Getting that final pop

[AceBates]

So thanks to all who've posted on this forum I've been able to take my wife's black tC from:

to this scratch free (where reasonable) level:

To which my wife is ecstatic because I just did the tC's headlights today and her car went from looking old and worn to looking much closer to new. My issue is that 3' away sits a black Edge, that's just about to turn 3, and I see this (pardon the bit of dirt, it's been raining):

The Edge looks great when it's clean, the black's deep, pops, it's what black should look like (aside from the factory induced orange peel). In the sun, the tC looks good by itself, but next to the edge it lacks that pop. I could use your guys help in getting the tC to hold a better light next to the Edge.

I have noticed that the tC hood has some very small pitting, probably from years of use and things bouncing along the road. At first I thought it was orange peel, until I stuck my nose right up to it. Now I'm not sure if it's hampering the end effect or not.

My process (Meguiars DA), effectively the Kevin Brown method:

• Ultimate Compound and Meguiars Red pad speed 5, followed by speed 3, equal pressure (weight of machine plus enough to stabilize ~15lbs)
• Ultimate Compound and Meguiars Black pad, speed 3
• M205 and Meguiars Yellow pad speed 3(this helped bring some of the pop out)
• M205 and Meguiars Black pad speed 2-3
• Topped with Megs Gold Class wax (until I decide on a synthetic)

I used a similar method on the Edge and it cleaned everything up and made it pop, but I'm struggling to get the tC up to the same level of glory. I've attempted to slow the speeds down and haven't seen much of a difference. Am I just being too anal because it's black and have to succumb to the fact that my expectations are too high for a 9 year old car? Or is there something I could do better to get that final bit of shine short of wet sanding?

Thanks in advance!

 

[radarryan]

I think that there are probably a few things that you can do to eek out all the gloss possible. That being said, I think that it is probably better for your mind, heart, well, just health in general if we all realize that soft black paint is a cruel mistress. I know I have made myself crazy trying to get my black paint perfect. I did, however, find a combo that worked flawlessly and has been cited by many as being the go-to combination for jeweling/burnishing paint.

I use Menzerna SF4500 and a Lake Country Crimson HydroTech pad. The results were fantastic and I have read that many others have only trusted these products to give them the perfect shine. I think that Menzerna SF4500 is the most trusted ultra-fine polish for jeweling paint to a high gloss finish, and because it is water based, the hydrotech pads always have worked well with it. That being said, I think that any finishing pad would work, including your Meguiar's black pad.

Another option would be to add a glaze after the polishing step, before the wax, but that would be a short term fix. Sometimes though, the glaze is the best answer for the job. Other than that, I think that maybe a different wax may help bend the light in a way that produces more gloss. I'm sure there are a million waxes that claim this, but maybe another member can give you a recommendation.

Hope this helps. Happy detailing!

 

[Todd@RUPES]

On some softer paints, I have been able to get a better gloss out of Menzerna SF4000, SF4500 or BLACKFIRE SRC Finishing Polish compared to M205.

This thread my help:
How to Finish with M205 Flawlessly

 

[Ronkh]

Welcome to the addiction

 

[AceBates]

...soft black paint is a cruel mistress.

Yes, yes she is. Being new, I probably would have given up by now if I didn't have a glaring example to compare to

This thread my help:
How to Finish with M205 Flawlessly

Thanks Todd, I've read that and many others of yours multiple times, they've been very helpful.

It looks like two votes for Menz SF4500, so I'll look that way. I've seen other reviews that lend towards that, but given I'm still new I just wanted to make sure it didn't appear my technique was way off first. I'm liking what i see with the Powerlock Sealant so the two will probably go well together.

Thanks!

 

[Todd@RUPES]

Yes, yes she is. Being new, I probably would have given up by now if I didn't have a glaring example to compare to



Thanks Todd, I've read that and many others of yours multiple times, they've been very helpful.

It looks like two votes for Menz SF4500, so I'll look that way. I've seen other reviews that lend towards that, but given I'm still new I just wanted to make sure it didn't appear my technique was way off first. I'm liking what i see with the Powerlock Sealant so the two will probably go well together.

Thanks!

My pleasure, let us know how it turns out!

 

[Meticulous]

Look into a nice glaze like Chemical Guys EX Creme or Obsessive Detail's Wet Glaze also.

 

[The Guz]

I'm liking what i see with the Powerlock Sealant so the two will probably go well together.
Thanks!

I have read many good thigs about powerlock as well as a combo of powerlock + colorlock.

 

[spiralout462]

Wolfgang Finishing Glaze on a black LC Flat pad does it for me on very soft black paint.

 

[AceBates]

The SF4500 didn't arrive until Monday and finally got to play a little today. The sun decided to come out just long enough to take some pictures and from what I could see, I'm happy. It appears I got more depth to the black, but the metallic flake now pops out too (unexpected). I'll see if I can get some better pictures when the light's better.

I tried to recreate the light bulb image I produced earlier...

The clarity and smoothness came back in a subtle manner as it took some careful comparison when I was working the paint, the real effect was once I got some sun. I only got the hood done (it's the only spot that really needed refining) and finished the whole car off with the Menzerna powerlock (awesome stuff).

I actually had issues getting the camera to focus on the next one because the metallic flake was so visible.

This time around:
1) Quick wash,
2) A pass with M205 and a yellow Megs pad to make sure the wax remnants were gone
3) A pass with yellow Megs pad and SF4500 (not sure I needed this step, but I felt it didn't hurt to try to hide some of the pitting)
4) A pass with black Megs pad and SF4500
5) Topped with Menz power-lock using a black Megs Pad.

Still being fairly new I felt the Menz had a smoother and longer working time and because it's such a fine polish, it feels like you get a large amount of leniency on screwing up technique. It was interesting working with it after learning the Megs line of diminished abrasives. I found it worked best if I spread it and worked a couple passes at speed 5, and then idled it to speed 3-3.5, where it seemed like I could work it until i got bored using a slower arm speed and a very light, but controlled touch. It comes off a little easier than the M205 as well.

I know there's lots of reviews on the Menz Powerlock sealant, but I've never worked with such an easy top coat. Goes on smooth and comes off almost like you're dusting.

Thanks again to everyone on the forum as I don't think I'd be anywhere near this quality without the great info and examples.