The in-between and even the last step

[HUMP DIESEL]

If you have been on any forum long, you hear alot about "One step" or "Two Step" to LSP. I think recently a good number of guys are getting great results in doing this, but I think that we may be selling some details short.

Lately I have seen where the in-between step has gained a considerable amount of refinement and clarity. What I mean by an in-between step is that compound or medium polish that everyone seems to have, but not many people use.

Classic example would be to use something like HD Cut and then HD Adapt and then finish with HD Polish. Some would say go from cut to polish, but try next time you are doing a correction project to do your cutting stage, then switch out to the medium (In-between) polish and a light cutting pad to do a pass. Once that is complete, wipe the whole car down with Eraser or equivalent and then step down to the Finish polish on a fine pad. I can bet that many of you will see a significant clarity and depth change.

Obviously, this thought process is nothing new in terms of detailing, some may even consider it too time consuming, but I can tell that when I do this type of polishing, I get much better results in not that much longer time.

Today's chemicals are great and doing one steps and light two steps is more the norm, but if you ever get that one that you just want to see, try it for yourself.

I suspect Mike could pull up some older articles he has written about the different steps.


Just some food for thought.

HUMP

[Zubair]

If you removed the defects in the compounding step why do a redundant step and further remove precious clear coat?

[HUMP DIESEL]

If you removed the defects in the compounding step why do a redundant step and further remove precious clear coat?

To further refine the finish. Same reason why after compounding, you polish to remove the haze left behind.

HUMP

[JeffM]

I go from a heavy step to a polish, then essence.

[custmsprty]

To further refine the finish. Same reason why after compounding, you polish to remove the haze left behind.

HUMP

If I got results with Adapt from this swirled out mess to this amazing clarity why would I want to bother with any additional steps other than finishing with an LSP?







Or this never detailed swirled out oxidized mess of a Chevy with FG400 in one step then and LSP?





Swirl free with FG400 in one step.

[7.3powerstroke]

Thanks for the tip!

[Zubair]

To further refine the finish. Same reason why after compounding, you polish to remove the haze left behind.

HUMP

In the rare event the compound needed refining, any finishing polish should clear that up, no need to cut paint again with a medium polish and gain nothing in clarity or shine, just reduced paint thickness.

[wing commander]

[QUOTE=HUMP DIESEL;1391454]To further refine the finish. Same reason why after compounding, you polish to remove the haze left behind.

I understand this is for further perfecting the paint. I tried this on my hood and could not see the difference,however the paint must have been better under a microscope because it washed bugs off easier and felt slicker when drying that 3 stepped area compared to the other 2 stepped areas. Just for fun it was noticeable and for my own enjoyment worth it.

[TTQ B4U]

Classic example would be to use something like HD Cut and then HD Adapt and then finish with HD Polish.

If I got results with Adapt from this swirled out mess to this amazing clarity why would I want to bother with any additional steps other than finishing with an LSP?

I'm with custmsprty on this, especially as it relates to HDAdapt. There's no need for HP Polish after using Adapt if done correctly. I have used it on a Solid Black 2015 Mustang and even tried HDSpeed after just to "see" if I could improve upon the black-glass it left behind and the answer was no. I went straight to a LSP without issue.

I do think with some products like Megs Ulitmate Compound and perhaps other pairings you will but with Adapt, I have yet to use it and see a difference. The only additional time that I will add that has yielded any difference is when using a Jeweling polish like McKey's 37 and a nice Glaze which I use Chem Guys Blacklight.

Many of today's products finish so darn nicely that you're really going to split hairs to see a difference if you do at all.

[idriveblackcars]

This year after a long winter my personal car hardly needed any correction at all. I had full intentions of doing 2 steps as usual but the yellow Rupes pad finishes so good I didn't even need to use the white. I didn't even waste my time this year going back over it. I did half my hood with the Rupes white pad and polish to match and literally could not see a difference even under lights.