New Member, New Order, Ready for guidance!

frosty

New member
Hi all,

Just found this fabulous site and hope to learn some skills and then refine them! I picked up a PC 9336 from Lowe's earlier this week and tried the default foam pad with some 3M Swirl remover on my car. It took out some of the swirl but not all.

Let me back up a minute. See my new car came with the dealer "First Place Finish" teflon coating or whatever. This is the biggest scam ever! They would not remove it from my pricetag and it became quite obvious after getting it in my garage that they improperly applied the sealant. Swirl marks galore. The dealer offered to fix it. I said thanks but no thanks. Thus began my journey.

I did a fair amount of reading up on the PC from various site that sell the combo kits and pads. Too bad I ordered before finding detailcity.com because my order would have been slightly different (smaller backing plate or larger pads) and maybe could have gotten a discount. Alas my first mistake and definatly won't be the last.

My arsenal already contains some basic items like a 5 gallon bucket lol and some various other things. Much more was needed so -

I have placed an order for the following items from properautocare.com:

Menzerna Car Care Kit (Auto Shampoo, 16 oz - Final Polish II, 16 oz. - Finishing Touch Glaze, 16 oz. - FMJ, Full Molecular Jacket, 16 oz. - Three (3) Microfiber Applicator Pads - Two (2) Microfiber Polishing Cloths - A Perfect Shine, Microfiber Buffing Cloth )
Menzerna Gel Wheel Cleaner
Menzerna High Gloss Acrylic Shield 16oz.
Menzerna Intensive Polish 16oz.

7424 Accessory Pad Kit w/ Velcro Plate (One 6 inch Flexible Backing Plate - One 6 inch Hi-Gloss Orange Power Pad - Two 6 inch Hi-Gloss White Polishing Pads - One Hi-Gloss Red Concours Finishing Pad - Three Microfiber Buffing Cloths)
6.5 Constant Pressure Black Finishing/Glazing Pad
6.5 Constant Pressure Yellow Foam Polishing Pad

Monkey Tail Cord Cover
Black Grit Guard
Water Bottles Pkg/2

This should be enough to detail everyones car I know! Though Zaino may get an order after seeing some of its results.

Looking forward to getting started. My order comes in Monday and I will be reading these forums until then. Please let me know if something is missing or should not be used. I may practice on my friends 97 Civic before working on the 06 Red Evo! Shhhh!

Later.
 
Welcome to the site and if you have any specific questions do not hesitate to ask. There is no dumb question. I myself do not like the 6" backing plate since i use the 6.5" Pads it comes to close to the edge for me. I prefer the 5" backing plate. I would also suggest that you get the 6" counterweigth it will make the Pc vibrate a lot less.

Richard
 
Someone is going to point this out, so I might as well ask myself - What's your process going to be? Keep in mind that your process has a lot more to do with a quality detail than just product. Also, I didn't see mention of any clay. That will be something you will want to look into on a new vehicle to remove the rail dust, IFO, etc. right from the beginning.
 
97F1504x4 said:
Welcome to the site and if you have any specific questions do not hesitate to ask. There is no dumb question. I myself do not like the 6" backing plate since i use the 6.5" Pads it comes to close to the edge for me. I prefer the 5" backing plate. I would also suggest that you get the 6" counterweigth it will make the Pc vibrate a lot less.

Richard
So you prefer the 5" BP and the 6" CW? cuz the company says the CW should match the BP.but I prefer to know what people like to use better. :yes:
 
frosty said:
I may practice on my friends 97 Civic before working on the 06 Red Evo! Shhhh!

Later.
:read :yes:

I think 97F150 is saying he like the 5" backing plate and suggests that Frosty should pick up a 6: counter weight because he has the 6" BP.

Clay should be the first thing that touches your car even if it is new as Jared said. Just don't apply the Intensive Polish on too thickly and make sure you work it in long enough. Don't be afraid to turn the PC up to speed 6. And remember there are hundreds of great products for your car and to get the best results you'll have to reasearch and find what works for you. This is a warning because there is no turning back now, you will become hooked! Good luck!
 
Counter weight

Check the counter weight you have now before you buy another one.
I think the PC 7336 from Lowe's will have a 6" counter weight on it.

Charles
 
Ok. Sounds like a second small order is called for. I was looking at the Blackfire claybar kit but thought "Probably don't need that for a new car" lol. Good thing I asked on DC!! I saw a clay bar kit at O'Reilly auto parts. It was Meguires. Will that do? Came with a bar and a bottle of spray.

I think the PC has a counterweight. It says for use on 6" pads only. So far I need to order: 5" backing plate and a clay bar kit. Do I need a 5" counterweight for the new backing plate?

joe.p
My car is a: 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR Edition - Rally Red

Process:
Hope this is right. Basically I will be referencing about four internet sites at each step but here goes.

1. Wash with dawn?? to strip finish. Do wheels with Menzerna wheel cleaner.
2. Clay bar the entire car.
3. Wash with Menzerna Auto Shampoo
4. Dry car and pull into Garage, turn on florescent light and halogens.
5. Use Menzerna Intensive Polish w/ Orange cutting pad to remove swirls.
6. Use Menzerna Final Polish II w/ White pad. (not sure if this step needed)
7. Use Menzerna Finishing Touch Glaze w/ Black Pad (maybe this step is not needed instead use 6)
8. Use Menzerna FMJ sealant w/ Red pad.
9. Repeat step 8.


Again for method details I will be using sites like these :
http://www.properautocare.com/usporcabpol.html
http://www.properautocare.com/usdualpol.html


Budman I am afraid you are correct. I haven't even recieved my Menzerna products and already want to order a full Zaino kit!! *takes deep breath and refrains*

Thanks for all the help!
 
That meguairs kit will suffice if you want to buy locally. If you have the 6" backing plate coming then stick with it. Just be careful around the mirrors so the backing plate won't rub against it. Wash with a regular car soap before the clay, the polishing will remove the prior sealants. I would recommend the FP II because the cutting pad and IP is quite abrasive (which may not be necessary depending on the swirls..a picture would help) and may leave hazing which you'll want to clean up with the FPII. You can use the glaze for added looks if you'd like. Then follow proper cure time and apply the FMJ. Of course, with any order, you should pick up some more microfiber towels, can never have to many of those.
 
Here is a picture of the swirl marks. I am not sure if you can tell the depth or not.

swirls.jpg



I picked up a big bag of MF towels at Costco. About 4-5 are coming with my order (included in the kits) and have about 10 around here already. Just learned on DC that the costco MF are not good but haven't determined why.
 
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Good luck...

My subaru came with out a wash een and has been under my care for the full time .. and they didn't even bother with the ""full protection"" sell on me..
 
budman3 said:
:read :yes:

I think 97F150 is saying he like the 5" backing plate and suggests that Frosty should pick up a 6: counter weight because he has the 6" BP.

Clay should be the first thing that touches your car even if it is new as Jared said. Just don't apply the Intensive Polish on too thickly and make sure you work it in long enough. Don't be afraid to turn the PC up to speed 6. And remember there are hundreds of great products for your car and to get the best results you'll have to reasearch and find what works for you. This is a warning because there is no turning back now, you will become hooked! Good luck!

Just learned on DC that the costco MF are not good but haven't determined why

I have discovered there are two brands of these towels being sold at Costco and the later version whihc were a brighter yellow seem to be the problem ones. I purchase some about two years ago and they were great. Sent the wife a couple month back to pick me up another bag and when she got home i was like what the hell are these. I know use those for door jambs and undercarriage work.

Exactly and sorry if i confused you.

Thanks for picking up the slack Budman.

Richard
 
My Costco MF towels are bright yellow. Sunset Products Inc MF-20. They are 16x16. I have not opened the package yet and if these are the crappy ones I will take them back.
 
frosty said:
My Costco MF towels are bright yellow. Sunset Products Inc MF-20. They are 16x16. I have not opened the package yet and if these are the crappy ones I will take them back.
if its not too much to ask can you post some pics of the costco MFs?
My wife offered to pick some up for me as well,but i like to see the towels i;m getting and by posting the pics it will probably be some help to many of us.

joe
 
Here are the MF Towels. PM Poorboy for the complete kit with spray and a few extra towels for 39.99 thanks for the heads up on that one 97F1504x4!

attachment.php
 
Those look like the ones my wife picked up. Here are some pictures of the two different ones. The ones on the left are the good ones and first kind i purchased from Costco while the ones on the right are the lesser quality one my wife picked up for me.

IMG_0780.jpg

IMG_0778.jpg

IMG_0779.jpg


Richard
 
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