6 Month Old Paintjob Hazed/Swirl'd - PC not enough?

temposs · 03-11-07, 08:57

I've spent a few hours over the past week polishing my Explorer with my PC using SSR2.5 and SSR1 on orange/green/white pads (2.5 on orange) with little to no luck, and I'm trying to figure out where my problem is... Before I got my truck repainted 6 months ago, I did fine with the SSR2.5/1 combo on the same pads - My truck was virtually swirl free with the stock paint (1997 model) after I was done polishing it. I thought I had mastered the art of the PC.

Well, I decided to get a custom paint job - 2 tone black/red last July, and now I'm having trouble removing the hazing/swirling that has developed over the winter. Basically, I'm trying to find where my process is failing, whether it is the new paint being harder (or maybe softer?) than the stock, or if the PC/polish/pad combo I'm trying just isn't enough. I do have a HF rotary I picked up on a good sale, but I have no experience using one, but have watched some videos/done research...

I can snap some pictures if necessary, but it really just feels like the SSR/PC is creating the hazing while removing the swirls. And to me, the hazing looks much worse when the light hits it in the right spot. The SSR2.5 removes the swirls, but introduces hazing it seems, and the SSR1 is incapable of removing the hazing left...

So what is my next step from here? Goto a yellow pad/speed 6 on the PC with a new polish line, or should I save my time, jump into the rotary, and go from there? I know everyone recommends trying to find the least aggressive method that is capable of fixing the paint... Thanks in advance for any help.

paradigm · 03-12-07, 02:46

sounds like the new paint is harder. you didn't mention what speeds you were using on the PC initially...so bump up to 6 and retry. IMHO, speed 6 makes a big difference when trying to do corrective work. if that doesn't do it...step up the product/pad.

.02

BigJimZ28 · 03-12-07, 05:59

or its softer!
did you try 2.5 on a light polishing pad first?

temposs · 03-12-07, 06:03

I've worked about all the SSR combos with the pads I'm using (Propel 2). What would be a good polish to step up to with a yellow pad @ speed 6? The SSR line just doesn't seem to be working with my new paint whatsoever.

BigJimZ28 · 03-12-07, 06:39

it your car so do what you want
but since you said "The SSR2.5 removes the swirls, but introduces hazing"

I think you need a less agressive polish
if all you have is 2.5 & 1 I would try a mix of the two on a light polishing pad

p.s. are you sure you are using p2 pads? I don't remeber a white pad

temposs · 03-12-07, 06:59

I've got 2 white LC pads I tried with the SSR 1. The combo I used to use before the repaint was either 2.5 on orange or white (depending on how bad the paint was from the beginning), followed by 1 on a white, and I never had any problems with this.

Now I've got a set of P2 pads, and a set of LC pads and am getting the same results from both. I've shyed away from cutting pads, but I'm thinking I'll need to place an order for one.

Eliot Ness · 03-12-07, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by temposs

........ but it really just feels like the SSR/PC is creating the hazing while removing the swirls. And to me, the hazing looks much worse when the light hits it in the right spot. The SSR2.5 removes the swirls, but introduces hazing it seems, and the SSR1 is incapable of removing the hazing left..........

I agree with BigJimZ28.... you don't need a more aggressive pad or polish if what you're using is removing the swirls. You need something to remove the haze you're creating. You should try a small area that is hazed with the 2.5 on a polish pad and then follow-up with the SSR1.

It sounds to me like your new paint is a bit softer and the 2.5 and the orange pad is causing the hazing that you didn't experience before. You're going to have to try various polish/pad combinations until you find something that works for the new paint. You might be able to skip the orange pad altogether except for areas that need a lot of correction.

budman3 · 03-12-07, 09:37

If you are getting hazing / micromarring from SSR2.5, use a less agressive pad. I see no reason to use anything other than a polishing pad with SSR2.5. Just crank the PC up to speed 6 and work the product in for a while. Give the product some time to work. The reason you are getting hazing from your combo now is from your pads, not SSR2.5. If you still have swirls try SSR2.5 with a polishing pad (LC white). If you only have the hazing left, then SSR1 with a polishing pad will work as well.

temposs · 03-12-07, 01:37

OK, thanks guys. Sort of makes sense now, I was just surprised by the amount of hazing that the SSR2.5 had caused.

I am running low on SSR product though, so I'll probably be on the market for some new polish. Is there anything out there that some of you find more effective than the SSR line? Is Optimum's polish line good with the PC, or more suited towards the rotary user?

temposs · 03-15-07, 07:47

Just an update for everyone that pitched in and gave me a hand here...

I revised my PC method based on a lot of common problems that I've read on this forum. I was using way way too much polish (SSRs) and trying to cover too much paint surface area at once. I'm now using a solid line of polish across the pad face, and working that into a roughly 2'x2' area each time. I increased my work time by about a minute (extra pass or so), as well. Once the SSR slightly starts dusting, I end the polishing. I am, though, still keeping the PC at speed 5 - I think this clear coat is soft enough that 5 does a sufficient job.

Thanks for everyone that gave me advice - goes to show that even though something has worked well a few dozen times, doesn't mean you're an expert in that area.

BigJimZ28 · 03-15-07, 08:30

glad you got it taken car of!