Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18
  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    168
    Post Thanks / Like

    Light Holograms Remain

    A few weeks ago I polished my carbon steel grey 2013 VW GTI for the first time. The routine I used was a two bucket wash, clay bar, optimum compound with a LC orange pad and PC 7424, on speed 6, followed by Optimum Polish II with a white pad on 5, and finished with Poli Seal applied with a black pad and removed by hand.

    I was really happy with the results , but a few days later I noticed some light holograms in the hood. At first it looked like someone had run their hand across part of the hood but then I started to notice the Holograms over most of the hood surface. So I rewashed, and went over the hood again with optimum polish II and a white pad, this time on 4.5 with lighter pressure.

    I`m still seeing the holograms, but the weird thing is, I only notice them when I`m standing in front of the car and the light is at a certain angle. I`ve checked the cars surface obsessively since the first detailing to see if I can see any swirls or spots I missed. Everything looks fine, even the hood, and then a few days later I can see the holograms again. It seems most noticeable around 3-4pm in bright sunlight. Otherwise they are undetectable.

    It`s hard to get pictures of it but I`ve tried as best as I can. The car is a little dirty from sitting outside and some light snow over the weekend.

  2. #2
    jrock645's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,068
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Final polishing should probably be done on a lower speed is the only guess I can give without personally test spotting and seeing how it reacts. Did you make sure to wipe the pad clean after each section?

  3. #3
    Mike The Guz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Lawndale, CA
    Posts
    3,757
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Possibly something on the towels or wash media. Or maybe they were not completely removed the first it was compounded.
    Competition Ready Team 1929 Bentley
    1999 Silvermist Metallic Pontiac Grand Prix GT
    2002 Arctic White Chevy Camaro SS

  4. #4
    Migue's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    TX
    Posts
    1,502
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    I`ll second polishing speed. I`ve gotten holograms with something as "weak" as HD Speed before, they were fixed with a few very gentle and light passes at low speed.

  5. #5
    Mary B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Lakeville Mn.
    Posts
    1,508
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    I`ve used that OPT. polish ll,
    and I`m thinkin` some got dried on without getting completely removed, then sealed in.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    168
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Quote Originally Posted by jrock645 View Post
    Final polishing should probably be done on a lower speed is the only guess I can give without personally test spotting and seeing how it reacts. Did you make sure to wipe the pad clean after each section?
    I did not wipe the pads clean. The first time when I polish the whole car I used 3 pads of each type. Although I`ve since ordered a couple more. When I went back and read it the hood I only used one white pad and when I was done it felt fairly caked with polish.

    I recently ordered a pad brush from autogeek and we`ll use that from now on. Is there any sort of cleaner I should use with it, while polishing?

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    168
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Quote Originally Posted by The Guz View Post
    Possibly something on the towels or wash media. Or maybe they were not completely removed the first it was compounded.
    I thought of that, but it would`ve affected other panels, no? I was pretty careful to inspect everything to make sure there was nothing stuck to them.
    Quote Originally Posted by Migue View Post
    I`ll second polishing speed. I`ve gotten holograms with something as "weak" as HD Speed before, they were fixed with a few very gentle and light passes at low speed.
    Maybe setting it on 3 would be better? I`ve applied my LSP on a speed of 2 or 3 but the polisher bogs down easily at that speed. I have to use what feels like a very light touch
    Quote Originally Posted by Mary B View Post
    I`ve used that OPT. polish ll,
    and I`m thinkin` some got dried on without getting completely removed, then sealed in.
    That`s what I thought, then it happened again. When I polished the second time it was cloudy outside. I thought I removed it all. But maybe not.

  8. #8
    rlmccarty2000's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Fitzgerald, GA, South East GA
    Posts
    4,498
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Make sure you clean your pads "on the fly" (brush the spent polish and removed clear coat after each 2 by 2 section). Especially if you are only using 3 pads per car. I prefer to use one pad per panel(hood, roof, etc.) around 8-9 pads of each type (polishing, compounding). You can use one pad to apply your LSP for the whole car.
    Likes Bill1975 liked this post

  9. #9
    jrock645's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Chicago, IL
    Posts
    2,068
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill1975 View Post
    I did not wipe the pads clean. The first time when I polish the whole car I used 3 pads of each type. Although I`ve since ordered a couple more. When I went back and read it the hood I only used one white pad and when I was done it felt fairly caked with polish.

    I recently ordered a pad brush from autogeek and we`ll use that from now on. Is there any sort of cleaner I should use with it, while polishing?
    Just a good brush, and then a wipe off with a MF towel should do the trick. No need to spray with any cleaner until you`re done with it.
    Likes Bill1975 liked this post

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    86,975
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Holograms can be incredibly difficult to remove even if they are "only light and shallow". And yes indeed seeing them can be a challenge (I need a SunGun to see `em in the shop).

    I wouldn`t completely rule out that the whole vehicle has the problem but it`s just that hard to see `em. On metallic black I`ve had to have my wife help me spot them, we spend *forever* with one person moving the vehicle around during *just the right time of day* while the other looked for issues. And I don`t mean "just a couple of hours" either, took a few days as the sun had to be just right.

    Q-Are these real holograms (as in, light marring, usually rotary-induced) or pseudo-holograms from polishing oils or LSP/other products-issues? I`d figure that out first. I`ve had pseudo-holograms from all sorts of things and sometimes they`re really tough to eliminate even though they`re "not really marring in the paint".
    Likes Bill1975 liked this post

  11. #11

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    168
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Your wife is very patient! My girlfriend rolls her eyes before I can even finish saying "swirl marks"! Light Holograms Remain

    I have checked every panel the car in various lighting conditions just about every day since I first polish it a couple weeks ago. I can see one very small and light hologram on the rear bumper but that is it. I will say that originally I first saw holograms on the hood near the driver side and then across the rest of the hood. But today I looked at it and only saw them on the passenger side. It is difficult to say whether it is dried product or any kind of marring. For the life of me, I can`t see it anywhere else.

    Given how difficult it is to detect, it`s not the end of the world, but it bothers me just knowing its there.

    I suspect I will have to polish it again at some point when then sun is stronger, that`s really the only way to tell. I have no way of knowing if it`s actual marring or dried polish.

    As an aside, this car is a metallic dark grey. My last car was a non metallic black. I think the metallic flakes,which are so prevalent in many finishes now days masks some minor issues, even on black, or dark cars. It seems the non metallic finishes are the least forgiving.

  12. #12

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    86,975
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Bill1975- Yes indeed, Accumulatorette is very patient We didn`t keep track, but it took *so many* hours to sort it out. Lucky for me she hates holograms almost as much as I do since she agrees that they send a message we don`t want our vehicles to broadcast. And we both have that "if it matters to one of us, then it *matters* period" mentality.

    Yes indeed#2 that color is an INCREDIBLE PIA to deal with this on, exact same thing we went through with the GMC we had which was a darker version of the same thing (and those holograms were instilled by a *highly* regarded Autopian Pro too, no hard feelings as he`s a pal whom I do respect, we`re just insanely picky). Straight black is unforgiving, but at least it`s easy to see what`s really going on.

    Eh, I don`t know from the products you used so I guess I can`t really be of much help

    I`m glad this isn`t bugging you too much. I honestly don`t want you to go through what we did over stuff that`s just not that big a deal.

    Wonder if you`d learn anything by cleaning a section (that has the issue) with a solvent.

  13. #13

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    168
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator View Post

    Wonder if you`d learn anything by cleaning a section (that has the issue) with a solvent.
    I`ve wondered this as well. I have assumed that polishing a car will remove the LSP as well as any other product residue.

  14. #14

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    86,975
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Quote Originally Posted by Bill1975 View Post
    I have assumed that polishing a car will remove the LSP as well as any other product residue.
    Yeah, it oughta, but..
    -my usual concerns about unnecessary polishing
    -what if the polish is the issue?

    I just lean towards the idea that perfectly/genuinely clean bare paint oughta be easier to evaluate and solvents shouldn`t do anything except give you that.

    Unless they were there before you started, I can only think of a few things that could`ve caused them since you were working with a PC.

    -not-so-micro marring from wiping off the most aggressive product
    -residual polishing oils
    -something like the oils not playing nice with the LSP
    -the LSP somehow messing up (I`ve mostly had that when layering stuff)
    -the MF somehow micro-marring in some places but not others (but IMO that`s *VERY* unlikely in this case)

    I had something like that on the `93 Audi last year..washed and used FK425 as a Drying Aid (hey, oughta work fine with FK1000P, right?), seemed fine..then a week or so later I saw that kind of thing in certain lighting. Freaked Out. Rewashed, buffed *buffed* *BUFFED* with IUDJ when drying with a really soft plush MF Drying Towel, problem disappeared and never came back (major relief!).

  15. #15

    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Dallas, Tx.
    Posts
    168
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Light Holograms Remain

    Quote Originally Posted by Accumulator View Post

    Unless they were there before you started, I can only think of a few things that could`ve caused them since you were working with a PC.

    -not-so-micro marring from wiping off the most aggressive product
    -residual polishing oils
    -something like the oils not playing nice with the LSP
    -the LSP somehow messing up (I`ve mostly had that when layering stuff)
    -the MF somehow micro-marring in some places but not others (but IMO that`s *VERY* unlikely in this case)
    I have been concerned that my drying routine could introduce problems.. I usually pull a WW to draw off most of the water, then pat dry with a second WW. This time, I pat dried with both towels. I just ordered a Griots PFM towel. Maybe that will be better

    Sometimes the polish and LSP took a but of effort to remove. I don`t know if MF wears out, as some towels are about 5-6 years old, but they`re always cleaned and inspected before use.

    I used all Optimum products, so they should "play nice"

    I am starting to wonder if not keeping the pad clean was an issue. After polishing the hood with one white pad, it was pretty caked up with polish. I`ve since bought a cleaning brush for the pads.

 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Big "A" Detailing BMW 645 w-light swirls & holograms
    By AndrewBigA in forum The Detailers Showcase
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 10-28-2011, 01:10 AM
  2. Very Light Holograms/Buffer Trails...
    By smbstyle in forum Machine Polishing & Sanding
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 08-19-2010, 01:17 PM
  3. Help..Swirls gone but holograms remain!!! PICS!
    By havlykke in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 10-10-2007, 06:02 PM
  4. Some scratches still remain after SFX-1
    By Wax_on_Wax_Off in forum Machine Polishing & Sanding
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-26-2007, 11:16 PM
  5. Friend used FP-II now has light holograms
    By imported_Mighty HD in forum Car Detailing Product Discussion
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 12-25-2005, 12:17 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •