Ut-Oh.....SSR Damage ?

HondaMan

HondaMan

2004 Civic EX magnesium
I worked on my brothers's car last November and he just noticed that there is some "hazing" (I assume it's that) from my use of SSR 2.5 or 2.0 (I can't remember which). I am pretty sure I used a PC instead of doing it by hand.

Anyway, I believe I used an Orange SONUS cutting pad instead of the lighter-cutting Green pad. I think I got confused on the ranking order or was given bad advice. In any event, I'm hopeful that the blotches above and below the scratch -- they look like semi-ovals -- will disappear (will try and attach pics next time car is here).

Does this sound like hazing to you guys? It's a greyish Honda Accord (2004); I hope I didn't permanently damage the paint/door. I am pretty sure I didn't go above PC speed 4.5-5.0; in fact, I'm hoping that the blotches are a result of my not going back "down" to SSR 2.0 or even SSR 1.0. I wasn't aware at the time that this is necessary.

For future reference:

(1) Do you always use the lightest cutting pads when using SSR's?

(2) Do you have to always "go down" the number order to eliminate this hazing problem? If I use SSR 2.5 and it gets rid of the scratch(s), do I need to go over the area regardless with SSR 2.0 and SSR 1.0 -- and if so, do I use the same pad, maybe rinsed out? Or am I going to need 3 of the same pads (4 if I also use SSR 3.0)?

This is an area where doing something wrong could lead to damage -- not like a debate about using UPP vs. SG vs. EX-P, etc -- so I appreciate any specific advice.
 
WEll i describe hazing as looking like tiny tiny swirls. IF they are dull then that could very well be hazing. To correct this try using SSR2 or SSR1 with a polishing pad. In regards to which pad to use, Always use the least abrasive first. SO try a polishing pad with 2.5 and then step down with a new polishing pad with 1. You dont want to share products on the same pads. When a customer comes in with a swirled car I usually use 2.5 with a ligth cut pad and then 1 with a polishing pad. HTH

Greg
 
GregCavi said:
WEll i describe hazing as looking like tiny tiny swirls. IF they are dull then that could very well be hazing. To correct this try using SSR2 or SSR1 with a polishing pad. In regards to which pad to use, Always use the least abrasive first. SO try a polishing pad with 2.5 and then step down with a new polishing pad with 1. You dont want to share products on the same pads. When a customer comes in with a swirled car I usually use 2.5 with a ligth cut pad and then 1 with a polishing pad. HTH

Greg
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Good advice Greg.

You should also be able to fix it with a little bit of Pro Polish, which IMO is the most underrated product on the shelf. :)
 
PwC is not abrasive either.

I agree with Greg. 2.5 and a cutting pad will without a doubt leave some hazing. I would use a polishing pad with SSR 1 and see if that works. If not, step up to SSR 2 and that should get them out. If your have PP or PwC try that too. Again, don't use a different product on the same pad! I just got the Blue PwC...you may want to give that a try! I hear it's good stuff!

Mike
 
my preference is to use a polishijng pad with the same product if you have used a cutting pad previously..."CUTTING PADS CUT" thus you will often get a haze whether you see it immediately or a little down the line under different lighting.
Then step down to a finer polish , be it SSR2 or SSR1 or Professional Polish which can do some amazing things in the right hands...you can ask Koop about that one too;)
 
GregCavi said:
WEll i describe hazing as looking like tiny tiny swirls. IF they are dull then that could very well be hazing. To correct this try using SSR2 or SSR1 with a polishing pad. In regards to which pad to use, Always use the least abrasive first. SO try a polishing pad with 2.5 and then step down with a new polishing pad with 1. You dont want to share products on the same pads. When a customer comes in with a swirled car I usually use 2.5 with a ligth cut pad and then 1 with a polishing pad. HTH Greg
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Gotcha...then if rinsing out a pad isn't good enough between different SSR's, I guess I need extra pads and should label them depending on which pads are used with which SSR.
 
Poorboy said:
my preference is to use a polishijng pad with the same product if you have used a cutting pad previously..."CUTTING PADS CUT" thus you will often get a haze whether you see it immediately or a little down the line under different lighting.
Then step down to a finer polish , be it SSR2 or SSR1 or Professional Polish which can do some amazing things in the right hands...you can ask Koop about that one too;)
Click to expand...

I think my brain's getting fried...thank god you have the Detailing Event this weekend.

SERENITY NOW !!!!!
 
HondaMan said:
Gotcha...then if rinsing out a pad isn't good enough between different SSR's, I guess I need extra pads and should label them depending on which pads are used with which SSR.
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Personal opinion. Using the same pad for SSR2.5 and SSR1 should be fine if you clean the pad thoroughly after the SSR2.5.
It is not all that easy to get all of the previous product out of a pad so most of us have multiple pads so we can have a dedicated pad for different products.

FWI, I see several references to using cutting pads and while I'm sure many people have good luck with them, I have never felt the need for a cutting pad. I have about 6 or 7 polishing pads and a few finishing pads. I use a polishing pad with polishes and a finishing pad with LSPs. Works for me.

Charles
 
I guess what i said was confusing. You dont have to label your pads to a specific product. It just when you doing a detail you shouldnt use 2.5 and then use 1 on the same pad. After you clean your pads then you can use any product you want on them. Just dont mix the products. There are products that will stain pads such as ssr1 so whenever I am going to use 1 i will use that pad so not all my pads end up being pink.


Greg
 
Poorboy said:
my preference is to use a polishijng pad with the same product if you have used a cutting pad previously..."CUTTING PADS CUT" thus you will often get a haze whether you see it immediately or a little down the line under different lighting.
Then step down to a finer polish , be it SSR2 or SSR1 or Professional Polish which can do some amazing things in the right hands...you can ask Koop about that one too;)
Click to expand...

Gee, does that mean I really do have a clue? :rolling
 
UPDATE: I can't say enough about the guys @ Poorboys. Poorboy and 69 GTO were fantastic, helping everybody, giving advice, assisting in detailing, etc. :dcrules

69 GTO spent alot of time with me giving me advice on the problem above. :jump The mistake WAS using a damn Orange (cutting) pad -- it may say "light polishing" but it isn't. Always use the softest/lowest pad you have, the one right above any finishing pad, when you use the SSR's. A cutting pad with a low-SSR and medium or low speed is STILL going to do more hazing/cutting/damage than a polishing pad with a higher-SSR (except 3.0, of course) and faster speed. Thanks to Poorboy and 69 GTO for getting this through my thick head!

Anyway, 69 GTO manually SSR 2.5'd and then SSR 1.0'd the area of concern...then I hit it with 2 passes of SSR 1.0 with the PC @ 4,500 RPM. My brother said it looked alot better; with some sealants and/or wax, it should be pretty tough to see unless the lighting and his eyes are perfectly aligned.

Thanks again to everybody who helped me on this today, great seeing the rest of the guys at Detailing Day!! :dcrules
 
I wonder if this is why i still have some swirls? I may be using the wrong pads. There are always some minor swirls after im done with my car.
 
97FLAIRSIDE said:
I wonder if this is why i still have some swirls? I may be using the wrong pads. There are always some minor swirls after im done with my car.
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Well, you have to go to the lower SSR's and even Poorboys PP or AIO sometimes. And with the finest -- maybe even a finishing -- polishing pad?

Also, Poorboy was telling us that sometimes -- and this is somthing you just develop a "feel" for -- it can take 3, 4, 5 or more passes before something really tough comes out. He told me about a Porsche he did with AWD that the two of them hit 10 times -- 10 passes !! -- before they got the result they wanted. That's dedication !!

Pictures and posting here should be able to help determine if it's something that will definitely be improved by 2nd and 3rd passes or if even going alot more will just be spinning your wheels. And like Steve/Poorboy said, sometimes you just have to take your chances and see if extra passes will work. When you do it enough times, you'll develop a feel for whether more work will improve the finish or not.
 
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