Problems with Cyclo and 1z products...

[simplybao]

Maybe I'm just doing something wrong. Today I thought I'd give it another go to see if I could get better results after watching countless videos on polishing.



I'm still a newbie at this so please bear with me.



This is on a Black Cadillac. I washed, clayed, etc...



I broke out the Cyclo and tried several things:



1. I started with 1z Pasta Intensiv on orange pads. I made a single pass on orange then another pass on green. The results were pretty good. There were some deeper scratches left and I could see that I was bringing some of the depth out in the paint.



2. This is where I am having issues. I then did 1z Paint Polish on green. I used a dime sized amount on each pad. I worked the product for a couple of minutes. I stopped when it started dusting really badly. So I believe I worked the area for about 1.5 - 2 minutes. I wiped it off and then hit it with a halogen. And what do I see? Buffer trails. I'm moving the cyclo really really really slowly over the area. I tried the same (approx.) 12" x 12" area.



I can't seem to get it right. I'm thinking either I don't know how to work this particular product or else I'm doing something wrong.



Is there another polish I can try? I have no issues with the 1z Pasta Intensiv. That works great. It's just the 1z Paint Polish that I'm having issues with.

 

[imported_themightytimmah]

Oh paint polish is a pretty aggressive product - I use it for a first cutting step with a lambswool pad sometimes. Try replacing the PP with Hochglanz (HG), which is the finishing step to Pasta Intensive (e.g. black bottle). Try it on Cyclo green or white pads.

 

[dsms]

The key to great correction on a cyclo is pressure. This is one of the very few machines that really takes well to "lean in" pressure when in use. On its own the cyclo doesnt generate very much heat so by applying 20-25lbs of pressure on the machine when buffing your able to generate enough heat to properly break down the polish and while getingt the most cutting power out of the diminishing abrasives. Always keep those two pads flat and apply even pressure, as you achieve a solid level of correction slowly lighten up the pressure and refine the finish.





Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[percynjpn]

I agree that you need to start with pressure, and then lighten up. However, if you're working it until it dusts, you're doing it too long. Try working it for about 45 seconds and see what happens.

 

[simplybao]

Oh paint polish is a pretty aggressive product - I use it for a first cutting step with a lambswool pad sometimes. Try replacing the PP with Hochglanz (HG), which is the finishing step to Pasta Intensive (e.g. black bottle). Try it on Cyclo green or white pads.

I thought that Paint Polish was a finishing polish? And as far as pressure, hmmm, I was using not too much. I was just using the weight of the cyclo. No wonder it was taking so freakin long to break down the polish. I was working small areas and using only a dime sized amount.



So either the PP is too aggressive as a final polish or I'm using the wrong pads with it. I say that because I've had issues with it on both my black cadillac and my yellow jeep.



I'm thinking about trying out Optimum Polish.



And what is HG? I've never heard of it.

 

[Accumulator]

simplybao-Sorry to hear you're having problems, especially with one of my "can't-miss" combos!



Some sorta-random thoughts follow:



The 1Z PP is well-matched to the Cyclo green pads IMO.



You shouldn't really work it until it dusts, try to stop right before it goes dry.



Maybe it's just not the right product for that paint, my next try would be the 1Z High Gloss.



I seldom finish out with the 1Z PP anyhow, at least not on vehicles I'm trying to get really nice. It sorta finishes out ready-to-wax but IME you can usually get things a good bit better.



But I gotta admit I'm simply :nixweiss about the "buffer trails". If you didn't get those with the Pasta Intensiv I just can't figure out why you'd get 'em with the PP

 

[simplybao]

simplybao-Sorry to hear you're having problems, especially with one of my "can't-miss" combos!



Some sorta-random thoughts follow:



The 1Z PP is well-matched to the Cyclo green pads IMO.



You shouldn't really work it until it dusts, try to stop right before it goes dry.



Maybe it's just not the right product for that paint, my next try would be the 1Z High Gloss.



I seldom finish out with the 1Z PP anyhow, at least not on vehicles I'm trying to get really nice. It sorta finishes out ready-to-wax but IME you can usually get things a good bit better.



But I gotta admit I'm simply :nixweiss about the "buffer trails". If you didn't get those with the Pasta Intensiv I just can't figure out why you'd get 'em with the PP

Tell me about it. I've just been having issues with the PP. I am beginning to think it's the wrong product for this paint.



I don't have any other polish right now other than the 1z stuff. I'm going to try something else when it gets warm. I have been thinking about trying the Optimum Polish. Based on what I've read, you can use it for more aggressive or a finishing polish based on the different pads you use.



Do you have any recommendations? I'm looking for a finishing polish. I have no problems using the Pasta Intensiv. I do notice that it does leave some micro marring and some haze. I followed the PI with the PP and the PP does a great job of removing the micro maring and the haze, but it still leave buffer trails.

 

[Accumulator]

.. have been thinking about trying the Optimum Polish. Based on what I've read, you can use it for more aggressive or a finishing polish based on the different pads you use...

OP is very popular but it doesn't work very well for me. I'm more likely to have the problems you're facing with OP than with any other polish I can think of (and that's quite a list).



If you go with OP, be sure to work it a long, long time...as in, forever.



I'm probably gonna be a flame-magnet but I simply don't like the stuff.

Do you have any recommendations? I'm looking for a finishing polish. I have no problems using the Pasta Intensiv. I do notice that it does leave some micro marring and some haze. I followed the PI with the PP and the PP does a great job of removing the micro maring and the haze, but it still leave buffer trails.

I'd go with the 1Z High Gloss. I'm not sure if it'll turn the whole thing into a two-step process or whether you'll still use the PP as a middle step, but I'm pretty confident that it's a good way to go.



On *VERY* soft paint, you'll want something milder than the 1Z HG, something like Menzerna FPII. But otherwise the 1Z HG gets my vote. Pretty user-friendly as long as you don't use too much, and IME there are no late-onset-hologram/etc. surprises like you can get with other products in this category (e.g., Menzerna 106FF).