Noob needs advice on PC

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ncsu602

New member
Since finding this site a month ago I've spent so much money....so I figure why stop now. I've been toying with the idea of a PC, but have been scared of ruining paint. After searching and reading alot of posts, I've decided to go by Lowe's this afternoon and pick one up.



My main reason for getting one is I have a 1995 Z28 (garaged) and a 2001 Sonoma, both black. The truck isn't as much of a problem since I've had it since new, but the car has 97k on it and the previous owner was a 60 year old lady who lived on a dirt road. I've been detailing cars for close to 10 years, so I'm familiar with alot of things. The car is very slick right now but has many MANY swirls in it from being neglected. I was using this:



Meg's ScratchX

3M Imperial Hand Glaze

Mother's FX Synwax

S100 carnauba



The car looks amazing(for 10 yr old paint) from a distance, but looks horrible under light. The scratchX worked a little, but only removed 50% or so after 2-3 applications. Plus, it's just too labor intensive. I've been looking at Meg's products since I can get them locally. I've about decided on this:



Meg's #83 or #80

Meg's #9

3M IHG

Mother's FX

S100



Would this do anything? Also, what pads do I need? I would prefer to get everything locally cause I can't stand having a new toy and not being able to use it!



Any tips for a new PC user? I've got a spare panel to practice on, but I'm still a little worried cause I don't have the money for a new paint job. Heck, after finding this site, I don't have money for anything! Thanks in advance....
 
:welcome to Autopia ncsu602!



Fear not. When used with appropriate products and pads the PC is really gentle and really, really safe. (It always amazes me how worried everybody is about the PC at first when the vast majority of car owners out there are perfectly happy destroying their finishes by hand.)



Start with Mayor David B's article on using the PC then read some of the threads on the subject. You'll do fine.





PC.
 
In my admitedly short time dealing with the PC I can tell you that if your technique is good you can do amazing things with it. If your technique is not good, you'll spend all day just moving product around on the surface of your vehicle and accomplish not much of anything. When compared to poor technique with a high speed rotary (heavy holograms at best, burnt paint at worst), there's nothing to fear with the PC - just don't drop it on your hood!



Having said that, I just went through the Meguiar's detail clinic over the weekend and found out exactly what I was doing wrong - not enough pressure, hand speed too high, not working product long enough. I got back from the clinic with a fresh bottle of Meg's #80 and a Meg's yellow pad and set to work, again, on getting rid of the swirls on the vehicle in question. Well what do you know...the swirls are gone!! I'm stunned and thrilled at the same time - this is just great and now I can move on to my "good" cars with confidence!!



The #80 is great because you can work it for a very long time without having it dry up and start to dust. Trying to determine the amount of pressure to use is the tricky part - some people say "use 10lbs of pressure" or "maybe 5-6lbs of pressure", but really, what the heck is that? I guess visually this is what I notice when I'm at the pressure recommended to me: pushing much too hard will start to deflect the body panel and form a deep depression in the foam pad with the backing plate. From what I learned you should see that depression in the pad, but once you see that, don't apply any more pressure. Like I said, this is what I visually noticed when applying "correct" pressure. I was taught this by actually holding the PC on the surface of the vehicle, then having Mike Phillips from Meguiar's press down on my hands and move them across the paint. This taught me pressure and hand speed. Bottom line - I couldn't get the darn swirls out in the past because my technique was wrong. They're gone now.:woot:
 
Yeah don't fear the PC...it won't hurt anything.



You probably don't need #9. It's really mild and won't add much after #80. #80 will give you a finish ready for an LSP.
 
Thanks for the replys......I practiced with it a few hours before I actually touched my car, and this thing is great! I still have absolutely no technique, and I'm sure I'm using the wrong cleaner. The store I went to carried Malco and didn't have anything from Meguiar's, so the owner talked me into buying a bottle of Malco Rejuvenator. It seems to work pretty well since it took out everything but the deeper scratches, but it's so hard to remove. Of course, it may actually be alot better than I'm thinking due to my lack of experience. On the deeper scratches, I've actually used Meg's ScratchX with the PC. I know it's labeled as hand-only, but I actually got good results with it after owning a PC for 3 hours. So far it's been a wonderful (expensive) experience.



I searched on here and the Rejuvenator is supposed to be a little heavier cut than #83. Does anyone know anything about this?
 
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