2004 Ford F-250 FX4

[Bobby G]

carguy & Ripsnort:



I would say you're right regarding the wool pads on most orbital polishers. The PC seems to have enough power to make it work okay. The fender I was working on had some pretty deep etch marks from water spots and bird poop. The wool pad did a great job leveling. The wool pad from CMA has the velcro backing, just like the foam pads.



bigboyhf:



I have not tried the cutting pad yet. I will use it on Holly's BMW, which has heavy oxidation again.



carguy:



Free wheeling the head is not bad, as long as the head is in good condition. In fact, I used my pad spur to clean the wool pad as I would on a direct drive buffer. You're right about lifting the pad off of the car surface... if it had wet polish on it, it would have gone everywhere. When I lifted the buffer, the polish was already nearly dry. No mess! FYI, I start with the buffer down and stop with the buffer up. If you get polish sling, you're probably using to much.



db

 

[edgewise]

Thks for reply db, and great job on the videos, alot of folks ask about PC use, so now we have a thread to point them to!

 

[JonB]

Ok, I'm not really sure I know the difference between leveling and cutting and when one is more appropriate than the other. Also, I thought that the wool causes significant swirls and that they have to be addressed before using something like AIO or Blackfire...



H

 

[cpaddock]

Great job:up . I two second the idea of CD's.

 

[rstype]

<strong class='bbc'><span style='color: blue'><em class='bbc'>Great job![/i] [/b] Good lighting, and very steady. Much better than my amateur filming with my digital camera!

I second or third the CD idea. What about DVD or VHS? I can imagine, "If you call within the next 10 min., we will give you a free cassette for listening in the car! Operators are standing by!"

Btw, what would it take too long to download a complete video with all of the demos put together? Because right now I have to open new windows right after each 15 sec. demo is up. For example, a 6 min. BMW film (www.bmwfilms.com) takes me about 25 sec. to load, which I prefer over opening individual demos.

Just a suggestion. Once again, great work! :up :up

 

[Bobby G]

It took most of the day for me to do the research, but I finally know how to put the video segments together. I have also managed to compress the complete video (11 segments) down to less than 6MB in a streaming format. I will have take II tomorrow.



While this was nice for learning, I need a much better camera, better lighting, video editing software, video producing software, and a streaming server to make it work. I figure it will be a $7,500 investment before I can make a really good instructional video. Not cheap!



So, buy my ebook guys, cuz that's where my time, effort and money is going. If you all want good video instruction, I need support!!!



db

 

[99323ic]

Great Stuff, Dave !!



I ended up having to download each file separately and then play them, even though we have 2 OC-3's at work (tons of bandwidth!!). I would never have tried with my speedy 56K connection at home.



I think part of my problem was that your hosting server was a little overloaded as I tried to download several files at once and I could never get more than 2 to complete at a time. The others would time out.



As far as the gear goes, you can spend all the money you want on hardware, but I bet your camera person will settle for a nice dinner and a detailed car!



Good work!!

 

[Dolphin463]

I haven't seen one of those wool leveling pads for the PC. It certainly did not come with the kit I received from CMA. Does CMA sell these also? What are the major benefits vs. the cutting or polishing pad that comes with the kit?

 

[neomatrix]

If I want to remove fine scratches, is it better to use the wool pad with the SMR or the yellow pad with the 3M Finnesse it or wool pad with the Finesse it? BTW, if SMR is the least abrasive of the 3M products, which is the most and is there something in between?



Thanks for the info.

 

[Bobby G]

Okay, let me try to explain the pads.



The wool pad is agressive. Use it where you need to level the surface due to orange peel or severe surface etching.



The yellow foam pad is for cutting through heavy oxidation. It's a good cleaning pad for cars that have been neglected. It will also remove minor water spots.



The white foam pad is for general purpose polishing and waxing. Use it with your favorite glazes, show car polishes, cream waxes and paste waxes.



The gray foam pad is for finishing. Use it to remove and buff out your favorite show car wax or show car polish.



With regards to a wool pad causing swirl marks... any pad can create swirl marks if you use it incorrectly. Use each pad for its intended purpose.



On all surface problems, use the LEAST agressive (least abrasive) pad and polish necessary to do the job. A white foam pad with a little SMR will remove most surface scratches.



db

 

[mooredriven]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by DavidB [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>While this was nice for learning, I need a much better camera, better lighting, video editing software, video producing software, and a streaming server to make it work. I figure it will be a $7,500 investment before I can make a really good instructional video. Not cheap![/b]</blockquote>Wow really?? To be honest, I was totally and thoroughly impressed with the way it came out as it was (as far as camera/lighting and such).

For someone like me who has never used a PC but wants one under the tree sometime, those videos were absolutely wonderful.

 

[Paul Harvey]

Russell Crowe her comes david!!



I really like the clips. Very informative, and gives me the motivation to go out and buy a PC. I will have to wait till January as it is getting colder in Canada and I can't put a heater in my Igloo!!!



When I first stumbled upon this site I almost left it without looking at the forums, but as soon as I saw that speed yellow porsche I knew that this place was serious about clean cars.



David I admire your enthusiam for fine automobiles, and wish one day I could own vehicles like yours!



Pritesh

 

[Bobby G]

Russell Crowe? What, now I'm the Gladiator of Detailing? Where's Caesar? He needs his head buffed!

 

[Tuck91]

Here is an F-250 I did a little over a week ago. Took about twenty one hours to get it to look decent again. No correction work was done since this is pretty much just a work truck, just removed all the dirt,mud, and overspray. Gave the interior a good cleaning as well.


Befores:

During:

On my way to the owner's shop at 3:30am:

Afters:

 

[imported_Luster]

Wow... Twenty one hours! Nice work Nick... Trash to Treasure!:thumbup:

 

[Tuck91]

Wow... Twenty one hours! Nice work Nick... Trash to Treasure!:thumbup:

Thanks Bill

 

[Old Pirate]

One heck of a monster to clean, looks great Nick:thumbup:

 

[Tuck91]

One heck of a monster to clean, looks great Nick:thumbup:

Thank you Angelo :thumbup:

 

[imported_trhland]

awesome!!! love a clean truck!!!!

 

[Tuck91]

awesome!!! love a clean truck!!!!

Thanks,

thats the exact same thing the owner said.