Is it me or Optimum suck?

Oh and I suppose I should use the prewax cleaner with the polish pad (green) to polish the car once more??? Could I just skip that step (I used the orange cutting pad with the polish)?





I wonder if the DAS pads could be the cause of my problem? Maybe I need a more abrasive pad...
 
You should try using less polish.



If you are spending this amount of time on a panel with not very good results, either the scratches are too deep or the pad isnt cutting. If the pad isnt cutting you are most likely using too much product.
 
JBM said:
You should try using less polish.

...[etc]
Click to expand...



I, too, am about to tackle my first machine polish this weekend (PC + Optimum). I've read in other how-to's that a lot of people try using too LITTLE polish. Is optimum different (due to lubricity, working time, chemistry)? How much is "enough"?
 
Well I gave up, I am done polishing with the PC. This is the best I can do for this time. The are still some scratches left but I applied a glaze to help hide them.
 
Anthony O posted something on that in another thread. For all my polishes I try not to use more that a quarter (read 25 cents) in size (or it's equivalent).



Use about the same amount you normally would. The directions say to "always use enough product to create a barrier between the pad and panel".



Experiment a liitle and you'll get the hang of it.
 
I finished the car today and everything turned out fine. I took a few pics but I couldn't capture the remaining scratches so I will just live with it. This is after Optimum Polish --> #81 --> Mothers Reflection --> S100





Close up of the hood

12.jpg








13.jpg








A before and after photo

11.jpg








This is how much polish I was using on a 2X2 section (shown in picture is just wax)

14.jpg








Then I bumped it up to this up

15.jpg




Comments, questions? :dance
 
well if the bottom portion of that picture is what you ended up with, and the center is what you started with, i'd say you did a pretty good job.



EDIT: i think OCC would have been better suited for that job than OCP. probably would have saved you all the grief... :grinno:

well at least now you know the limits of OCP and your PC.



...and that's a lot of polish!
 
Wow ya, that's a pretty fantastic job considering what you started with and the relatively non-abrasive nature of OCP. Since you said you can feel the rest of the scratches with your fingernail you're probably not going to buff them out, although you could try something like SSR 2.5 or Menzera IP (or OCC). I gotta say though, that looks really great.
 
Man, your results are fine! You really can't get dark-colored cars perfect. It's just something you have to deal with. :grinno:



Oh, the amount of product on the first pad was ok but the second one looked like a lot. Personally, I only use 4 dots (the size of a quarter) around the perimeter of my pad for a 2'x2' area.
 
I guess I can't remove every single scratch on the car. There are still plenty of scratches that can't be felt by my fingernail. Although I am satisfied with the result after the glaze, wax and topper.
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Umm...no offense but with a finish like that what are you complaining about :confused:



It looks great :xyxthumbs



Anthony
Click to expand...



Agreed.



Every time I see what you guys can do w/a PC I stand in awe.



zimmerDN that looks swwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeet.
 
Just FYI-no one, and I mean no one here on Autopia, has a perfect finish.



Your paint looks about as good as anyone could get it. :)
 
I have a perfect finish - then again my car was just stripped to metal 90% of the body and sprayed 1 week ago and not driven yet and won't be driven another 4-5 months .. lol

epoxy primered , sealed and 2 coats of silver base with 4 coats of PPG base and two coats of pearl + intercoat clear and 5 coats of clear - 5th coat being a flow coat after clear was wetsanded with 1500 , 2000 and 2500 grit .

your did do a great job though zimmer - use less polish and move to the next pad and go over the trouble areas again with slightly higher speed ad more work time .
 
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