DA Newbie looking for swirl removal direction

[Evanman2010]

Hello all,

First I'll start with I am new to the Forum but not new to detailing world, I've been big into detailing well over 10 years now. I have recently bought a new Griots Garage DA Polisher combo from our local auto-zone (First time with a DA polisher). I purchased a couple extra pads with it as well. I have a white 2003 Silverado that is completely covered in light swirls all over the body (only seen in sunlight), also this has been a Michigan truck its entire life. I want to get rid of these and take this paint back to a new finish. What steps would you recommend with my set up? I’m at a total loss of what swirl remover to use, what compound to start with and what else to use to follow that up. I have done hours of research just to find 100's of brands that say they are the best. I’m at a loss with the levels of abrasion from each company and what I should start with (Don’t want to cut too deep if it is not needed). What pad color would you recommend also to use. I have both Klasse AIO and Sealant Glaze as well as P21S Carnauba wax that I plan on finishing up the process with. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

- Evan

[Paul A.]

First off, welcome to the forum, Evan! It might help to get just a little more info. What pads do you have. Additionally, what cutting products do you have i.e. compounds, medium cutting and/or light cutting products. Finally a picture of what you are trying to correct in the full sun would help to gauge the severity of the paint.

The cardinal rule here is to always do some test spots with a few different methods to see what will be the most effective.

[Mike Phillips]

Hello all,

What steps would you recommend with my set up?

I’m at a total loss of what swirl remover to use, what compound to start with and what else to use to follow that up.

I have done hours of research just to find 100's of brands that say they are the best. I’m at a loss with the levels of abrasion from each company and what I should start with (Don’t want to cut too deep if it is not needed).

What pad color would you recommend also to use. I have both Klasse AIO and Sealant Glaze as well as P21S Carnauba wax that I plan on finishing up the process with. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

- Evan



I Evan,

Welcome to AutogeekOnline! :welcome:


Since you purchased the Griot's polisher and their pads, might as well stick with Griot's compounds and polishes,

Get these, simply click on the below links and get them shipped right to your door or call our Customer Care staff and cite this thread,

1-800-869-3011


Griots Garage BOSS Correcting Cream (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-boss-correcting-cream.html) - Aggressive compound

Griots Garage BOSS Perfecting Cream (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-boss-perfecting-cream.html) - Fine cut polish


Griots Garage BOSS Finishing Sealant (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-boss-finishing-sealant.html) - Jeweling wax (technically a jeweling sealant)


Then do a Test Spot - Click the link below and read my article,


How To Do a Test Spot (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/50162-how-do-test-spot.html)


Basically you would test the Perfecting Cream with a polishing pad on your DA and then inspect the results. If you like what you see then use this combo over the entire truck.

If it didn't remove enough swirls and scratches then test the Correcting Cream with a cutting pad. This should do the trick if the first combo didn't. Then use this combo over the entire truck and then come back and re-polish the entire truck using the Finishing Sealant.

Done.




Just to note... I use to call on auto parts store, both PBE and Hard Parts, (you bought from what is called a Hard Parts store), and that's the difference between this forum and those stores. We sell the products, tools and pads and then back up the sales with this discussion forum to help our customers figure out how to use them correctly.

You can't get that from the people behind the counter at auto parts stores. They can take your money but they can't answer your questions.



:)

[Mike Phillips]

Also, read this before you start. It will prevent you from making all the common mistakes


DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37769-da-polisher-trouble-shooting-guide.html)


Here's a couple more for you...

Why it's important to clean your pads often... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/28755-why-s-important-clean-your-pads-often.html)


How to divide larger body panels into smaller sections for machine buffing (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/74401-how-divide-larger-body-panels-into-smaller-sections-machine-buffing.html)


Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/49489-video-mark-your-backing-plate-make-easy-see-pad-rotation.html)




:)

[Evanman2010]

Thank you! I do not currently have any photos, I will try and get some of the swirls and upload when I have a chance. As for the pads, I have the orange correcting pad, red waxing and black finishing pads all from Griots Garage. As for compounds I have some one step sealant that came with the polisher. I also picked up some complete compound over the weekend but have not tried it yet. I also have Meguiars Scratch-X. Not sure If I should stick to the Griots Garage products for swirl remover or if you guys recommend anything else? I plan on testing some products on the roof, starting with the complete compound.

[Evanman2010]

Just what I am looking for. Thank you Mike. I was planning on purchasing from the forum here but the local store had a blowout sale and I have some leftover gift card. I have purchased almost all my products from here before and plan to keep it that way. Ill give these products a shot. Would you recommend using the Klasse and P21S products after the BOSS Products?

[Mike Phillips]

Just what I am looking for. Thank you Mike. I was planning on purchasing from the forum here but the local store had a blowout sale and I have some leftover gift card.



Completely understand I we help people no matter where they purchase their products.

Because I have experience calling on PBE store and Hard Parts stores, specifically I called on these store to "attempt" to train the sales clerks I know a little bit about this segment of the retail industry and for the most part you'll never find a sales clerk that works at a store like this that actually knows enough to tell you how to do anything correctly because they're just their for the paycheck.




I have purchased almost all my products from here before and plan to keep it that way.



And we appreciate that and hope you share AGO with all your car buddies!






Would you recommend using the Klasse and P21S products after the BOSS Products?



Sure. The Griot's BOSS Finishing Sealant IS a sealant so after you wipe it off technically you're done.

If you want to do what's called topping, that is top the finishing sealant with another sealing product then use the P21S as it's a non-cleaning wax.

The Klasse AIO is a cleaner/wax and will remove the Griot's Finishing Sealant

The Klasse SG is an acrylic resin and probably would not form a proper bond to the Finishing Sealant.

You would be good to go with the P21S though.

Couple of tips with P21S. Apply a thin coat as a thick coat can be hard to wipe off. See these two articles,


I wrote this article specifically for Klasse Sealant Glaze but the same tips apply to P21S and other products that can be HARD to wipe off if you over use them.

A tip for working with waxes, paint sealants or coatings that are new to you (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tricks-tips-techniques/37279-tip-working-waxes-paint-sealants-coatings-new-you.html)



And here's my article on topping,

Topping - Definition - How to Top also called Topping (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/40089-topping-definition-how-top-also-called-topping.html)




:)