Polishng by Hand, Any Tips?

B

bubble

New member
For some reason I haven't been able to use the search function on Autopia for the past few days. The browser turned blank every time when I tried. Therefore, after going through quite a few pages on the forum, I decided to throw the question out here to make sure that I do this right.



I have an Acura RSX in black. A while ago, I used KAIO, by hand with a MF applicator, on the trunk lid and rear bumper after washing and claying. It didn't correct much but it did bring back some shine. I am not surprised since I knew that KAIO doesn't correct paint too much from reading on the forum. It was my first time using polishing product and Acura is notorious for soft paint so I was being conservative and started with KAIO.



Now, I am looking for a polish with more correcting ability which I can use by hand with a pad or applicator. Sadly, the current economy doesn't allow me to splurge on a PC. After some reading, I noticed that Meguiar's Ultimate Compound had pretty good review and someone mentioned that it can be applied by hand using a orange pad. Also, there is another review about swirl removed by hand and it showed that Autoglym Super Resin Polish gave a pretty good result.



I can't make up my mind about which product to get. I am really scared about doing harm to my paint instead of correcting it so I want to be extra careful. Would you please give me some advice on the product/applicator? Thank you.
 
I've used M105 by hand with great success. Not only does it do a surprising amount of correction this way, but it also leaves a great finish. When you use it by hand, you don't need to worry about doing a second step; it doesn't leave compounding marks or holos.



If I had to do a complete car manually, I would definitely use M105.



Edit: since it's a black car, I would follow up the M105 with a good glaze that also conceals/fills defects. Then top it with a wax. Most sealants (especially when used on black) have a tendency to *highlight* flaws/swirls/scratches in paint.
 
Yea - don't - unless you're a sadest :scared:



Other than that, I concur with the above - M105 works really well by hand.
 
I've used Ultimate Compound (UC) by hand and by DA, and I couldn't get it to finish down to an LSP ready state. According to Mike Phillips on MOL, it comes down to the paint: some will finish out, some won't. My experience has validated this. The best advice would be to pick some up locally and give it a shot. Even if it doesn't work as a one-stepper, it's still good stuff to have around.
 
Thank you all for the input. :D



I just placed an order for M105 and the orange foam applicators. When they arrive, I am planning to



Wash-ONR

Clay-ClayMagic

1st Polish-M105 w/ CCS Euro foam hand polish applicator (orange)

Finish Polish-KAIO w/ MF applicator

Sealant-KSG w/foam applicator

Wax-Collinite 845



Has anyone done a similar combo? Is there anything missing or too repetitive?



This will probably take a long time even on my small RSX so I am gonna do one panel at a time. I hope that I can get this done before Spring comes, if it ever comes for Seattle...
 
That sounds like a very good manual process. We're gonna need before-and-after pics.. .and not of the car... of *you*. "This is what bubble looked like when he had arms.... here you see he *clearly* doesn't anymore..."
 
SuperBee364 said:
That sounds like a very good manual process. We're gonna need before-and-after pics.. .and not of the car... of *you*. "This is what bubble looked like when he had arms.... here you see he *clearly* doesn't anymore..."
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This is why I am gonna do one panel at a time to save my arms...:dance
 
SuperBee364 said:
That sounds like a very good manual process. We're gonna need before-and-after pics.. .and not of the car... of *you*. "This is what bubble looked like when he had arms.... here you see he *clearly* doesn't anymore..."
Click to expand...



Hahaha. +1
 
are you trying to do a lot of correction? or just bring shine back. because you said klasse AIO didnt bring the shine back, so ill assume thats all you want to do.. ive had really good luck with the original scratch x by hand.. meguiars #9 swirl remover doesnt do much correction at all, but it deffinatley brings out an increadible amount of gloss after a couple applications. when polishing by hand make sure you use a flat hand, not the tips of your fingers.. ive had to detail a few cars wher people tried to polish by hand, and there were lines all over from where their fingers were applying pressure.
 
jDizzle said:
are you trying to do a lot of correction? or just bring shine back. because you said klasse AIO didnt bring the shine back, so ill assume thats all you want to do.. ive had really good luck with the original scratch x by hand.. meguiars #9 swirl remover doesnt do much correction at all, but it deffinatley brings out an increadible amount of gloss after a couple applications. when polishing by hand make sure you use a flat hand, not the tips of your fingers.. ive had to detail a few cars wher people tried to polish by hand, and there were lines all over from where their fingers were applying pressure.
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Thank you for the tip. I really appreciate it. I didn't see people discuss to this detail for hand application and I didn't think about the fingers would give uneven pressure. Will definitely keep this in mind. :bigups
 
While M105 *DOES* work very well by hand, it doesn't finish out ready-to-wax IMO, even on nice hard clear (let alone something softer). I'd absolutely do some kind of final polishing before switching to something functionally nonabrasive like KAIO.
 
Accumulator said:
While M105 *DOES* work very well by hand, it doesn't finish out ready-to-wax IMO, even on nice hard clear (let alone something softer). I'd absolutely do some kind of final polishing before switching to something functionally nonabrasive like KAIO.
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I thought that KAIO can serve as the finishing polish. Maybe I should get M205 to follow M105? I have read several good reviews about this famous combo. How about 1Z Paint Polish? I remember that it was recommended on the forum for hand apply but I am not sure if it can serve as a final polish. (My search function went down again.)



Thanks!!!
 
Maybe try the new version of ScratchX? In terms of cut it has more than M205 but less than M105 and should finish out better than M105.
 
Accumulator said:
While M105 *DOES* work very well by hand, it doesn't finish out ready-to-wax IMO, even on nice hard clear (let alone something softer). I'd absolutely do some kind of final polishing before switching to something functionally nonabrasive like KAIO.
Click to expand...



This is one of the rare times we don't agree on something, Accumulator. :)



I've had great results with just using M105 by hand, and getting a good, glossy, LSP ready finish. Using very light pressure on the pad for a few, uh, "circles" I guess you would say, seems to work well after using pressure to remove the defects. I must admit, I've been using this method to cheat on A pillars, mirrors, door handle surrounds, bumpers, and door handle finger recesses. The new formula is *much* more user friendly for hand use; the old stuff had a tendency to flash even when used by hand, and would then haze the crap out of the paint if you tried to continue the hand application passed that point.



Like anything else in detailing, though, YMMV. :)
 
SuperBee364- Maybe our differing experiences are a result of my using the older version of M105 :think:



But anyhow...nah, I'm just not satisfied with how my M105 leaves things...could well be user-error on my part though.



bubble- Nah, despite the ad-copy hyperbole, KAIO doesn't do any real/mechanical/abrasive polishing unless you're dealing with some kind of *incredibly* soft paint. It's functionally nonabrasive on the Jag's black single stage lacquer door window surrounds, and that's some *very* soft paint.



Yeah, M205 or one of the Swirl/Scratch-X polishes should work fine.
 
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