PC + SSR2.5 and SSR1.0 = more swirls than before, help!!!

L

LSB M

New member
How can this be possible... We did my gf's mercedes last weekend, followed the exact same routine, exact same product!



Ok, here is what I did to my poor car today..



1). Wash (lambs wool, two bucket method); dry with silcone water blade and then micro-fiber towel

2). Repeat step one above (car was really dirty to start with so decided to wash twice)

3). Since I clayed it less than 6 months ago and the paint felt ok, I decided not to clay.

4). I proceeded to prep the paint for SSR2.5. Wiped down the hood with a quick detailer to make sure it's 100% clean.

5). SSR2.5 onto an Edge Blue pad (light cut). First on 3 to spread it out evenly on a 2X2 area; then to 5 with slow vertical and horizontal passes. Did this for about 4 minutes.

6). Wiped area off with a terry cotton towel. This is when, to my horror, I saw TONS of circular patterned swirls on the area.

7). I thought, ok, maybe I need to follow up with SSR1.0 fist before I judge. So out came the Edge white pad (finishing pad). Same procedure as (5) above.



The result was the same... SWIRLS GALORE!!!



Worse than before I started!!!!



How can this be?!!? I am sooooooo frustrated. And confused. On my gf's BLACK mercedes last weekend, the results came out pretty good, got rid of 80-90% of the swirls. Again, same products, same technique.



Am I missing something here?!? Someone please offer some tips and ideas of what I am doing wrong...



I took some pics of the swirls, will post later tonight when I get home.
 
I'm no expert at all when it comes to this but I to saw more scratches in my paint with Edge last week. However I think I narrowed it down, I think a piece of dirt or something got caught on the pad thus causing the swirl marks with the pads. Also I may be wrong but shouldn't you use a more aggressive pad with SSR 2.5? The blue is more like the white LC pad, no?



-Brett
 
derekbmw said:
Edge blue is finishing pad...yellow and green are polishing pads.
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Ahh yes with orange being their most aggressive. I'm new to the Edge system, have one of each color but only used once. That would explain why Pro-Polish didn't do anything on blue :wall
 
derekbmw said:
Edge blue is finishing pad...yellow and green are polishing pads.
Click to expand...





True... I probably should have used a medium cut pad with the SSR2.5... but still, using the blue pad should not introduce new swirls to a clean car, right?



I am stumped. :confused:
 
LSB M said:
True... I probably should have used a medium cut pad with the SSR2.5... but still, using the blue pad should not introduce new swirls to a clean car, right?



I am stumped. :confused:
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I think it could if the abrasives are bigger, as in a heavier cutting polish like 2.5 and the light polishing pad doesn't break them down. Someone correct me?
 
Since it's already so late, I won't have a chance to fix the problem until saturday. Argh, I can tell, this is doing to drive me nuts for the next 2 days!



:sadpace:
 
LSB M said:
Since it's already so late, I won't have a chance to fix the problem until saturday. Argh, I can tell, this is doing to drive me nuts for the next 2 days!



:sadpace:
Click to expand...



I know how u feel, OCD hahha



Nice Username BTW :clap:
 
I'm no expert on PB SSR, but have been told that the work time on the SSR products is very long. You need to really work the SSR to break down the polish. Otherwise, the polish will induce swirls.



That said, how long did you work the SSR? Try a smaller section and work the polish longer.
 
I love to speculate, so just my kind of thread :) SSR polishes work very quickly in my experience. You used a soft pad with a medium cut polish and worked it a long time for this particular polish (remember, all speculation here.) So maybe the polish didn't break down, but it dried up from the long work time, and then you ground it around some more with a terry towel, thus inducing the swirls. If you were using too much product, this scenario would be even worse. Just a thought ...
 
did you wash the pads after doing your gf car?

also try using a microfiber to wipe down, and spritz the panel with a light mist of water or 50/50
 
elitemobile said:
did you wash the pads after doing your gf car?

also try using a microfiber to wipe down, and spritz the panel with a light mist of water or 50/50
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We did, but it had been sitting for about 4-5 days before we gave it a good sparydown. Did not soak the pads though... just sprayed it real good and then gently squeezed the water out followed by a quick spin at 3 to get the excess water out...



I *thought* that cleaned it, but here's the update... when we got home late last night, I out the *other* cleaned pad (we cleaned 2 but I only used one) in a clean bucket of water and to my amazement, some "stuff" came out into the water (very tiny particles, I guess dried up polish). It wasn't a lot, but I could certainly tell that some particles came off in the warm water.



Looks like my improper pad washing technique could have introduced the swirls... what do you guys think!?
 
Ok guys, tell me how bad this looks and if another routine with the SSR with new pads this time can save it!



The first is a "before" pic, everything else "after".



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Keep going with your same process. You do NOT want to use an aggressive pad with SSR2.5. Apply a thin bead of product all the way around the middle of your pad per panel. Work it in on speed 6 ... don't be afraid of speed 6. Work it in for a little while... when it goes pretty clear you can stop. No need to work it in forever... the pad will just dry up and cause marring. Using the SSR2.5 again with a clean pad and my suggested process should clear up those swirls. Follow again with SSR1 to improve the gloss. Good luck and nice color car!
 
JustinDetail said:
You might try working the product a bit longer and seeing if that improves your results.
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He worked it in for 4 minutes... I believe that he is working in the polish too long.



Once the SSR2.5 goes translucent and you can't see any swrils left there is no need to keep going. My average time per panel with SSR 2.5 and a polishing pad on speed 6 is 1 minute ... maybe 2 tops. I can go straight to LSP after with no micromarring. The proper amount of product, a polishing pad, no priming with water or QD, and speed 6 are the major things to look into if you are having difficulties with the SSRs.
 
budman3 said:
He worked it in for 4 minutes... I believe that he is working in the polish too long.



Once the SSR2.5 goes translucent and you can't see any swrils left there is no need to keep going. My average time per panel with SSR 2.5 and a polishing pad on speed 6 is 1 minute ... maybe 2 tops. I can go straight to LSP after with no micromarring. The proper amount of product, a polishing pad, no priming with water or QD, and speed 6 are the major things to look into if you are having difficulties with the SSRs.
Click to expand...





Yah, my problem is, I have no idea when's the right time to stop. All instructions tell you, "work the product until it breaks down, 3-5 mins".



How can I tell when the product has broken down?? When it starts to turn slightly powdery?



I will try it next time working it on 6 for 1-2 mins.



Also, is it ok to use the same pad for the whole car? Or is it recommended to change pads when it looks like it's got a lot of gunk on it?
 
If it gets powdery it seems like the product it drying out which, IMO isn't good. I usually use one pad for a whole detail and most of the time it gets built up with product so I take a terry cloth towel and wipe as much off as I can.



Take a look at this site, a member from another forum, blkyukon took pictures of the break down stages of SSR2.5 and how much you should use.... a great tool:

Polish Breakdown SSR2.5



Hopefully all of this will steer you back in the right direction to great results.
 
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