Finally got some weather - new pc

[otium]

Hey guys.

Finally got some 50+ today and hopefully tomorrow. As you can see, the dually sure needed some TLC after the recent cold and wintry weather.



http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080829.jpg



Am trying out some of swirls left from dealer "detail" when I picked it up new a couple of months ago. Yeah right.


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080836.jpg


Basically the whole truck is at this level of markings.


And I have a couple of areas with some halos. They are from the dealer getting some scratches out. Scratches are gone, but left these halos...


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080830.jpg


With such short days I was only able to get it it washed and some PC testing done this afternoon. I tried using the LC Orange pad and SSR 1.

Got some of the marks out, but plenty left. Went back and tried some 2.5 on the same pad. Am seeing some micro marring, but from what I read that is expected and SSR1 afterwards should take care of it.

My questions are;

Since it appears I need to go to SSR 2.5, should I use the orange pad, or should I use a different pad that is less aggressive? Or should I just stay with SSR1 and keep going over and over the same areas?

Since this is turning into a multi day job and I can`t get the truck indoors between stopping and starting, how do you all prep the vehicle where there will no doubt be dust and moisture on it after the air gets still in the evening? Just give a quick rinse?

Sure don`t realize how big this truck is until you start using a pc on it. Seems like it`s going to take forever.

Thank you for any tips.

~Otium

[Beemerboy]

Hey guys.

Finally got some 50+ today and hopefully tomorrow. As you can see, the dually sure needed some TLC after the recent cold and wintry weather.



http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080829.jpg



Am trying out some of swirls left from dealer "detail" when I picked it up new a couple of months ago. Yeah right.


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080836.jpg


Basically the whole truck is at this level of markings.


And I have a couple of areas with some halos. They are from the dealer getting some scratches out. Scratches are gone, but left these halos...


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080830.jpg


With such short days I was only able to get it it washed and some PC testing done this afternoon. I tried using the LC Orange pad and SSR 1.

Got some of the marks out, but plenty left. Went back and tried some 2.5 on the same pad. Am seeing some micro marring, but from what I read that is expected and SSR1 afterwards should take care of it.

My questions are;

Since it appears I need to go to SSR 2.5, should I use the orange pad, or should I use a different pad that is less aggressive? Or should I just stay with SSR1 and keep going over and over the same areas?

Since this is turning into a multi day job and I can`t get the truck indoors between stopping and starting, how do you all prep the vehicle where there will no doubt be dust and moisture on it after the air gets still in the evening? Just give a quick rinse?

Sure don`t realize how big this truck is until you start using a pc on it. Seems like it`s going to take forever.

Thank you for any tips.

~Otium

I do not know the color of the pads and there cutting abilities with LC..based on what I can see from your paint I would start with the SSR2.5 and a cutting pad, then head to SSR1 with a polishing pad this will smooth out the swirls from the SSR2.5...then you could go straight to wax / sealant or both.

As for cleaning the truck the next day if you have some spray and wipe that`s what I would use, or a quick rinse and wipe down will do it as long as its just dust that has collected over night.

[audiboy]

I agree with my European brother, beemerboy, but would like to add that you might need a couple passes off SSR1 with a polishing pad after the SSR2.5. The SSR2.5 will probably take care of most of the big stuff and the pass or two of SSR1 should take care of anything left behind.

[otium]

Sounds like a plan guys.

I`m sure my arms will be complaining having to go over it so many times, but do think it`ll be worth it in the long run.

My plan is to follow polishing with NXT and finish it off with S100.

I`ll post some pictures again when I get to that point.

Thank you,
~Otium

[budman3]

I don`t see the need for SSR2.5 and a cutting pad. Sure it`ll cut through the swirls easier but it`ll leave micromarring. All of my SSR2.5 polishing is done with a polishing pad. I think that SSR2.5 and a polishing pad`ll be fine on the swirls you have. It wouldn`t hurt to try it out atleast.

Check this out for proper SSR2.5 usage:
http://www.detailcity.org/forums/poorboysworld-com-sponsored-forum/14287-ssr2-5-proper-amount-use.html
I use that amount to `prime` the pad (don`t use water or QD) and then use about 1/2 that amount for the rest of the vehicle. Results are great. That truck is massive! Good luck working on it.

[otium]

The job is done.

First an interesting side note, my wife, who thinks I am nuts over the amount of time I`ll spend on a vehicle, came out this morning before I started so I showed her the problem areas. She was really surprised to see just how bad they were, especially the halos.

After she went in the house I hit the top half of one of the panels she was looking at with the SSR 2.5 and when I was done I asked her to come back out to see if I was wasting my time. She came back out and could not believe it, the halos were gone, except she pointed out, the ones she could still see on the bottom half which were the ones I had not done yet. I tell you what, having the right tools really makes a difference.

If I would have had the time and patience (and definitely more arm power) I would have tried the 2.5 on the polishing pad. However I knew time and more likely the weather (snow expected Monday), was against me this time of year. I hit the whole truck with 2.5 with the LC Orange cutting pad.

It got the halos out and probably 75-85 percent of all the wash marks. The dealer must have used brillo pads when they washed it... Then went over it again with the SSR 1 with a LC white pad - very light cut. That seemed to take care of the leftovers from the 2.5 and really put a nice shine to it.

From there I got the NXT on. It now looks like the truck should have looked like when I got it. At this point I ran out of light this evening so did not get to the S100. And I also did not get a chance to take a picture -- sorry guys. I`ll see if I can snag a photo tomorrow.

It`s not a garage queen, in fact it fits in very few modern day garages so it lives outdoors. So for now I`m satisfied with the results until spring and then I`ll give it another go to get rid of those other 15%.

Thanks again for the info, which really helped me out.

Take care,

~Otium

[Beemerboy]

The job is done.

First an interesting side note, my wife, who thinks I am nuts over the amount of time I`ll spend on a vehicle, came out this morning before I started so I showed her the problem areas. She was really surprised to see just how bad they were, especially the halos.

After she went in the house I hit the top half of one of the panels she was looking at with the SSR 2.5 and when I was done I asked her to come back out to see if I was wasting my time. She came back out and could not believe it, the halos were gone, except she pointed out, the ones she could still see on the bottom half which were the ones I had not done yet. I tell you what, having the right tools really makes a difference.

If I would have had the time and patience (and definitely more arm power) I would have tried the 2.5 on the polishing pad. However I knew time and more likely the weather (snow expected Monday), was against me this time of year. I hit the whole truck with 2.5 with the LC Orange cutting pad.

It got the halos out and probably 75-85 percent of all the wash marks. The dealer must have used brillo pads when they washed it... Then went over it again with the SSR 1 with a LC white pad - very light cut. That seemed to take care of the leftovers from the 2.5 and really put a nice shine to it.

From there I got the NXT on. It now looks like the truck should have looked like when I got it. At this point I ran out of light this evening so did not get to the S100. And I also did not get a chance to take a picture -- sorry guys. I`ll see if I can snag a photo tomorrow.

It`s not a garage queen, in fact it fits in very few modern day garages so it lives outdoors. So for now I`m satisfied with the results until spring and then I`ll give it another go to get rid of those other 15%.

Thanks again for the info, which really helped me out.

Take care,

~Otium


Glad to hear that everything worked out OK...sounds like you used the SSR2.5 to cut then came back with the SSR1 to polish out, its the way that I do it, and suggested...take some pics if the weather provides

[otium]

I did get a coat of S100 on top of the NXT this morning and took a couple of pictures.

Here is what it looked like before (like we really need a reminder on how bad it looked) :eek:


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC080827.jpg


Here is a similar positioned after shot


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC100847.jpg


Lastly, here is a more close up shot of the area on this panel and the other which showed halos pretty bad. I could not find them no matter where I positioned myself, so I consider them gone.


http://auctions.celcos.com/PC100844.jpg


If I look real close I can still see a mark or two from the "dealer detail" on the lower sun spot, but I`ll work on those more this spring.

Again am happy with my first time results. :yay

Take care,
~Otium

[audiboy]

Great finished product! You should be really proud of what you achieved.