Polishing....help!

[not7fifteen]

So I've had my PC since the earlier part of the year and I just can't seem to get out swirls!
I mean, it makes it a lot glossier, but in the halogens or direct sunlight they're all still there it seems. Almost like it didn't help at all.

I'm using an LC Orange foam pad
I've tried Megs #1, #2, and their swirl remover, along with TC Swirl Cutter...

I go over a 2x2 area on speed 1 to spread the polish.
Then I turn it up to 4 or 5 and make up down followed by side-side motions across the area.
I try to go up/down, side/side, up/down, then side/side again.
I try to cover about 2-3 inches per second working slowly.

Wrong pad?
Wrong polish?
Wrong motions across the paint?
Wrong user ???

Any pointers would be a help. The tropicare swirl cutter recommends the orange pad and says to do it just like I'm doing... Just isn't removing swirls, nor is the Megs...

[charlesaferg]

Originally Posted by not7fifteen

So I've had my PC since the earlier part of the year and I just can't seem to get out swirls!
I mean, it makes it a lot glossier, but in the halogens or direct sunlight they're all still there it seems. Almost like it didn't help at all.

I'm using an LC Orange foam pad
I've tried Megs #1, #2, and their swirl remover, along with TC Swirl Cutter...

I go over a 2x2 area on speed 1 to spread the polish.
Then I turn it up to 4 or 5 and make up down followed by side-side motions across the area.
I try to go up/down, side/side, up/down, then side/side again.
I try to cover about 2-3 inches per second working slowly.

Wrong pad?
Wrong polish?
Wrong motions across the paint?
Wrong user ???

Any pointers would be a help. The tropicare swirl cutter recommends the orange pad and says to do it just like I'm doing... Just isn't removing swirls, nor is the Megs...

Take some photos

[Atlantic Euro]

How long are you working the area?

[Legacy99]

Originally Posted by not7fifteen

So I've had my PC since the earlier part of the year and I just can't seem to get out swirls!
I mean, it makes it a lot glossier, but in the halogens or direct sunlight they're all still there it seems. Almost like it didn't help at all.

I'm using an LC Orange foam pad
I've tried Megs #1, #2, and their swirl remover, along with TC Swirl Cutter...

I go over a 2x2 area on speed 1 to spread the polish.
Then I turn it up to 4 or 5 and make up down followed by side-side motions across the area.
I try to go up/down, side/side, up/down, then side/side again.
I try to cover about 2-3 inches per second working slowly.

Wrong pad?
Wrong polish?
Wrong motions across the paint?
Wrong user ???

Any pointers would be a help. The tropicare swirl cutter recommends the orange pad and says to do it just like I'm doing... Just isn't removing swirls, nor is the Megs...

3" per second may be too fast. How long does it take you to do a 2X2 section? Should be no less than 4-5 mins, also try speed 6.

[Accumulator]

Switch to 4" pads for foam and to 3.5" PFW pads for any serious correction. IME larger pads on the PC are a waste of time.

The "Meg's #1 and #2" make me wonder if you're using the Deep Crystal stuff. If so you're using the wrong products with the wrong pad. THe DC#1 is an exceptionally mild paint cleaner with minimal cut and the DC#2 is a nonabrasive glaze. Their #9 Swirl Mark Remover will generally only live up to its name via rotary.

If you're really using the #1 Medium Cut Cleaner it's a rotary-only product. The #2 Fine Cut Cleaner would work OK with 4" pads. But I suspect those aren't the "#1 and #2" you're using.

1Z Pasta Intensiv via 3.5" PFW will remove most any scratch that's safe to remove. The same stuff with a 4" orange or green Cyclo pad will remove lesser marring. A pass with 1Z Paint Polish or their High Gloss on a green Cyclo 4" pad will finish things up and leave you ready for your final wax.

[not7fifteen]

Hey thanks a lot for the advice guys, I really appriciate it.

I'll go ahead and order some 4" pads nad give that a shot on speed 6.

Also yes the stuff I'm using is NOT the deep crystal, its the regular numbered stuff, "medium cut cleaner" I just kinda realized the cut on these isn't near as high of abrasiveness as the 80 or 83 like most people are using

[eeee78]

Did you apply pressure?

[not7fifteen]

mild preassure was applied, but mainly to keep the 6" pads from wobbling

[VroomVroom]

Accumulator really nailed it (no surprise there). Since switching to 4" pads on the PC I've yet to use anything larger. The LC orange and white pads are my go-to's. Good luck!

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by not7fifteen

I'll go ahead and order some 4" pads nad give that a shot on speed 6.

Also yes the stuff I'm using is NOT the deep crystal, its the regular numbered stuff, "medium cut cleaner" I just kinda realized the cut on these isn't near as high of abrasiveness as the 80 or 83 like most people are using

Ah, OK...I'll admit I was expecting it to be the Deep Crystal stuff and your complaints are exactly what people using *that* always say.

But note that both the #2 Fine Cut and *especially* the #1 Medium Cut oughta be quite a bit *MORE* abrasive than the #83 and especially the #80, which is one very mild product. I'd be a little careful with that #1 and I wouldn't expect the #2 to finish out nearly ready-to-wax, it'll need a follow-up with something milder for things to really look nice.