imported_Intermezzo
06-10-2002, 12:42 PM
The first time I ever used this product, I got terrible results and made a complete mess of my paint (http://www.autopia-carport.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5060), but I’ve gotta say that after my last two sessions with it, this product has now become one of my favorites. I consider it the perfect product to use in prepping your paint for Zaino or Klasse SG because it does a terrific job with swirls, removes whatever wax/sealant is already on your car & really shines up your car without leaving behind any oils or silicone. I used FI-2 over the weekend on my sister’s ’95 Corolla which has been very neglected recently and the paint was in pretty sorry condition. The steps I took were:
1. Wash with PBS
2. Clay with CM
3. Clean/Polish with FI-2
4. Z-1, Z-5
As I was applying FI-2 to the car, I was amazed at just how smooth and glossy it was making the paint. Sometimes I would step back and take a look after doing half a panel and the difference was tremendous. It did a terrific job of removing swirls and bringing back the car’s color and when I was finally finished, the car looked new (except for some deep scratches which might require a compound). Everyone I showed the car to (my sister and wife) were blown away by how the car looked and were surprised when I told them that I haven’t even Zaino’d the car yet.
Some of the key techniques (some of which I didn’t do when using this product for the first time) were the following:
1. Use a soft foam applicator. I like the ones made by Meguiar’s…they’re a little bigger than CMA’s.
2. Work in small sections at a time (1’x1’).
3. Work the product into the paint with firm pressure until it starts to get tacky.
4. Ease up on the pressure and work the “tacky” product into the paint with light pressure (credit this step to BradB. & Puterbum).
5. Keep working the product in until it is nearly gone and the surface is almost clear (credit this step to Scottwax).
6. Lightly (and I do mean lightly) buff out the residue with a MF towel.
7. If the residue doesn’t come off easily, then you either used too much product or you didn’t work it in long enough.
Using these methods, I was able to remove a good portion of the swirl-marks (75-80% removed) and get a nice, extremely shiny, haze-free surface. The downside is that it took about 5 hours to do this step to the entire car. The entire detailing session took over 8 hours. Although this product leaves a glossy surface, there is no slickness at all which leads me to believe that, unlike PPCL or 3M SMR, this product doesn’t leave oils and your paint is squeaky clean and ready to be sealed! (Someone correct me if I am mistaken in making this assumption) This product gets a huge :up in my book. Now if ONLY I could learn to hand polish as fast as Scottwax.....
I followed the FI-2 with Z-1 & Z-5 and I was done. I took some pictures and had them scanned, but the quality was so poor, I don`t think they merit being posted here.
1. Wash with PBS
2. Clay with CM
3. Clean/Polish with FI-2
4. Z-1, Z-5
As I was applying FI-2 to the car, I was amazed at just how smooth and glossy it was making the paint. Sometimes I would step back and take a look after doing half a panel and the difference was tremendous. It did a terrific job of removing swirls and bringing back the car’s color and when I was finally finished, the car looked new (except for some deep scratches which might require a compound). Everyone I showed the car to (my sister and wife) were blown away by how the car looked and were surprised when I told them that I haven’t even Zaino’d the car yet.
Some of the key techniques (some of which I didn’t do when using this product for the first time) were the following:
1. Use a soft foam applicator. I like the ones made by Meguiar’s…they’re a little bigger than CMA’s.
2. Work in small sections at a time (1’x1’).
3. Work the product into the paint with firm pressure until it starts to get tacky.
4. Ease up on the pressure and work the “tacky” product into the paint with light pressure (credit this step to BradB. & Puterbum).
5. Keep working the product in until it is nearly gone and the surface is almost clear (credit this step to Scottwax).
6. Lightly (and I do mean lightly) buff out the residue with a MF towel.
7. If the residue doesn’t come off easily, then you either used too much product or you didn’t work it in long enough.
Using these methods, I was able to remove a good portion of the swirl-marks (75-80% removed) and get a nice, extremely shiny, haze-free surface. The downside is that it took about 5 hours to do this step to the entire car. The entire detailing session took over 8 hours. Although this product leaves a glossy surface, there is no slickness at all which leads me to believe that, unlike PPCL or 3M SMR, this product doesn’t leave oils and your paint is squeaky clean and ready to be sealed! (Someone correct me if I am mistaken in making this assumption) This product gets a huge :up in my book. Now if ONLY I could learn to hand polish as fast as Scottwax.....
I followed the FI-2 with Z-1 & Z-5 and I was done. I took some pictures and had them scanned, but the quality was so poor, I don`t think they merit being posted here.