Compound/Polish/Pad What works for you?

HeavenlyV6

HeavenlyV6

New member
I have noticed when reading up on details done by DC members they list their combinations used to achieve great results. I am a newbie when it comes to my Makita Rotary and wanted to know what you guys would suggest. Lets say:

Vehicle 1 : Minimum Swirls/Scratches, Slight Halogramming in paint, newer vehicle. What would you guys use, product, pad wise? And how long would you spend with the rotary on this.

Vehicle 2: Black Paint, Tons of Swirls and Scratches. What product/pads would you use to get a great finish, in order, and how long would this take?

I am wanting to know what products work wonders with certain pad combos. I think I am not selecting the proper combinations. Any suggestions? Thanks guys!!!!
 
HeavenlyV6 said:
I have noticed when reading up on details done by DC members they list their combinations used to achieve great results. I am a newbie when it comes to my Makita Rotary and wanted to know what you guys would suggest. Lets say:

Vehicle 1 : Minimum Swirls/Scratches, Slight Halogramming in paint, newer vehicle. What would you guys use, product, pad wise? And how long would you spend with the rotary on this.

Vehicle 2: Black Paint, Tons of Swirls and Scratches. What product/pads would you use to get a great finish, in order, and how long would this take?

I am wanting to know what products work wonders with certain pad combos. I think I am not selecting the proper combinations. Any suggestions? Thanks guys!!!!
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First off I wouldn't worry about the completion times right now. If you are new on the rotary you definitely want to take your time. Also invest in some halogen work lamps if you don't have them. Remember keep your speeds low 1000-1500 rpm does the job.

If you could post some pics I'm sure many could help. Keep in mind that all your answers will be varied because people have different preferences when it comes to polishes. Just from what you said above vehicle one would get PB SSR1 with a white LC pad. Vehicle 2 would maybe get something along the lines of PB SSR2.5 and a orange LC pad. Then SSR1 and the white pad. After I like to finish up with a glaze Like PB BH or WD. That's would be my combo from what you said but it's hard to say with no pics.
 
Thanks Kurt. I will try to get some pics up. My dad has a 2008 328i BMW, Black. Under the halogens, the paint is definately swirled and has imperfections. I will take some pics and get your input. The thing is that this paint is really soft. It came from BMW this way when he bought it brand new, off the showroom. Probably the detail crew there/prep of the vehicle. I am not trying my rotary skills on this, don't worry, but my PC is not getting the results I want. If you do heavy compounding and it leaves swirl marks/makes things worse, are you using to much product, not breaking it down, or to aggressive of a polish/pad? That's what i am wondering? Thanks for the input!!!
 
HeavenlyV6 said:
If you do heavy compounding and it leaves swirl marks/makes things worse, are you using to much product, not breaking it down, or to aggressive of a polish/pad? That's what i am wondering? Thanks for the input!!!
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It is usually a combination of those aspects you mentioned. :)
 
I just brought in my Hoe which was out front of the shop and found these scratches on the hood..:mad:
IMG_1287.jpg


I used the rotary with Pro Polish on a Polishing pad at a speed of 1500 (#3) with a Makita... with one pass or about 10 minutes work, I got this ...



IMG_1290.jpg



oh btw ...First it was cleaned with Spray and Wipe, then i put on my apron to keep clean, and the white Lake Country pad was primed with the Pro Polish before spreading ;)
 
HeavenlyV6 said:
My dad has a 2008 328i BMW, Black. The thing is that this paint is really soft.
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Ugh! Sorry. You are correct. Jet Black is VERY soft and a royal pain to work with. You are going to need to use a very fine finishing polish like Menz PO87MC and a pad with very little cut. LC gray or black. This combo with light pressure will finish out nicely, but isn't easy. You will probably have to use a white pad or something to remove all of the defects first.

I see a lot of people recommend using a PC to finish with, and on normal paints that works, but on JB paint it doesn't work well. I think you will get much better results with the combo I recommended and lots of patience.

Good luck and post some pics.
 
9D4E420 said:
It is usually a combination of those aspects you mentioned. :)
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I figured that would be the response I would get. Haha. Things are never cut and dry when it comes to detailing! But that is what I like about it.

Poorboy said:
I just brought in my Hoe which was out front of the shop and found these scratches on the hood..:mad:
IMG_1287.jpg


I used the rotary with Pro Polish on a Polishing pad at a speed of 1500 (#3) with a Makita... with one pass or about 10 minutes work, I got this ...



IMG_1290.jpg



oh btw ...First it was cleaned with Spray and Wipe, then i put on my apron to keep clean, and the white Lake Country pad was primed with the Pro Polish before spreading ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the pics and write up. Could you feel the scratches with your finger nail. Its hard for me to tell how deep they are?

blk45 said:
Ugh! Sorry. You are correct. Jet Black is VERY soft and a royal pain to work with. You are going to need to use a very fine finishing polish like Menz PO87MC and a pad with very little cut. LC gray or black. This combo with light pressure will finish out nicely, but isn't easy. You will probably have to use a white pad or something to remove all of the defects first.

I see a lot of people recommend using a PC to finish with, and on normal paints that works, but on JB paint it doesn't work well. I think you will get much better results with the combo I recommended and lots of patience.

Good luck and post some pics.
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Thanks for the advice. I believe you expressed those same thoughts before. I posted about the defects in the 328i's paint late last year and you offered some advice. I have my own detailing business and want to really improve on my craftmanship and quality of work I do so I bought the Makita in hopes to introduce it to my arsenal. Not to many people use those here in Columbus, so it's hard to find someone to mentor me or offer hand's on training. I am thinking about going to Detail King's seminar in PA in April and learn as much as I can from those guys. I will post pics whenever I wash my dad's car again so you can see. Thanks again!!
 
HeavenlyV6 said:
IThanks for the advice. I believe you expressed those same thoughts before. I posted about the defects in the 328i's paint late last year and you offered some advice. I have my own detailing business and want to really improve on my craftmanship and quality of work I do so I bought the Makita in hopes to introduce it to my arsenal. Not to many people use those here in Columbus, so it's hard to find someone to mentor me or offer hand's on training. I am thinking about going to Detail King's seminar in PA in April and learn as much as I can from those guys. I will post pics whenever I wash my dad's car again so you can see. Thanks again!!
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No problem. If you don't have a good feel for the rotary, you can use the PC. You can get pretty good results with the PC, but some have experienced small little j hooks because of the oscillation of the PC. You would probably see better results with the PC if you are new to the rotary. I would just use the combo that I told you and use no pressure on the PC to finish.

Post some pics when you get a chance and we can help you further.
 
blk45 said:
No problem. If you don't have a good feel for the rotary, you can use the PC. You can get pretty good results with the PC, but some have experienced small little j hooks because of the oscillation of the PC. You would probably see better results with the PC if you are new to the rotary. I would just use the combo that I told you and use no pressure on the PC to finish.

Post some pics when you get a chance and we can help you further.
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I will try to get some pics together this weekend!!
 
those could barely be felt by finger nails but were definitely not scuffs.
Pro Polish with either a Polishing pad or finishing pad is virtually fool proof... you just keep working it until there is none left. It can turn out to be quite a while so not only do the imperfections come out but the clear coat gets clearer and brighter ... ask Ronkh how his Black Beemer came out with only a little rotary effort and finished with the PC ... the two can make a great combination for any type of paint :rockon
 
The product line up I currently have is:

Wolfgang Swirl Remover 3.0
Optimum Hyper Compound
Menzerna Power Gloss Compound
PoorBoys SSR 1,2,and 3
Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover

Adams Polish
Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish

Out of the products listed, does anyone know what the combo would be with the rotary on the black car with tons of swirls.

Also, I bought the Makita Rotary kit that came with the wool pads, yellow cutting pad, a polishing pad, a red foam pad, and I believe a grey finishing pad. Which pads from start to finish?

Finally, I know they make different size pads for the rotary, I feel like I need some smaller sized pads. Any suggestions on what to get. Thanks everyone!!!
 
How patient are you? Cuz that may dictate how you go.......

I'm tired right now, but I'll try to be coherent.

If you're impatient.......
Get an orange pad and use SSR2 then ssr1 on a whie pad. Then pro polish white or black pad depending on what the finish looks like.

If you're patient I'd play with pro-polish on a whte, maybe orange pad, then work down to black pad.

Pro polish is a neat invention and is pad dependant. Gives good working time and leaves a great finish.
 
Hopefully not a dumb question, but would my polishes that I have work just as well. I have Adams and Pinnacle Polishes. Who makes the Pro Polish??
 
9D4E420 said:
That would be Poorboy's World:D
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Thanks!! Never paid attention to what they call it. From a few members on the site, it sounds like the Pro Polish and a white pad, possibly grey pad can get alot accomplished via rotary with some patience. I am going to have to buy some and see!!
 
HeavenlyV6 said:
Thanks!! Never paid attention to what they call it. From a few members on the site, it sounds like the Pro Polish and a white pad, possibly grey pad can get alot accomplished via rotary with some patience. I am going to have to buy some and see!!
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when you get really brave and do some wet sanding, PP and either wool or a cutting pad and a rotary does magic :D
 
Poorboy said:
when you get really brave and do some wet sanding, PP and either wool or a cutting pad and a rotary does magic :D
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Never tried PP like that. I will have to remember that next time. Thanks for the tip Steve! :bigups
 
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