Critique and advice on Optimum please

[Roger V]

First, here was my process.

Wash with ONR
Clay
Optimum Compound on LC orange [x2 on some portions] speed 6
Optimum Polish on LC white speed 6
Opti-Seal on LC black speed 5
4* Ultimate paint protection on LC black speed 3

However I could not remove more then 90% of swirls on most portions. Was there something wrong with my speed? I moved the pad about 1" per second and applied moderate pressure [let it bog then backed off]. Product wise I used about a pea sized drop per panel, if I used more it dusted like crazy. Is this normal?

After each panel I spritzed the pad with water. Every few panels I scrubbed the pad with that orange pad conditioning brush from Danase.

So what am I doing wrong?

So here is what I accomplished.



Stuff like this remains




Still made a good reflection.

[fdizzle]

are you refering to swirils or what some of us might consider more significant scratches? it looks like your spider webbing and light swiril marks are history . .(very nice improvement BTW) . those (imo) more intense, deeper swirils or scratches in yoru second pic might require more attneiton with a more agressive process, just in those specific areas . . . perhaps a yellow pad with the same product or a more agressive product with an orange pad, and if no luck, bump it up to a yellow . . . im just speculating . . . if my thoughts prove to be useless i apolagize in advance . . . its aways tough to gauge the imperfections in paint via pictures, even good ones . . . best of luck

[Roger V]

Originally Posted by fdizzle

are you refering to swirils or what some of us might consider more significant scratches? it looks like your spider webbing and light swiril marks are history . .(very nice improvement BTW) . those (imo) more intense, deeper swirils or scratches in yoru second pic might require more attneiton with a more agressive process, just in those specific areas . . . perhaps a yellow pad with the same product or a more agressive product with an orange pad, and if no luck, bump it up to a yellow . . . im just speculating . . . if my thoughts prove to be useless i apolagize in advance . . . its aways tough to gauge the imperfections in paint via pictures, even good ones . . . best of luck

Thanks, i noticed on some sections there were slight buffer marks, I think it was from the previous person who tried to wax the car, but how would i prevent myself from repeating their mistake?

You can't really tell, but there still is slight swirling, I don't believe going over again another time would help. Would I want to bump up to a yellow pad?

[lecchilo]

i agree with dizzle completely... some scratches you just have to leave there... very nice hood shot btw.. awsome improvement

[Roger V]

One more thing, what would be the best way to remove the dust before moving on to the next panel?