Thank you all!!!!!!

[JSFM35X]

Guys,

i made some decent progress today and came to some conclusions and also generated some more questions.

Conclusions:
1. You guys are great! Thanks for all you help, advice and pointed suggestions.
2. I think I was able to cut into the swirls a bit more today. The Orange pad was a great suggestion. I did not get 100% corrected due to time constraints but i think I have the idea now.
3. The M105 was not working for me this afternoon. It was very humid and it was drying out and powdering quickly. I switched to a new orange pad and SSR2.5 the SSR1 on white then 1X UPGP (I was toast and the WOWA saved my life!

It is dark here and my car look awesome (in the dark). i have my fingers crossed for the AM. In any case I plan on Black Holing the car if its not perfect and sealing it and enjoying it.

4. For you guy who go this fopr a living-man it helps to be in shape. Must have sweat 5 lbs today in the 90 plus heat!

Question:

1. How many pads would you use to correct a car the size of a M35X? (per step-Orange Cutting, White polishing?)

2. What is the best way to check your progress as you go along. A sun gun or Brinkman? I knocked over the halogens last night and they are out. Thinking of another way.

Have a good night!

 

[Ronkh]

Congrats !

IMHO

Forget the lights unless you're working at night. Just pull it out into the sun and look.
Flourescent lighting and sunlight will give you a good benchmark.

Myself, I dedicate at least 2 pads of each color, if not 3. We all know I use too much product, so I tend to clog em up quick. You can get a toothbrush looking thing to quickly unclog the pads.

This might be a great time to experiement. Try the BH over the sealant and then seal over it. THe BH not only covers up stuff, but it adds a great look to the car.
If ya don;t like it ya can change it at the detail weekend in October.

 

[tuscarora dave]

It sounds like you are having fun again, That is great. In my oppinion the halogens can be part of the problem, especially as I am my own worst critic. They allow me to see stuff that no one else could possibly see in natural light and I have cut way too deep in the past because of obsessing over the imperfections that only halogens will show.

 

[memnuts]

It sounds like you are having fun again, That is great. In my oppinion the halogens can be part of the problem, especially as I am my own worst critic. They allow me to see stuff that no one else could possibly see in natural light and I have cut way too deep in the past because of obsessing over the imperfections that only halogens will show.

+1 I feel the same way. Steve touched upon the same theme at the PB's demo day. If you can't see the problems in sun light don't worry about it. I just finished up my sister's car, in sunlight after a IPA wipedown looked perfect. Bust out the LED and it still had some swirls but you know what my sister would never be able to see it nor care. So I left it.

As I have gotten older and had more things to be concerned with I have realized perfection is not always the solution.

 

[Poorboy]

+1 I feel the same way. Steve touched upon the same theme at the PB's demo day. If you can't see the problems in sun light don't worry about it. I just finished up my sister's car, in sunlight after a IPA wipedown looked perfect. Bust out the LED and it still had some swirls but you know what my sister would never be able to see it nor care. So I left it.

As I have gotten older and had more things to be concerned with I have realized perfection is not always the solution.

Perfection on a DD is almost impossible as the paint work from the factory is not the best paint job available ... after 20+ years of dealing with show cars and Street Rods where 20-100K is spent just on paint, comparing them to a DD is just not reasonable ... Black Bart touched on this earlier and that is why we came out with Black Hole and White Diamond Glazes. Factory clear can be thin in spots and unless you are carrying a 5k paint guage around with you ... use sun light as your guide