I need some help

J

jswift2000

New member
I sent to polish out my moms car this morning. I knew time was limited so it would be a two stage polishing job (do part today and part another time). I dont like doing this but so be it.



The car is a black 2002 Acura TL that has been through the car wash more times than I care to know about. She also admitted that she washed the car with dawn dish soap :rules: Needless to say, i'm not happy with the end result but my mother thinks it looks fantastic.



Anyway, here was the process:



ONR - two bucket method

Sonus SFX2 with DAS orange pad

Menz IP with orange pad

Sonus SFX3 with green pad

Zaino Z5 pro (zfx)



Here is the trunk after the ONR - holy crap!!!! Swirl city :eek:

247445629-M.jpg




I decided to begin with Menz IP on an orange pad but I didnt like where it was going. Tons of dust, I didnt see it removing a lot of swirls, scratchws, etc. I then decided to try the Sonus SFX-2 on a different orange pad and the results were better, but not great. I was beginning to grow frustrated. I went back to the Menz IP and worked a little longer and I was beginning to get somewhere. Here is a 50/50 shot of the trunk:

247445660-M.jpg




After polishing out the hood, roof and trunk with the menz ip, I followed up with the Sonus SFX-3 with a green DAS pad. Heres the final result after 1 coat of Z5 pro:

247445646-M.jpg




Now... the color wasnt popping and i'm begging to think the orange pas wasnt agressive enough or the Menz IP/Sonus SFX-2 wasnt agreesive enough. Perhaps I should try SIP with a yellow pad (cool - more stuff to buy :drool: )? Either way, I'm looking for a little guidance from everyone here. Sorry the pictures suck - I forgot my camera and I only my blackberry curve with me.



Thanks.



Jeff
 
Its' good, but from the 50/50 picture, it looks like you need to go longer with the IP and maybe some wool. The aggressive foams are not to my liking.





Are you using a Porter Cable? Can you get your hands on a rotary?
 
Thanks... How long should I go with the IP? I was hitting an average of 4 mins but maybe 6 mins per section would be better?



Thanks again for the reply.
 
Looking better, but could still use some work... I have IP, but prefer SIP over it, I get more correction and it finishes better...

What machine are you using??
 
Going by your first couple of pics, you cleaned up pretty good, and SIP may get you the rest of the way. Too be honest also, the pics (and it could just be me) seem to show some pretty deep scratches, but Pics also do not always tell the whole truth.



Also remember to do the the least aggressive method first. which would be SIP and LC orange to see how much more you can clean up before moving to the yellow.
 
Thanks everyone. howareb - There are some scratches that wont come out - I can feel them with my fingernail. jshillin - I was using the UDM on speed 6 to apply the IP.



If I didnt want to go with SIP, would XMT 3 or PB SSR 2.5 be a good choice?



Appreciate all the help.
 
If you can feel them with your fingernail, you won't be able to get them all out. You might just need to work it with IP again for a little longer and slower.
 
I wouldn't get rid of the IP but if I didn't want to go with sip would the xmt or ssr be a good choice. I was using an 5" orange pad (came with the ip). I should have used the das 5.5" orange pad but I tried that one with the sonus sfx-3 first. I'm still figuring all this out so everything I try is a learning experience.
 
Keep using the IP and have patience. You will get where you're trying to go in time. Honestly it appears that a rotary and wool pad is what's needed IMO.
 
IMO, you needed to remove the oxidation from the paint before you tried to polish it out...by doing so, you will not have to waste some cutting time with the IP trying to get through the Oxidation....



I would get some megs 66, or another chemical cleaner to remove the oxidation, then hit it with IP on an orange pad, then IP on a lighter pad, then a polish on a polishing pad, then wax....or IP/orange, then polish on polishing pad, then wax....
 
IP will handle the oxidation as well. No need to add any additional steps other than working with what you have and learning to use it so that it's most effective.
 
Chris, you think that IP will cut through the oxidation and still hit the paint with enough force to do the same corrective work it would had it not had the oxidation to go through first?



From my experience, using a PC in this situation,(Rotary is a different story I have experienced) the IP wasnt enough, and I had better/faster results going megs 66 on a cutting pad, to IP on a cutting pad, compared to two steps of IP....
 
If I were going to go with a paint cleaner it would be non abrasive *and* be a pure cleaner and not an AIO. That said, two round of polishing is still two round of polishing. Using IP twice should yield the same results *but* he wont need to go out and purchase any additional products. From the results I see in the pictures, he needs to slow down his arm movement and apply just a bit more pressure.
 
I think that was the problem - I think I was moving to fast. Its hard find the balance b/t speed and pressure but it sure is fun.



Let me ask it this way - on a 2x2 panel, how long should it take to go up or across the 2 feet? Also, how much pressure on the UDM? I can apply enough pressure where it begins to bog down, which I figure it too much. If I do buy another menz, it will be the PO85RD or PO85U.
 
Also, if you plan to pick up another Menz polish I'd go for 87MC rather than 85U. MC finishes clearer/better than MC.
 
check this out. How to Video - Pinnacle XMT Intermediate Swirl Removal and also this one: Detailing Video, How to use the Porter Cable 7424 7336 polisher (choose heavy swirl removal)



In terms of pressure, I would recommend 10 - 12 lbs during the first pass, and once most of the heavy swirls have been corrected, bring it down to half. To get a better idea how much pressure that is, put your PC with the DAS Orange Pad on a scale, and push down until the scale shows 10 - 12 lbls. Get a feel for the kind of pressure you need until you have a good idea.
 
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