imported_Quailer
10-07-2002, 06:37 PM
I just detailed my car for the first time using the PC 7424 and the CMA Pad kit. After reading up on the many posts on what materials to use, I started off with the 3M Paste Rubbing compound (fine cut) and the wool pad. Working the PC on a speed setting of 3-4, I found that all that I was doing was making mucho lint of the wool pad, and the paint didn`t look a whole lot better.
I then switched to the Yellow pad, with the Rubbing compound, and upped the speed to 5. Viola`!! I was making some progress. My car is a 2000 Audi A6, the color is Ming Blue, a very dark Blue, which looks almost purple/black. The car has never been to a car wash, always has been hand washed and waxed, and has only been to a professional detailer once. The paint had those back and forth type swirls (I always wash and dry the car in back and forth motions) that were visible only at certain angles in daylight, and under flourescents at night.
After working the car completely with the FCRC, I was tempted to go straight to my wax, as I didn`t see any swirls. Instead, I went with the SMR for dark cars, and was surprised to see that it did improve the finish even better than the FCRC. I went over the entire car with the SMR using the white pad, and a speed of 5 on the PC. The car was absolutley shimmering, like a still pool, the color deep and dark.
My final step was my wax. I whipped out my can of Blitz and went to town. When the paint has been cleaned like it was, the wax went on even smoother than usual. It dried so clear that you could barely tell that there was wax on the paint. I put on the wool pad with the terry bonnet and buffed it off. The paint now looks like glass, with rich, deep, dark color. All of the swirls were gone (in daylight) and the car looked like new again. I waited about 1/2 hour and then whipped out my Pinnacle Crystal Mist, and spritzed a MF towel and removed all the dust. The car is beautiful. My wife, who knows how much of a clean car nut I am, came home and marveled at how much better the car looked.
I took a ride to the local gas station to view the car under the bright flourescents. There are still some swirls in the paint, I would say slightly less than 1/3 of them are remaining. I am thrilled with the results, and the PC is well worth the money. But I do see myself getting a rotary in the near future. I have 3 well-worn cars to practice on, so I won`t be going at it on my car.
Now for the two questions:
1. I also purchased the Finesse It II. But I didn`t know when to use it, or if it was needed. The car looked so great after the SMR, I didn`t think it was necessary. When (and on what type of paint) should I use it?
2. What is a good rotary for a at home detailer to use? Nothing heavy duty, just for use to knock out those hard to remove swirls on the hood and trunklid.
3. the method I used today worked well, with the exception of the wool pad shedding when used with the FCRC. What am I doing wrong with the wool pad for it to do so? Is there any other procedure I should be using instead of the one I mentioned?
Thanks in advance.
I then switched to the Yellow pad, with the Rubbing compound, and upped the speed to 5. Viola`!! I was making some progress. My car is a 2000 Audi A6, the color is Ming Blue, a very dark Blue, which looks almost purple/black. The car has never been to a car wash, always has been hand washed and waxed, and has only been to a professional detailer once. The paint had those back and forth type swirls (I always wash and dry the car in back and forth motions) that were visible only at certain angles in daylight, and under flourescents at night.
After working the car completely with the FCRC, I was tempted to go straight to my wax, as I didn`t see any swirls. Instead, I went with the SMR for dark cars, and was surprised to see that it did improve the finish even better than the FCRC. I went over the entire car with the SMR using the white pad, and a speed of 5 on the PC. The car was absolutley shimmering, like a still pool, the color deep and dark.
My final step was my wax. I whipped out my can of Blitz and went to town. When the paint has been cleaned like it was, the wax went on even smoother than usual. It dried so clear that you could barely tell that there was wax on the paint. I put on the wool pad with the terry bonnet and buffed it off. The paint now looks like glass, with rich, deep, dark color. All of the swirls were gone (in daylight) and the car looked like new again. I waited about 1/2 hour and then whipped out my Pinnacle Crystal Mist, and spritzed a MF towel and removed all the dust. The car is beautiful. My wife, who knows how much of a clean car nut I am, came home and marveled at how much better the car looked.
I took a ride to the local gas station to view the car under the bright flourescents. There are still some swirls in the paint, I would say slightly less than 1/3 of them are remaining. I am thrilled with the results, and the PC is well worth the money. But I do see myself getting a rotary in the near future. I have 3 well-worn cars to practice on, so I won`t be going at it on my car.
Now for the two questions:
1. I also purchased the Finesse It II. But I didn`t know when to use it, or if it was needed. The car looked so great after the SMR, I didn`t think it was necessary. When (and on what type of paint) should I use it?
2. What is a good rotary for a at home detailer to use? Nothing heavy duty, just for use to knock out those hard to remove swirls on the hood and trunklid.
3. the method I used today worked well, with the exception of the wool pad shedding when used with the FCRC. What am I doing wrong with the wool pad for it to do so? Is there any other procedure I should be using instead of the one I mentioned?
Thanks in advance.