I've searched, the plan is formulated...someone want to check it for me!!

R

rcurley55

New member
I love this site...I just found it not too long ago, and now I'm hooked. Here's my situation:



I just got my hood repainted on my black '00 Civic Si. The hood was damaged and covered under warranty. The body shop did a TERRIBLE job with the clear coat (the paint is beautiful though). The swirls are out of control, not only on the hood, but on the rest of the car. I'm afraid to bring the car back to *****, so I have to fix it myself. I think they had a guy wash it with a brillo pad!!!



Now, I am planning on getting a PC (from either coastal tool or lowes) with the 6" CW. After all the reviews, I'm thinking of trying the blackfire kit listed here: http://www.properautocare.com/blacnewcarki.html



I'm looking for help with the swirl removing. I know that there is a polish in the BF kit, but I don't think that it will be strong enough. I want to take some of the clear down, not just round the edges. I need something semi aggressive, as there are buffer marks all over the hood.



What do you guys suggest?

Perfect It II?: http://www.properautocare.com/3mfiniimacpo.html



3M Finesse it SMR for dark cars?: http://www.properautocare.com/3mperswirmar.html



Any other suggestions?



For a pad kit: http://www.properautocare.com/porcabackit.html



I have some MF's from Microfibertech.com and they are wonderful. I'll be washing with Zymol's Shampoo, and claying using Griots' clay and Speed Shine.



Am I missing anything?!?!? Please help me out. I was scared to go the machine route, but now I feel like it's my only option to get this finish back in line.



If necessary I can take a photo. I'm looking for some help from the experts!!!



Thanks in advance!
 
Howdie and welcome to the site! I think i should be able to help you out here...



My car:

civ1.jpg




More at http://www.mines.edu/students/p/pfchrist/civ .





Mine is also an SI, with FBP paint. (infact it's even in the body shop right now getting some stuff repainted) First off some advice, don't expect it to come out perfect. That black color is really good at showing all the smallest problems. With the 60+ hours i've probably spent detailing mine and trying to get rid of those swirls, when i'm parked in the sun you can still see them. But, you can do a lot to trim them down. Mine looks 10x better than it did before i started, but it's still not perfect.



For the products, blackfire is good, but personally on that car/color combo i'm a fan of Klasse. I've tried just about everything (blackfire, klasse, meguiars 26, souveran, zaino, blitz) and the one i've like the most so far is the klasse. The AIO does a GREAT job hiding those swirls that the buffer can't remove. Just check out these pics of an EBP SI http://www.mines.edu/students/p/pfchrist/jason/ .



The polish in the BF kit (or klasse AIO) won't really remove anything, it will just simply round the edges slightly and cover them up so they aren't as noticible. If you are going for the PC, i'd recomend picking up the orange pad from CMA. In the past i've used 3M FI-II (Finesse it II) with good results. But, there is some new stuff Menzerna that i'm really anxious to try. There haven't been too many reviews on it yet, but DavidB talks highly of it (and personally that's enough for me). The Menzerna (from what i understand) is a pure abrasive. Meaning all it does is smooth out the clearcoat, by physically 'polishing' it. The old fashoned way. It doesn't use any silicones or filers to hide the flaws. Once you go over it with the Menzerna Intensive Polish (with the orange pad) and the Final Polish (DavidB recomends the grey pad, you'll probably have to use a higher speed though on the PC (he used a rotary)) you can follow with AIO. Then at least 2 coats of SG. It will be fine there, but you'll probably want to layer some more SG eventually and maybe top with some P21S.



http://www.mines.edu/students/p/pfchrist/cleancar/ There you can find some pics of mine from a year or so ago. I went over it with the PC + FI-II (since then i've gotten a lot beter with the stuff, it's still kind of tricky to remove though) and some Pinnacle Souveran.



If you don't know what any of my acronyms mean just ask. Most of what i've listed (except the FI-II... for that check a local paint suply store) can be found at CMA. If you aren't to anxious to do this, hopefully i should have my car back in about a week, and when i get it i plan on doing a good buff with the menzerna (i asked the body shop not to touch it anymore than they have to). I'll post a good review then. If you have any questions please ask.



EDIT: Just noticed that the link you gave to "perfect it" is actually FI-II. Are you planing on using the FI-II or Perfect it? From my expierences the FI-II is usually more than enough.
 
Welcome to Autpoia!



You certainly did your research. Great work!



For the swirls, you should start at the least abrasive product. If that doesn't work, then go p until you remove the swirls you want to get out. Then you will have to go back down the abrasive scale to polsih out the haze and make it shine. Then you are ready to apply your Blackfire.



Everyone has their favorite products with 3M and Meguiars being the most popular for polishes. Meguiars #9 2.0 or Swirl Free Polish are two good ones to start with or 3M Finesse-It II. If you need more, then Meguiars #83 DACP or 3M Perfect It II Fine Cut Compound are about equivalent.



That pad kit is excellent, but you don't need the backing plate with the Lowes PC. {url=http://www.properautocare.com/bespadkitfor.html]This one[/url] will save you $10. Yellow pads are for cutting and swirl removeal and white is for glossing up the surface.
 
Thanks for the replies...nice choice in car Dr. Jones :xyxthumbs BTW, did you paint those headlights yourself or buy them? PM me with details!!



So, here's what I decided...I need the experts to double check this...here's what I put in my shopping cart at CMA:



PC7424 Polisher with the Accessory kit (I know it's cheaper elsewhere, but it's woth the extra 10-20 to deal with only one company). And one Orange Power Pad (for use with the fine cut compound below)



303 Aerospace protectant and some foam tire applicators

3M PI-II SMR for Dark Cars

3M PI-Fine Cut Compound (Incase SMR doesn't do enough)



I'm still deciding between the following systems:

BFII, Klasse and Zaino



How's that look??? Am I getting the right accessory kit/PC combo there, or is there a different/better way to go?



I'm leaning toward either BFII or Klasse. I need help here. My main motivation here is to remove (not hide) the surface imperfections in the clear. Opinions? I'm sure both will work excellent, but I have one vote for Klasse from Dr. Jones....anyone else want to chime in?



One other thing - will two grey waffles and 5 ultra MF's from microfibertech.com be enough to do this kind of job without mixing towels and product together?



Thanks a bunch...wish me luck...this place is great (and addicting)



Thanks
 
You have some great choices there. The PC and accessories could be found a little cheaper, but if you only want one source, it isn't too bad.



You probably don't need the oarange pad if you get the kit. Use the yellow pad with the Fine Cut and white with SMR. Th rest can be done by hand.



Besides that, I would pick up some clay bar. CMA has some Purl=http://www.properautocare.com/pinpol.html]Poly Clay[/url] for not a bad price considering you get 3 bars. I have heard it is a decent bar, but not used it myself.



As for the final product, of the three you listed I would try BF II. I have used and seen Zaino on Black and I don't like it too much. I cannot say I have seen Klasse on black before, though. Sealants generally don't look as good on dark cars, but BF II is supposed to retain the deep look the best.



For the MF towels: two waffleweave and 5 16" terry should be good to start. I garauntee you will want more later, but just get 5 and try them out. They'll tide you over for a year I suspect. Also, you might want to try contacting the MF Tech site owner who has an account on Autopia. I believe he may give discounts to members. Or, I highly recommend contacting Ranney via PM or e-mail. He also has excellent product at even cheaper prices, but I'm not sure if he has waffleweave yet. He is a very active member here with nothing but top notch service, prices, and products. He even recommends other company's products at times. Truely a gentlemen. The other source that I have used is JT International. No web site, but you can contact Tom Gong by e-mail at [email protected] and request his prices. I am very pleasewith his products and service. I recommend the ultrafine over the microtouch if you go through Tom.



Oh, yeah, good luck!
 
APT said:
Besides that, I would pick up some clay bar. CMA has some Purl=http://www.properautocare.com/pinpol.html]Poly Clay[/url] for not a bad price considering you get 3 bars. I have heard it is a decent bar, but not used it myself.
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I actually have fresh clay and some speed shine left over from an order I had placed with Griot's....about the only product of theirs that I tried and was happy with...thank god they have a good return policy.



As for the final product, of the three you listed I would try BF II. I have used and seen Zaino on Black and I don't like it too much. I cannot say I have seen Klasse on black before, though. Sealants generally don't look as good on dark cars, but BF II is supposed to retain the deep look the best.
Click to expand...



Sold...I'm trying the BF...I've been leaning that way since day one. I'll probably flip flop a few times between now and tomorrow though :rolleyes: There are just so many products. If I'm not ultra happy, I'll use it on friend's and my family's cars...they are not as picky.



For the MF towels: two waffleweave and 5 16" terry should be good to start. I garauntee you will want more later, but just get 5 and try them out. They'll tide you over for a year I suspect. Also, you might want to try contacting the MF Tech site owner who has an account on Autopia. I believe he may give discounts to members. Or, I highly recommend contacting Ranney via PM or e-mail. He also has excellent product at even cheaper prices, but I'm not sure if he has waffleweave yet. He is a very active member here with nothing but top notch service, prices, and products. He even recommends other company's products at times. Truely a gentlemen. The other source that I have used is JT International. No web site, but you can contact Tom Gong by e-mail at [email protected] and request his prices. I am very pleasewith his products and service. I recommend the ultrafine over the microtouch if you go through Tom.
Click to expand...



I got the discount...I'm thinking of ordering a batch of the random seconds to have around just in case, and for some everyday uses. I'm VERY pleased with my MF's from microfibertech...they are great. After my first use I swore up and down that I would NEVER use cotton again!



Oh, yeah, good luck!
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Thanks
 
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