working on a couple black cars that want to own me.

[titsataki]

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):



Passenger side(the side I did the two passes):





Cheers



Nick

[fergnation]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.











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



After







Again much appreciated all the input.



Cheers



Nick

[titsataki]

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:



Door after:







Fender is done door is not:









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