mrdetailer
New member
Before I got on this site, I followed a recommendation from a friend and used a brush to wash the cars. This summer small scratches from the brush appeared in the clearcoat of my Subaru. Horrors. They had left a haze and scratches that were much less than the perfection I want.
I read the following link from CMA,
http://properautocare.com/refshinkit.html
where Blackfire was used on top of a glaze, but I knew that I had to use a more agressive product to wipe out the scratches. I went out and purchased Meguiar's Dual Action Cleaner Polish from my auto paint supply store on the recommendation of the manager who really knew her stuff. When tried on a different vehicle, Meguiars Fine Cut Cleaner, which recommended using rotary buffers only left scratches that required a swirl remover afterwards. Unsatisfactory results with an orbital. I had some trepidation because Meguiars listed this as a fairly agressive cleaner. Here is their relative scale 1 -- 10
Swirl Remover 2.0 3
Fine Cut Cleaner 5
DACP 6
To say I was anxious about using this product initially was an understatement. I bordered on panic. Then I read the label. Here are some of the descriptions.
For use with a rotary or orbital buffer (yeah!).
Removes light to medium oxidation, stains, swirls and blemishes.
Combines the perfect amount of abrasive cleaner and pure rich polish to provide a deep gloss shine.
Safe BUFFERED cleaning gets out defects without marring the finish.
Paintable (no silicones).
Safe for Clear Coats.
Based on that I figured that it was a medium oxididation and scratch remover, similar to the 3M Cleaner Wax Medium Oxidation Remover that I had so successfully used to remove water spot etching my red Mazda. But that product wasn't durable. So, I sucked it up and got out the Orbital.
The finish was still mirror smooth so I didn't need to use clay.
I had to work in the dusk last Thursday because a storm was predicted and the evening was warm. I applied it like a glaze by running the buffer over a small area until most of the product was removed. It was fast and removed efficiently, leaving very little residue. When I wiped off the DACP it did something I'd never encountered before, it squeaked. I would have washed again to remove excess dust, before putting on the Blackfire, but since darkness was fast approaching I quickly put on a coat of the Gloss Enahancing Polish and Paint protector with the buffer. I was amazed at the small amounts needed on this prepared finish.
By the time I got done it was too dark to get a sun reflection, so I drove it to our local grocery store with super bright flourescent lights. To my surprize, not only did the car have great Blackfire depth, but it had a brilliant finish, and the brush stroke scratches were almost gone. Looks the same in full sun. Better than the P21S I used this summer. And I didn't think that could be beaten for pure reflective shine.
I can't imagine what it will look like when in a couple of weeks (after another coat or two of paint protector) I put on a topcoat of P21S, since CMA recommends a carnauba topper for the ultimate Blackfire shine.
Quite honestly I'm concerned about using the DACP again. Will this be too strong? When should I use it. A quart will go a long ways.
I read the following link from CMA,
http://properautocare.com/refshinkit.html
where Blackfire was used on top of a glaze, but I knew that I had to use a more agressive product to wipe out the scratches. I went out and purchased Meguiar's Dual Action Cleaner Polish from my auto paint supply store on the recommendation of the manager who really knew her stuff. When tried on a different vehicle, Meguiars Fine Cut Cleaner, which recommended using rotary buffers only left scratches that required a swirl remover afterwards. Unsatisfactory results with an orbital. I had some trepidation because Meguiars listed this as a fairly agressive cleaner. Here is their relative scale 1 -- 10
Swirl Remover 2.0 3
Fine Cut Cleaner 5
DACP 6
To say I was anxious about using this product initially was an understatement. I bordered on panic. Then I read the label. Here are some of the descriptions.
For use with a rotary or orbital buffer (yeah!).
Removes light to medium oxidation, stains, swirls and blemishes.
Combines the perfect amount of abrasive cleaner and pure rich polish to provide a deep gloss shine.
Safe BUFFERED cleaning gets out defects without marring the finish.
Paintable (no silicones).
Safe for Clear Coats.
Based on that I figured that it was a medium oxididation and scratch remover, similar to the 3M Cleaner Wax Medium Oxidation Remover that I had so successfully used to remove water spot etching my red Mazda. But that product wasn't durable. So, I sucked it up and got out the Orbital.
The finish was still mirror smooth so I didn't need to use clay.
I had to work in the dusk last Thursday because a storm was predicted and the evening was warm. I applied it like a glaze by running the buffer over a small area until most of the product was removed. It was fast and removed efficiently, leaving very little residue. When I wiped off the DACP it did something I'd never encountered before, it squeaked. I would have washed again to remove excess dust, before putting on the Blackfire, but since darkness was fast approaching I quickly put on a coat of the Gloss Enahancing Polish and Paint protector with the buffer. I was amazed at the small amounts needed on this prepared finish.
By the time I got done it was too dark to get a sun reflection, so I drove it to our local grocery store with super bright flourescent lights. To my surprize, not only did the car have great Blackfire depth, but it had a brilliant finish, and the brush stroke scratches were almost gone. Looks the same in full sun. Better than the P21S I used this summer. And I didn't think that could be beaten for pure reflective shine.
I can't imagine what it will look like when in a couple of weeks (after another coat or two of paint protector) I put on a topcoat of P21S, since CMA recommends a carnauba topper for the ultimate Blackfire shine.
Quite honestly I'm concerned about using the DACP again. Will this be too strong? When should I use it. A quart will go a long ways.
