Polishing Help Request

D

Diesel1

New member
Background:



Saturday I polished my sister's black 2006 Subaru Impreza. Apparently she ordered the dealer SWIRL & SCRATCH option. The car only has 200 miles on it as she can't legally drive for another month (only to and from work until then).



I wanted to test my new detailing supplies from Menzerna (PG, IP, Glaze, FMJ, HGAS), Nattys Blue, PAKSHAK MF's, MF applicators from Pakshak (OH MY GOD THESE ARE SO SOFT!!!).....new pads for the cyclo including the orange set. etc etc.



The pre condition of the car wasn't bad but had plenty of swirls, plenty of marring, and a few scratches. I was able to get the scratches out, but ran into issues of removing the swirls and micro marring.



Process:

Wash, clay, wash and quick dry.

After testing I went with the IP & yellow cyclo pads on the hood & trunk followed by IP with orange pad around the entire car

FP with green pad

Glaze by hand

FMJ by hand (This stuff rocks - so EAAAAAAAAAAAAAASY to apply and easier to remove)

HGAS

Nattys Blue



I was working outside in the shade (Perfect 62 degrees) and since this was my first time using Menzerna products....I understand there will be a learning curve. That said, The marring never seemed to really dissapear totally. In addition, after both polishing steps, I I looked at certain angles with the sun hitting the car in certain ways, I still noticed "swirls/halos". Now they looked to be more from the the cyclo as opposed to the original swirls.



I am wondering if this was from not priming that pads properly? For whatever dumb reason, I never primed the pads and only though about it after the fact especially after noticing upon completion that only the centers of the pads were penetrated by polish where the outer portions were dry (I know rooooooooookie error). Can this alone cause my "cyclo halos"? Is it a combination of things. After polishing, especially after the FPII, I expected flawless paint no matter what angle I looked at it even in direct sunlight. Kinda pi$$ed me off. All that work and it still didn't come out as good as I wanted it to!



I did take photos, but my PC at home is MAXED out (My buddy will be building me a new one soon) so I will try to upload as many pics as possible until I get the new PC. I think most people would think the car came out awesome, but I expected much better!



Issues I came across with Menzerna (Maybe this will shed light on what I was doing wrong)



Gumming of polish (I believe this was from over polishing/not enough polish) Adjusted accordingly. I even tried spritzing the pads with a lil QD which seemed to help! Also, cleaned the pads more frequently which also seemed to help.



Non-removal of the finest micro marring ( I expected it to be like glass and under certain lighting I can still see it)



HOLY DUSTING BATMAN!!!! LOL (I expected that though)



FMJ - Easy on and the easiest LSP I have ever removed. Zaino normally streaked a bit on my black G when I removed it and I really had to work at it but FMJ simply glided off!



Any feedback from the Menzerna/Polishing pros will be greatly appreciated!
 
It's likely that the yellow pads caused marring that the green and FP couldn't remove. IP and the green followed by FP with the green would have *likely* yielded a better finish.
 
That's what I was thinking, you need more polishing and more intermediate steps.



I must say that I've *never* had holograms from the Cyclo, not once in over 20 years, so I'm a little :confused: about what might've caused them.



I've never used the exact products in question (exept for FP) but my $0.02 anyhow:



Use more polish so it doesn't dry out on the outer edges of the Cyclo pads. Inspect what's going on frequently so stuff like this doesn't happen. Note that when doing a big job you'll have to switch/clean the pads a few times. Work a small area until it's the way you want it, don't try to do an entire panel let alone the whole vehicle all at once.



Plan on going over an area numerous times before all the marring is really gone. It can take hours to get a single panel just right if it's really marred up to start with. Don't move on to a fine polish like FP until things are basically perfect in all lighting conditions.



Get some kind of lighting that'll better show your progress (and/or lack of it) or at least move the car into the sun to check how it's going. Do more and better insepection. Don't quit one step until you're absolutely certain you've accomplished what you wanted to. I sure wouldn't apply glaze/wax/etc. until I knew I was finished with the polishing.



IMO the biggest things are to do the more/better inspection, keep closer tabs on what's going on (like the product drying in the pads), and to work limited areas until you get things squared away. Black oughta be good to work on as it's a lot easier to see what's going on than with silver. Subie clear isn't all *that* hard (at least mine never were) so you should be able to get it really nice.
 
Thanks for the responses! I can't believe I didn't even think to use the IP with the green pad! What a friggin moron!!! Well at least I know for next time! *Kicking self in arse*



I have a halogen light set up that I was thinking of bring over but didn't want to deal with pluggin in the cyclo, then lights, then cyclo. I should have gotten one of those dual plugs prior to starting. Just afraid that with the extension cord and both the twin halogens and cyclo on one cord, I may have started popping circuits.



I know the PC's you have to apply a lil pressure for the polishes to work well but haven't heard of people doing the same for the cyclo. I think a selling point on the cyclo is that it can be operated with one hand (Just the weight of the machine). I tried both methods to see if one worked better then the others but didn't really notice any differences.



Do you guys apply pressure when using the cyclo or simply use the weight of the machine?
 
Diesel1- Ah, you're not being a [expletive] ;) You just need to adjust your approach so you're working smarter not harder.



Yeah, get the inspection/lighting/etc. worked out. Watch how long an extension cord you run for that stuff and plug one thing in at a time. I sympathize as my best inspection light doesn't have a switch so I have to plug/unplug it all the time and it *is* a pain. It'll take some time (and quite a bit of self-discipline ;) ) but polish, wipe, inspect, think, repeat.



I apply pressure with the Cyclo, pretty much for the more serious correction (and you can do that while still only using one hand). But note that with more pressure you'll make the drying/caking issue even more serious so it gets back to the "pay attention!" advice. The only time I don't apply any pressure at all is when I'm burnishing an already-perfect finish or applying my LSP. I even apply a little pressure when I'm using it with MF bonnets to remove LSP.
 
Thanks Accumulator.......what do you accumulate anyway...besides detailing supplies n knowledge...lol!



I am going to give it another go on a new 300C that is in far better shape. Bought from same dealer as the Subie but apparently the prep the nicer cars better! After that, I hope to do m y beater truck which is trashed and my G which is in decent shape, just the typical NE winter abuse.



Hopefully my driveway will get paved this week as scheduled (8 -10 weeks of a dirt driveway is killing me!!!! I can also get better shade close to the house on the driveway as opposed to driving the car up on my front lawn under a tree! LOL
 
Diesel1- Yeah a paved drive would be nice. I myself would probably enjoy doing the beater truck; it's sorta fun and relaxing to make a big improvement on something where perfection's just not in the cards.



Heh heh, I accumulate all sorts of things...people always ask if I "collect" cars, and since I don't feel like I put that much planned thought into it, I started saying "nah, I just *accumulate* them" :D I currently have *8* of 'em :rolleyes If they ever all make it home from the shops that're working on them at the same time I dunno where I'll put 'em!
 
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