogen lighting to expose the imperfections
- Tape off any trim or area that you do not want polish to get on
- Swap out your pad for a fresh one after every few panels
If you have any other questions on anything, please do not hesitate to ask.
Keep us posted on what you end up going with and how things turn out.
I attempted buffing my friends 99 Acura TL's hood.
I used an orange pad with the buffer set on 6 with some Optimum Poli-Seal polish.
I just kinda went at a medium pace back and forth. Didnt really show and improvement.
I didnt apply any pressure. From what i read, you are supposed to apply pressi\ure just until its about to bog down, correct? How fast? like do you stay in one part?
Thanks!
I used an orange pad with the buffer set on 6 with some Optimum Poli-Seal polish.
I just kinda went at a medium pace back and forth. Didnt really show and improvement.
I didnt apply any pressure. From what i read, you are supposed to apply pressi\ure just until its about to bog down, correct? How fast? like do you stay in one part?
Thanks!
Hope this helps.
George
#1023
#1024
For maximum results with the buffer, be sure to follow these steps:
- Apply 15 ~ 20 lbs of pressure
- Move the buffer at 1" per second
- Work in small areas first until you get the hang of it, like 12" x 12", then move up to 18" x 18" or so.
- Apply about 3 pea sized drops of polish for each working area
- Pass over each spot of your working area 6 - 8 times prior to removing the broken down polish with a microfiber towel by hand
- Use speed settings between 4 - 6 when polishing
- Use at least 500w halogen lighting to expose the imperfections
- Tape off any trim or area that you do not want polish to get on
- Swap out your pad for a fresh one after every few panels
- Apply 15 ~ 20 lbs of pressure
- Move the buffer at 1" per second
- Work in small areas first until you get the hang of it, like 12" x 12", then move up to 18" x 18" or so.
- Apply about 3 pea sized drops of polish for each working area
- Pass over each spot of your working area 6 - 8 times prior to removing the broken down polish with a microfiber towel by hand
- Use speed settings between 4 - 6 when polishing
- Use at least 500w halogen lighting to expose the imperfections
- Tape off any trim or area that you do not want polish to get on
- Swap out your pad for a fresh one after every few panels
Thanks.
#1025
I attempted buffing my friends 99 Acura TL's hood.
I used an orange pad with the buffer set on 6 with some Optimum Poli-Seal polish.
I just kinda went at a medium pace back and forth. Didnt really show and improvement.
I didnt apply any pressure. From what i read, you are supposed to apply pressi\ure just until its about to bog down, correct? How fast? like do you stay in one part?
Thanks!
I used an orange pad with the buffer set on 6 with some Optimum Poli-Seal polish.
I just kinda went at a medium pace back and forth. Didnt really show and improvement.
I didnt apply any pressure. From what i read, you are supposed to apply pressi\ure just until its about to bog down, correct? How fast? like do you stay in one part?
Thanks!
#1026
#1028
A PC requires more time to do the work a FLEX can. This can be anywhere from 3-7 minutes.
A simple way to judge when to stop is when the polish begins to disappear or clears up.
If you're spending more than 5-7 minutes, chances are you may have put on too much polish or you're just not breaking the polish down quick enough.
But, remember to follow any heavy cutting polish with a lighter polish to get out any hazing (clouding) caused by the heavy polish.
#1029
Optimum Hyper Compound with a yellow pad or purple foamed wool pad
Menzerna Super Intensive Polish with an orange pad
Menzerna PO106 with a white pad
Menzerna PO85RD with a black pad
It's nice to have multiple polish and pad combinations on hand because you'll always be dealing with various levels of imperfections. PO85RD is mainly used as a gloss enhancer and won't remove many imperfections. PO106 is a great finishing polish and can remove minor imperfections. SIP is an amazing medium cut polish that removes a majority of common imperfections. OPT Hyper Compound is a long working heavy cut compound that removes deeper imperfections. With those 4 polishes you could tackle nearly any polishing job at a professional level.
George
#1030
#1031
#1032
Just a thought.
George