Need Help - Swirls, PC, and SSR

ratedrookie · 11-16-06, 10:33

I've been reading these boards for a while trying to absorb all the information I can, but I have now reached the point where I need some questions answered.

My car is black and has swirls that were really beginning to bother me so I decided to take the plunge and purchase a PC 7424. I decided to try some Poorboys polishes to try to remove the swirls since I was very encouraged by the outstanding results I had seen on these boards and others by those that used the product. So a couple weeks ago after reading some tutorials on how to use the PC and watching the videos on autogeek.net I took the weekend to wash/polish/wax my car. Here's what I did:

Wash/Dry
Meguiars Clay Bar
SSR 2.5 with Orange Pad
SSR 1 with White Pad
Natty's Blue Paste Wax with Gray Pad

Unfortunately I don't have a well lit area to work in so I could not properly gauge my progress. A few days ago when I was finally able to see the results under the sun I was very disappointed to see that not only had my work not diminished the swirls, but it seems like I now have more swirls than before. I don't know what I did wrong, but I'm positive I screwed up somewhere and I need help figuring out where. I know the problem was not a result of the PC or the Poorboys products since I have seen what others are able to accomplish with them.

While applying the SSR2.5 and SSR1 I did notice ALOT of dusting. I did some searching and found this to be somewhat common so I'm wondering if the dust caused the new swirls. I'm also wondering if I didn't use enough product or if I worked it too much, which might be the reason for all the dust. I used about a nickel-quarter size of the product and spread it over about a 2x2 to 3x3 area at speed 3-4 then bumped up to speed 5-6 after it was spread. I worked the machine very slowly and took several minutes per section.

Please send some help my way since I obviously need it. The more I am learning about detailing, the more the swirls are beginning to bother me.

sevenrd · 11-16-06, 11:06

Number one is I'd get better lighting to work with.

When I first started out I didn't have great lighting. I did the same as you...worked the polishes in slowly, took my time, only to discover under certain lighting I hadn't really made a dent in the swirls. Now I have a halogen worklight to inspect my work as I go. I realized I simply needed a more aggressive pad and/or polish to really make a dent in the swirls. Along with multiple passes (sometimes 3 - 4 with the products I had) to remove all of the swirling. The intial single pass of SSR 2.5 just didn't get the swirls out.

And PB's polishes do dust alot.

Hope this helps.

BigAl3 · 11-16-06, 11:07

if you are experiencing alot of dusting, make sure to check your pad often so it doesn't have caked on product, thus leading to marring. also, clean your pad as often as it needs to by taking a clean mf towel in one hand and turning the pc with the other, and push the pad into the mf towel and move it around. as you're polishing, make sure not to go to a dry buff and check the area you're working on as you go by swiping the finish to make sure there is product on the finish. your technique (has alot to do with it) will get better as you do it more often so don't be discouraged, and also you may want to look into getting a halogen fluorescent light stand (as pictured) so you can check your progress. good luck and let us know how things go!

ratedrookie · 11-17-06, 08:31

I wish I had better lighting, unfortunately the complex I live in has very narrow and limited space for parking and it would be very difficult to place a light stand in the area. Are there other solutions such as battery powered handheld lights of the same kind?

I'm pretty sure there was not any caked on product on the pads, but I'll check the next time. Speaking of which, how long should I wait before taking another stab at this? Should I wait a few months for the wax to wear or could I go ahead and try the entire process again right away? I don't want to do anything stupid and make things even worse.

Also, could the dusting be caused by working the product too much or just not using enough? The more I'm reading the more I'm getting the feeling that I might have done both.

BigAl3 · 11-17-06, 06:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratedrookie

I wish I had better lighting, unfortunately the complex I live in has very narrow and limited space for parking and it would be very difficult to place a light stand in the area. Are there other solutions such as battery powered handheld lights of the same kind?

go to your local pepboys and pick up the brinkmann xenon light..

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratedrookie

I'm pretty sure there was not any caked on product on the pads, but I'll check the next time. Speaking of which, how long should I wait before taking another stab at this? Should I wait a few months for the wax to wear or could I go ahead and try the entire process again right away? I don't want to do anything stupid and make things even worse.

Also, could the dusting be caused by working the product too much or just not using enough? The more I'm reading the more I'm getting the feeling that I might have done both.

you can give it another shot now, if you polish you'll strip your lsp anyway. dusting usually results from working the product too long with too much pressure...

Roadkeeper · 11-17-06, 06:33

You can get a Brinkman Rechargeable light at Autobarn.com. I just got mine. Works great.