View Full Version : working on a couple black cars that want to own me.
titsataki
04-26-2008, 07:00 PM
My cars, I am pretty much a newbie. I just got this 02 VW cabrio and it seems that the previous owner never detailed the car. They are swirls towel scratches all over the car. So I am experimenting what I need to use to get this baby in the best shape it has seen it is life.
I have a good amount of supplies pads LC orange/white MEg`s purple and a UDM machine. More stuff as well but as I work on the car and get input I will bring them up.
I started working on the rear trunk panel behind the convertible top.
I used LC orange pad on one half of the trunk and then MEg`s purple pad on pass two(same half- passenger side. I used my UDM in this fashion. I put 5-6 drops of 4star MCC 2200 material on the trunk then wipe it all over with the UDM off and the pad on (I make th pad a bit dump). Then I work it slowly at speed 3 for like 2-3 minutes. Then I stop put it to speed 5-6 and work on the polish for like 2-3 minutes. I see improvement but some stuff is still there. Thus my post with pics for advice/input.
Let me know what you think.
Pics:
Driver`s side(I have not worked on it yet):
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7432/img2052qu8.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2052qu8.jpg)
Passenger side(the side I did the two passes):
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/9223/img2054tx9.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2054tx9.jpg)
Cheers
Nick
fergnation
04-26-2008, 07:29 PM
You might want to start at a higher speed. 3 is really low with the UDM. Start with atleast 4.5 and move up to 5.5 or 6. I think with working at 3 for so long you are missing out on the cut you could be getting. You are then going to have to finish it out, especially on a black car.
scary bill
04-26-2008, 11:27 PM
Get to higher speed sooner. After the polish is spread evenly move up to 5 or so. Slow passed 1"/sec 10-15lbs of pressure small areas 12-18" square, as the polish starts to clear let up the pressure some.
Don`t get discouraged, it may take 3 or more applications of polish to get there. You may need to follow up with a mild finishing polish and a polishing/finishing pad to get the clearest finish.
If you still don`t get anywhere, I have heard about using 4" pads to get more out of a DA. You would have to be more careful, though as you can burn paint then.
MattPersman
04-27-2008, 04:23 AM
black VW paint is tough. we have an 03 black VW beetle convt and it takes tons of work to get the paint nice. you just have to find a happy place with it or get a rotary cause a small machine is going to take days
titsataki
04-27-2008, 03:02 PM
black VW paint is tough. we have an 03 black VW beetle convt and it takes tons of work to get the paint nice. you just have to find a happy place with it or get a rotary cause a small machine is going to take days
You sir are telling the truth. This thing is going to take time to be back to nice. Not perfect . I am hoping for 80-90%. Pics below.
I am already considering the rotary. My bro in law has a nice Makita that I used once in a while. I am bit intimidated by it as I can feel it wants to jump on my hands on the paint at about 900-1000 rpm. Also it leaves a haze which leads me to believe that I am not working it like it should be. So learning curve here.
Thanks for the advice/input.
Nick
titsataki
04-27-2008, 03:10 PM
ok I went full force. LC yellow pad and start at 4.5 and then picked it up 5.5-6 (all the way for UDM). Trunk is getting better. I am realizing now that this is going to be a slow process. Car improves I learn we both happy. :)
I did a pass of LC white pad with Menzerna P85. Shine starting to come out.
Still if I start looking from extreme angles under the halogen light I can see some imperfections but it is getting to the "happy medium" Matt is mentioning.
Here are some pics after the Menzerna pass.
Did I mention dusting all over the car and the garage? I wet the pad but at the end dusting is quite heavy. I guess I have to wash the car before I got to final product Menzerna FMJ.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1414/img2057dp3.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2057dp3.jpg)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8950/img2056zw3.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2056zw3.jpg)
Here is the same left hand side. I did not go as many passes as the right side. I can tell that it needs a couple more passes. But the improvement is there.
Before
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7432/img2052qu8.th.jpg (http://img91.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2052qu8.jpg)
After
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/397/img2055cu5.th.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2055cu5.jpg)
Again much appreciated all the input.
Cheers
Nick
titsataki
05-03-2008, 06:57 PM
so today I was experimenting with the "other" black car. 05 Honda Pilot. I also borrowed a Makita rotary. Different beast than the UDM. I liked the smoothness I did not like that sometimes the pad was trying to go its own way and it would hop a bit. Either way here is a couple pics:
door before:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8746/IMG_2059.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_2059.jpg)
Door after:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7710/IMG_2063.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_2063.jpg)
Fender is done door is not:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1874/IMG_2061.th.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/my.php?image=IMG_2061.jpg)
I used the 9227c Makita rotary.
Spread at 600rpm work at around 1000-1100 finish at 600rpm. FMJ at 600rpm.
Lake County 6in Pads (same as the ones I use with the UDM).
Yellow with 4star MCC 2200
Orange with Menzerna IP
White with Menzerna PO85RD
Red with Menzerna FMJ
Wipedown with Meg`s FK 425
Even with a rotary it takes a while. (especially since I go slow being new to it)
Cheers
Nick