First customer detail....Acura TL

**Stuff** · 10-30-2006, 05:06 PM

Well guys I`m preety happy. This is my first none my car, friend or family car. I`m still in the learning process so it not 100% like some of you guys but its preety close.

Process:

Wash GC

Clay Pinnacle

Menzerna IP on some of the spots that needed it

Menzerna FF II on the whole car

AIO

SG x2

P21s x2

Before

After. Yes I know some of the little bit deeper scraches are still there. But in most places I was able to cut there visibilty in 1/2.

Good pic to show before and after. Dont worry I got the finger mark out later.

Here is what some of the worse marks looked like. Before IP and FF II.

I think its a big change. Not perfect but much better. ( owner did not want perfect so I just made it better)

After all of that we get....

I think this is a cool pic. You can see the wind blowing my MF off the chair.

Good and bad pic. You can see no swirls and the really cool blue flake. But if you look close at about the 2 O`clock position from the sun you can see some stuff. For some reason I think the SG left that. It did the same thing on my car. It only did it on this place and one or two other spots that are only visible in direct sun light and if you get at just the right angle not sure what I`m doing wrong.

I also cleaned out the inside. Wiped everthing down and conditioned the leather. Overall took me about 15 hours over 3 days (he was out of town). Polishing took the longest part. I`m still getting to know the PC and polishing. But with each car I get a little better. Hope you guys like it. Constructive criticism welcome.

**Stuff** · 10-30-2006, 05:08 PM

Here are some more.

**Envious Eric** · 10-30-2006, 05:12 PM

i think that you should have done more polish work - IP/FPII, then just topped with your toppers one time...

I know you said not perfect, but I think that with another pass of each, it would have come out much better....make two passes of IP, one/two FPII, then one sealant, do the inside of the car, then top with a carnauba....

polishing brings out more depth than wax...reason you cant just layer up waxes and expect a good finish on neglected surfaces...try waxing a neglected surface and you will get marginal results...try polishing it and you will get AMAZING results

**Jordan@DD** · 10-30-2006, 05:22 PM

I agree with toyotaguy. I assume the customer was willing to pay extra for those extra toppers. That additional labor would have been more beneficial if applied towards polishing. But its ultimately up to the customer. I find that most customers are only willing to pay for a 1-step polish.

I must say a very good improvement.

**BlackElantraGT** · 10-30-2006, 05:51 PM

I`m having a similar problem like Stuff. With those scratches that he`s showing near the doors, would a PC be able to correct that? I`m currently using Meguiar`s #83 w/ a burgundy cutting pad, followed by Meguiar`s #80 w/ polishing pad. I guess my question is, how do you know if something can only be corrected by a rotary?

I know that I definitely need to improve my skills. I would just like to know what to expect and not have too high of an expectation from the PC.

**imported_GregCavi** · 10-30-2006, 05:54 PM

$ Shot! Love that blue flake! nice job.

Greg

**imported_paradigm** · 10-30-2006, 06:16 PM

nice improvement! keep up the good work and you`ll keep improving...after a while only autopians will notice anyway...civilians will think it`s great anyway.

love the TL...i should get one...oh...wait... :think2

**imported_Lightman** · 10-30-2006, 06:26 PM

I think it looks good! Most times in my experience there are some scratches and swirls that just won`t come out with a PC no matter how many passes you make or with what product/pad you use. Overall a major improvement, which is shown pretty nicely in that door pic where the right side is polished and left is not. Nice work!

**gmblack3** · 10-30-2006, 06:40 PM

Good job!!!

Maybe next time go IP on the whole car, when you come to the tought spots don`t be afrad to apply alot of pressure to the PC. Crank up the speed to 6 after you get it worked in. Slow passes about 1" per second and pressure. You will not hurt anything with the PC.

Keep up the good work.

**Scottwax** · 10-30-2006, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by Jordan@DD

I find that most customers are only willing to pay for a 1-step polish.

Same here. Most people just don`t notice paint problems the way we do. :nixweiss

Very definite improvement! Not sure what to do about your SG smearing problem (that is what it looks like in the pic) other than to suggest switching to Werkstatt`s Acrylic Jett, which is basically an updated nano-tech version of SG.

**Stuff** · 10-30-2006, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by gmblack3a

Good job!!!

Maybe next time go IP on the whole car, when you come to the tought spots don`t be afrad to apply alot of pressure to the PC. Crank up the speed to 6 after you get it worked in. Slow passes about 1" per second and pressure. You will not hurt anything with the PC.

Keep up the good work.

I thought about doing that. I`m still a little freaked out about taking too much clear coat off. My hats off to you guys that do this as a job. The polishing I found takes by far the longest time and is not easy work.

I`m not sure whats up with the SG. I first used it 6 months ago on my car. No problems. Then I just did a little winter detail. I used SG and it did the same thing that you can see in the pics to my car. http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=30989 I read that thread and it says Do not use any water or QD to aid in removal of SG. This will just cause the klasse SG to develop an oily haze/film down the road. I`ve also experienced this." When I did my car I think I went a little over board on the water on my pad to prime it so I thought thats what caused the problems on my car. But this time on the TL I just used a spray of QD on the pad then used the SG and it did the samething (but not as bad). I`m really not sure what to do. Try useing it again or try something else.

Thanks for all that help guys.

**imported_artikxscout** · 10-30-2006, 10:07 PM

Great job on the car. I don`t think IP is abrasive enough to take THAT much clear coat off from the new car. 1 more pass with IP would be good. But overall great job, it`s always feels good to make a car look like that. TLs are awesome!