TMQ
04-08-2017, 01:23 PM
Just a couple of hours ago my worst fears were confirmed. Finally had a bright beautiful sunny day and lo behold---swirls the size of my 6 inch pads!
Four days ago I spent 17 hours over 2 days compounding and polishing my 2014 Lexus GS 350.
Mind you---the car looks awesome. Clarity and gloss out of this world. Even the swirls are hard to see. But had this nagging suspicion it wasn't right. Couldn't put a finger on why.
Weather was so and so all week until the sun came out today. During the week---I checked the car out a couple of times at nights with lights out in the garage. With a pen light, I was able to find few swirls here and there. I was worried until today.
Upon reflection---I made every mistake possible in every step of the way! That's worst than a hack detailer!
Compounded and polished using Rupes 15 mark II.
Had on hand complete Rupes system.
I did a test spot. Started with the green pad and Quarz medium (green bottle). no change
Went aggressive---blue pad with zephir course compound (blue bottle)---much better. But wasn't too happy but thought was par for course (my first mistake)
Then did the Diamond ultra fine (white bottle) Improvement still. But nothing like all the pictures I see on the forum of before and afters. Wasn't blown away by the results. Thought was best the Rupes can do. (Second mistake)
Went to town---started compounding. (3rd mistake) Shulda stopped and find out why I wasn't happy.
During the 17 hour ordeal---the car/paint kept fighting me and knew paint should get better, nicer, and change for the better.
During compounding---Way, way too much dust!!! worst than woodworking! Tons of crap pulled of pads with brush. I thought this isn't right. I didn't Stop. (4th mistake).
Started polishing step---same deal, wasn't finishing down right. Hard to wipe off product. Shulda stop. (5th mistake)
Sealed with P808. All's good, so I thought. But a little voice in my head said---It isn't right.
In next four days waiting for the sun to come out I, cracked open Mike Phillips' "The RUPES Bigfoot Paint Polishing System." book and read. (opps and oh...oh...)
And read pages and pages in the forum section re Rupes systems. (Opps---more oh...oh...aw shxt!)
And found the "chart" of how and when use the system posted by Todd. (Aw s@#T! and #%@&)
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/rupes-bigfoot-oribital-polishers/96188-rupes-pad-compound-recommendation-charts.html
Conclusion:
1. Should have checked how Rupes system works.
2. Should have listen to my gut.
3. Two things stood out, Very dusty and hard to wipe off.
4. The car, based on my 17 hour experience and the warning/advise via the Rupes chart by Todd, My car was showing
behavior of a Soft and Sticky paint!!! The Blue pad/Zephir and the white pad/Diamond UltraFine were the worst thing to use!!! No wonder it fought me the whole way!
The car does look great and swirls are hard to see unless one really looks at it just right.
But I know major swirls are there.
Lesson?
Read, Check and Ask!
Dang the humiliation! Grin...
Tom
Four days ago I spent 17 hours over 2 days compounding and polishing my 2014 Lexus GS 350.
Mind you---the car looks awesome. Clarity and gloss out of this world. Even the swirls are hard to see. But had this nagging suspicion it wasn't right. Couldn't put a finger on why.
Weather was so and so all week until the sun came out today. During the week---I checked the car out a couple of times at nights with lights out in the garage. With a pen light, I was able to find few swirls here and there. I was worried until today.
Upon reflection---I made every mistake possible in every step of the way! That's worst than a hack detailer!
Compounded and polished using Rupes 15 mark II.
Had on hand complete Rupes system.
I did a test spot. Started with the green pad and Quarz medium (green bottle). no change
Went aggressive---blue pad with zephir course compound (blue bottle)---much better. But wasn't too happy but thought was par for course (my first mistake)
Then did the Diamond ultra fine (white bottle) Improvement still. But nothing like all the pictures I see on the forum of before and afters. Wasn't blown away by the results. Thought was best the Rupes can do. (Second mistake)
Went to town---started compounding. (3rd mistake) Shulda stopped and find out why I wasn't happy.
During the 17 hour ordeal---the car/paint kept fighting me and knew paint should get better, nicer, and change for the better.
During compounding---Way, way too much dust!!! worst than woodworking! Tons of crap pulled of pads with brush. I thought this isn't right. I didn't Stop. (4th mistake).
Started polishing step---same deal, wasn't finishing down right. Hard to wipe off product. Shulda stop. (5th mistake)
Sealed with P808. All's good, so I thought. But a little voice in my head said---It isn't right.
In next four days waiting for the sun to come out I, cracked open Mike Phillips' "The RUPES Bigfoot Paint Polishing System." book and read. (opps and oh...oh...)
And read pages and pages in the forum section re Rupes systems. (Opps---more oh...oh...aw shxt!)
And found the "chart" of how and when use the system posted by Todd. (Aw s@#T! and #%@&)
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/rupes-bigfoot-oribital-polishers/96188-rupes-pad-compound-recommendation-charts.html
Conclusion:
1. Should have checked how Rupes system works.
2. Should have listen to my gut.
3. Two things stood out, Very dusty and hard to wipe off.
4. The car, based on my 17 hour experience and the warning/advise via the Rupes chart by Todd, My car was showing
behavior of a Soft and Sticky paint!!! The Blue pad/Zephir and the white pad/Diamond UltraFine were the worst thing to use!!! No wonder it fought me the whole way!
The car does look great and swirls are hard to see unless one really looks at it just right.
But I know major swirls are there.
Lesson?
Read, Check and Ask!
Dang the humiliation! Grin...
Tom