Getting my car into show car shape

[Skimmer0220]

So I've been on here for a bit now reading and learning and I'm getting my car ready for a big show now I painted it in September and did a full cut and polish in her to remove all the orange peel now I have a lot of swirls in the paint, after spending a bunch if money in other more for their car I'm left with not much to get the swirls out now here's what I do have and what I was thinking
Rotary buffer w/ 6" backing plate
Orange pad
Green pad
Red pad
presets ultra cuting cream (cut with this and a green pad)
3m machine polish (haven't used this yet)

I'm apps open to buying new pads and Meg's 105, 205, and carnauba wax

So that brings me to my other question does what I have seem sufficient enough to remove the swirls or should I the Meg's products or just one of them?

This is where I'm lost and id let the detailing gurus help me

I wish I had the money to just go and buy a nice swirl remover kit

Also I can post pics of the swirls when I get home



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[Skimmer0220]

Nada? Ok all good guess I'll have to figure this one out


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[longdx]

Ok, the Meg twins (105/205) should easily remove the swirls. If you have the money, then get a DA polisher. The 3M machine polish should also easily work (I have not tried it).

[Eandras]

If you are willing to get Meg 105 and 205 and use the orange pad for 105. Is your green pad the cutting pad or a polishing pad. If polishing you could use that one. If not order a white or gray pad for 205.

Get a good quality sealant and wax

[rider9195]

I would try and orange pad with presta cutting creme you have. Then follow with a green pad and the 3M Machine Polish. Do you have a dual action polisher? It may be hard to finish down without holograms with a rotary especially if you are new with it.

[Skimmer0220]

So the orange is the most aggressive cutting pad then he green one and the red is a finishing pad and polishing but I may buy some nice 3m ones the store has

And as much as I want to buy a da I really don't have the money I have an oil leak to fix and have to spend around 300 to fix that so this is kinda where I'm at

I'll probly do a test strip with the 3m machine polish and see how that works and then go after the Meg's combo if they doesn't work

Any suggestions for 3m pads? Or should I use what I have?


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[Skimmer0220]

Originally Posted by rider9195

I would try and orange pad with presta cutting creme you have. Then follow with a green pad and the 3M Machine Polish. Do you have a dual action polisher? It may be hard to finish down without holograms with a rotary especially if you are new with it.

At first I used the presta cutting compound with the green pad And I'll try the machine polish with the green pad next but no budget for a da unless I can pick one up cheap


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[Skimmer0220]

I was hoping to get a test strip done last night but was only able to do a wash and vacuum so maybe Monday I'll be able to get some work done


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[Mike.Phillips@Autogeek]

Originally Posted by Skimmer0220

Nada? Ok all good guess I'll have to figure this one out

You don't have to figure it out on your own but forums are not always spontaneous. For example I was in the studio most of yesterday preparing to create a show car finish myself and as such, didn't see your post or would have chimed-in in a timely manner...

Originally Posted by Skimmer0220

here's what I do have

Rotary buffer w/ 6" backing plate
Orange pad
Green pad
Red pad


I'm apps open to buying new pads and Meg's 105, 205, and carnauba wax

So that brings me to my other question does what I have seem sufficient enough to remove the swirls or should I the Meg's products or just one of them?

I've never used the Presta product but I've read good things about them. To me the only test that counts is how they work on black paint. The abrasive technology either works or it doesn't.

Meguiar's, Optima and Menzerna have very good abrasive technology.


If you want to do it right and do it once and get the results you're looking for then get the Meguiar's M105 and the M205, these two products are in the tops in their category for removing swirls and creating a show car finish with a deep, wet shine.

Rotary buffers tend to always impart their own swirl patterns in the paint. IF you finish out with the M205 and a soft, clean foam finishing pad AND apply a good coat of wax onto the paint you will have a swirl free finish at least in appearance and that's just as good as a true swirl-free finish for most people especially if you keep wax on the paint.

You can try to use the product you have, if you do then do a TEST SPOT to one section of the paint, by this I mean, do all the steps using the pads and products you have to say half of the hood, including applying whatever wax or paint sealant you have and then move the car into full, overhead sunlight and inspect the paint.

IF the paint looks good to you and you're happy with the results then duplicate this process over the rest of the car.

If the paint doesn't look good to you, that is you see holograms, then get the Meguiar's Twins and a good wax.


Read these two articles,

How To Do a Test Spot
(and why it's so important)

Hologram Free with a Rotary Buffer




I'm subscribing to this thread and hope to read your follow-up sharing your success.

[Skimmer0220]

Thanks do much Mike I do get a bit anxious but was getting some responses but the presto was really the first stage from removing the orange peel

This is the polished side with presta and sanded side

But the products I did get we're from a professional paint shop, the other question is should I invest in some better pads? I only have 3 from about I bought from 3d car care (please forgive me) I learned the hard way not to buy from them

So I'll see if I can get half the hood polished with the machine polish Monday (of corse the weekends already booked)



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