http://www.autopia.org/forum/ en Fri, 24 May 2013 15:23:32 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.autopia.org/forum/images/autopia/misc/rss.png http://www.autopia.org/forum/ http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144937-2004-gto-first-time-polish-period-need-some-advice-please.html Thu, 23 May 2013 13:14:12 GMT Hey guys,

I've got a 2004 Pontiac GTO (YellowJacket yellow) that's never been polished. I do wash regularly and wax at least twice a year. It does have a few light scratches.

I was considering buying the HD polisher kit, along with extra green pads for use with the HD Speed polish, and red pads for the after HD Poly. Do you guys think this is a good way to start?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

To date, I've been using Meguair's Gold Class wash and liquid wax. That's it. ]]> adrenalous http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144937-2004-gto-first-time-polish-period-need-some-advice-please.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144924-think-i-messed-up-my-first-time-wetsanding.html Wed, 22 May 2013 13:45:45 GMT Hey guys I was trying to wetsand down the touch up paint with megs 2000 unigrit sandpaper. The car is a 2012 subaru sti. I tried buffing with menzerna SIP with an orange pad on a PC and didnt seem to get far. Any advice? Thanks guys! Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/sfa152/photo.jpg... Hey guys I was trying to wetsand down the touch up paint with megs 2000 unigrit sandpaper. The car is a 2012 subaru sti. I tried buffing with menzerna SIP with an orange pad on a PC and didnt seem to get far. Any advice? Thanks guys!


]]> sfa500 http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144924-think-i-messed-up-my-first-time-wetsanding.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144916-who-still-uses-rotary.html Tue, 21 May 2013 20:22:34 GMT I currently have a da and a rotary. I just detail on the side, not as my main job and have recently been throwing around the idea of selling my rotary. It just seems that I never reach for it anymore with all the product advances as of late and I am able to pretty much tackle anything with my da. I... I currently have a da and a rotary. I just detail on the side, not as my main job and have recently been throwing around the idea of selling my rotary. It just seems that I never reach for it anymore with all the product advances as of late and I am able to pretty much tackle anything with my da. I was just curious to see how many of you still use your rotary on a regular basis vs. just using your da. ]]> DRT http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144916-who-still-uses-rotary.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144884-issues-soft-paint-finishing-polish-rotary.html Fri, 17 May 2013 11:44:38 GMT So starting on Monday I was working on a 2004 CTS-V that has horrible swirls, RIDS, oxidation, and on top of that, has been repainted, and still has plenty of buffer trails left behind by the body shop. Here are the before shots: Image:... So starting on Monday I was working on a 2004 CTS-V that has horrible swirls, RIDS, oxidation, and on top of that, has been repainted, and still has plenty of buffer trails left behind by the body shop.

Here are the before shots:










I was able to tackle the deeper imperfections with Malco tru-grit, which I've been using for years with success on a wool pad, but this is a pretty heavy duty combination that will leave behind some micro-marring.

After the heavy compounding, my first attempt was with SSR2.5 on an orange CCS pad followed by SSR2 on a white CCS pad, and I noticed this combination would leave behind buffer trails, and would not finish down good enough. I could tell the trails were from this combination as I changed the motion of the rotary from vertically up and down the hood to horizontally across the hood. I then tried SSR1 on a black CCS pad, and this still would not get rid of the buffer trails. Then, for the next hour, I tried different combinations of the SSRs and CCS pads, with still no luck in getting a flawless finish.

Here is what was being left behind; minimal, but still visible:






I then thought in the back of my head of all of the M105/M205 talk, and that the M205 finishes down great, has a long working time, and is easy to use. So I picked up a bottle, along with M105 just in case, as well as the Meguiar's soft buff 2.0 pads, as I have heard that the CCS pads are a bit aggressive and can leave behind marring on soft paints.

After M205 on a Meg's Soft Buff finishing pad:

(still some severe pitting on the hood - which was repainted poorly)






I THOUGHT the M205 on the Soft Buff 2.0 finishing pad did the trick, but the next day I could still see very slight holograms (still better than the results with the SSR line and PwS). You can somewhat see them in the picture below:




Any suggestions? I've never had this much of an issue trying to find a polish that will finish down properly; I've been using a rotary for about 6 years now. I'm working each polish/compound according to specifications, working small 2x2 areas at a time, keeping my pads cleaned, and all pads were brand new, as I was trying out the CCS pads and the entire SSR line for the first time.

I have heard really good things about Menzerna 85RD to finish down, but I'd like to get some feedback before going out and buying more product. I've had a great experience with Menzerna SIP/PO106ff a few years back, but have yet to use the 85RD. I've also heard great things about 3M Ultrafina. ]]> smbstyle http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144884-issues-soft-paint-finishing-polish-rotary.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144866-proper-pad-selection.html Wed, 15 May 2013 06:50:13 GMT Hello all, I am new to machine polishing and just ordered my first polisher. I selected three different pads, the Lake Country flat pads, orange for cutting, white for polishing and black for finishing. about once a year I do some light cutting on my white 02 accord to remove the black film... Hello all,

I am new to machine polishing and just ordered my first polisher. I selected three different pads, the Lake Country flat pads, orange for cutting, white for polishing and black for finishing.

about once a year I do some light cutting on my white 02 accord to remove the black film that accumulates over the winter. (It may not even be necessary to cut but I find it works well to clean the black off. I have meguiars deep crystal paint cleaner also but I find the product I use works a little better to clean the paint.)

I follow that up with the meguiar's deep crystal polish (which I hear is more like a glaze)

and then I apply meguiars deep crystal carnuba wax. (may switch to nxt when this runs out)

Now, has anyone ever had any experience with the lake country pads? Can the black pad be used with this type of liquid wax or is it just for a cleaner wax? Why are there several finishing pads? if they are for applying wax and have no cut, shouldn't there just be one?

How about the white pads? Is that acceptable for meguiars polish? I just dont want to be too abrasive on the car.

also, does anyone know anything about microfiber pads? How can a microfiber pad "cut?" I thought they were the best thing to use on your car when you don't want anything abrasive like say, terrycloth. ]]> agtjamesb007 http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144866-proper-pad-selection.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144859-clear-bra-removed-what-do-about-line.html Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:57 GMT //edit

Eh... never mind. Buffed it to where it's almost invisible. First time removing a bra (well you know :redface:) and I'll be sure to inform the customer of the expected difference in paint shades.



02 Audi A4 and the owner wanted the clear bra removed after 11 years. Not much of a problem removing it, but now I'm faced with two different colors of paint. The clear bra must have offered UV protection 'cause the paint under the bra looks richer and the rest of the hood has obviously faded.

But my real problem is this 'line' that is left where the edge of the bra was. It looks like its almost raised and if I had to take a WAG, I'd say the rest of the hood has less paint. That's he best I can describe it. I just can't capture it with my camera, but here's what I got: - and no, it's not glue, but the glue line.



]]> LeMarque http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144859-clear-bra-removed-what-do-about-line.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144858-removing-swirls-truck-wheels.html Tue, 14 May 2013 18:58:48 GMT I will be workin on a friends truck Sunday, it's heavily swirled and he has billet wheels on it. You can see swirls/scratches on the wheels only in sunlight, I am hoping I can fix the paint with the PC 7424xp and M105 and M205. Do y'all think I will be able to get the paint somewhat corrected? I will be using mineral oil on the M105 to work it in a little longer. I will post some before and after on this thread ]]> La Sonic http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144858-removing-swirls-truck-wheels.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144837-help-i-need-mini-polisher-motorcycles.html Sun, 12 May 2013 15:08:10 GMT I left the car dealership that I worked at to go to a powersports dealer. Now Im detailing Motorcycles, ATV's, UTV's, PWC's and snowmobiles. I need a to buy a rotary polisher for the dealership, but something smaller and more nimble that still has cutting power because I will be doing a lot of serious paint correction everyday. For now I've been using my DeWALT 849x, this is my preferred machine for cars and trucks but I would like to have something smaller for bikes. I love the size profile of the Griot's Garage 3" mini polisher but from what I've read its just an orbital for light finish polishing and wax application, not enough power to cut. I would love to have something that small though, something with enough power to cut wet sanded paint using 3" pads. Does anyone have any recommendations on a machine for me? What about those pneumatic mini polishers you see in all the parts store catalogs that sell for dirt cheap? ]]> RedDawg97 http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144837-help-i-need-mini-polisher-motorcycles.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144830-i-think-im-installing-holograms-my-car-what-am-i-doing-wrong.html Sat, 11 May 2013 17:37:22 GMT My wife's car was recently repaired, and the body shop was kind enough to hologram the side of her car for me.

I took my GG with HD Uno on an orange pad to it. I'd say I initially had an 80-90% improvement in the holograms and most small swirls that I could see with my flashlight. I was hoping to get rid of some of the bigger holograms left, so I did a second pass in the same area and noticed about 3-4x worse holograms than after the first pass.

I hadn't changed my technique. The machine and pad were obviously a little bit warmer since I had been polishing around.

Is there anything in particular that causes the holograms? Too much polish? Dirty pad? Not enough polish? Poor technique/moving too fast? ]]> someidiot http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144830-i-think-im-installing-holograms-my-car-what-am-i-doing-wrong.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144813-specific-question-about-removing-painted-pin-stripe-my-truck.html Fri, 10 May 2013 12:29:29 GMT hey guys , long time no speak ! i recently purchased a black 1996 Lexus LX450 for a beach cruiser project , the paint is a little faded but otherwise decent condition . it has this really annoying gold pin striping down the side that appears to be painted ( i see areas where its rubbed off). ... hey guys ,
long time no speak !
i recently purchased a black 1996 Lexus LX450 for a beach cruiser project , the paint is a little faded but otherwise decent condition .
it has this really annoying gold pin striping down the side that appears to be painted ( i see areas where its rubbed off).
what i want to know is, what would be the best way to remove this with maybe a dremel? i had a friend tell me he did it successfully that way but didnt tell me what he used on the dremel .
any thoughts would help me greatly , i am newbie at this so any direction would be appreciated . ]]> raynyc http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing-sanding/144813-specific-question-about-removing-painted-pin-stripe-my-truck.html