Good but not perfect

[DyVillian]

Good but not perfect


Recently started doing detailing on some of mt dads cars.

First car i started on was my own. Definite learning curve with polishing. Used too much product, went too fast, ect.

Got more practice and im now on my 3rd car. 2008 mercedes c300 red paint. Im using a 105 compound on an orange pad followed by pinnacle swirl remover/orange pad, then the same compound on a white pad.

If i do straight to a white pad it does not remove all the swirls. Is this normal?

Also, i follow that up with the NXT glaze, plus best of show wax from griots. Great shine and so far swirls are gone using the porter cable.

Still scratches in the paint though. Is this from not cutting hard enough?


Ill post a before and after so you can see how trashed this paint was.



:)

[Mike Phillips]

First, since this is your first post...


Welcome to AutogeekOnline! :welcome:






Im using a 105 compound on an orange pad followed by pinnacle swirl remover/orange pad, then the same compound on a white pad.



The third step is wasted time, wasted product, wasted wear-n-tear on the pad.





If i do straight to a white pad it does not remove all the swirls. Is this normal?



Any and all defects you want to remove need to be removed during the first step. The second step just refines the results of the first step.





Also, i follow that up with the NXT glaze, plus best of show wax from griots. Great shine and so far swirls are gone using the porter cable.

Still scratches in the paint though. Is this from not cutting hard enough?




Sounds like RIDS or Random Isolated Deeper Scratches. See my article here,

RIDS - The Definition of RIDS and the story behind the term... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/24045-rids-definition-rids-story-behind-term.html)



Also, sounds like you're doing show car detailing when you should be doing production detailing.

See my article here, this is important. Be sure to read it carefully and then think about the work, time, amount of product you're using and the type of cars you're working on and the customers.

A few tips on starting a part-time detailing business (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-make-money-detailing-cars/27827-few-tips-starting-part-time-detailing-business.html)



:)

[TTQ B4U]

Recently started doing detailing on some of mt dads cars. First car i started on was my own. Definite learning curve with polishing. Used too much product, went too fast, ect. Got more practice and im now on my 3rd car. 2008 mercedes c300 red paint. Im using a 105 compound on an orange pad followed by pinnacle swirl remover/orange pad, then the same compound on a white pad. If i do straight to a white pad it does not remove all the swirls. Is this normal? Also, i follow that up with the NXT glaze, plus best of show wax from griots. Great shine and so far swirls are gone using the porter cable. Still scratches in the paint though. Is this from not cutting hard enough? Ill post a before and after so you can see how trashed this paint was.

Welcome to the obsession and fun. Looking forward to seeing some pics of your work. The learning curve is fun even though it's hard work. At least I hope you feel that as it's never ending it seems.

Here are my thoughts. Initially What type of buffer and and pads are you using? Product is key, but I mention technique as it's critical that you keep the buffer rotating as if it's not then you're not correcting. Be sure to mark the backing plate with a single has mark from a black sharpie so you can see if it's rotating.

That said, let's assume it's rotating and you're machine is doing it's job. In terms of correcting, the product is key as it's what touches the surface and is really doing the work. M105 on an orange pad is a good combo to normally quickly cut through things. I'm not familiar with NXT Glaze though. However, if you're removing the swirls and what not but are left with Random Imperfections, Defects and Scratches aka RIDS, those are likely ones that may need something like wet-sanding down then polished. I won't get into the details here but read up on wet-sanding as while it's easy, it's also easy to mess up if you're not careful. Knowing that you might also want to really find out what the customer is looking to have done. I would bet the vast majority of your customers would be fine with near full correction and a few RIDS. Especially if you're up-front about the potential if you attempt to go too far.

While I'm very comfortable wet sanding and taking thickness measurements to insure success, there are times where I will approach customers their thoughts. If I'm even remotely not comfortable attempting things, I won't. That helps insure I error on the side of safe vs sorry. Especially if the customer says it's not a big deal. I'm here to impress them but not put myself in jeopardy should I mess up.

After all that, yes you could press on and attempt to compound or polish out the scratches but IMO you're covering too large of an area and have to weigh in removal of so much clear coat in the hopes/attempts to remove a single mark. Thus why wet-sanding plays a part.

Now in terms of Orange vs White pads, yes, what you're seeing is normal. Pads density and make up impact their cutting ability. A white pad is for very light polishing. Micro marring or light scratches. I wouldn't necessarily use the white pad and same product after the initial correction. The latter is to remove haze and refine the polish. The cutting is where the real work should be done. In other words, Correct/compound then polish and refine, then seal/protect. Make sense?

[DyVillian]

Appreciate the quick response! These are my dads cars, and because of that im doing the show car quality. Gets more practice for me, and makes him happy. I make sure to keep the pads constantly moving and not stop anywhere. I may try using just a white pad and skipping the orange for now to see if i cant get that combo to work. Im having issues with the phone uploading pics, but you will understand what i meant by trashed. Bought it used 2 months ago so not his fault lol.

[DyVillian]

5668456685


Little before and after

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[TTQ B4U]

Appreciate the quick response! These are my dads cars, and because of that im doing the show car quality. Gets more practice for me, and makes him happy. I make sure to keep the pads constantly moving and not stop anywhere. I may try using just a white pad and skipping the orange for now to see if i cant get that combo to work. Im having issues with the phone uploading pics, but you will understand what i meant by trashed. Bought it used 2 months ago so not his fault lol.

Looking forward to pics. Just keep in mind where white pads fit-in as it relates to use with products. Again, they are a light polishing pad not a full correction pad. You'll do far better matching and product to the need. White pads are for polishing light mars and swirls, and perhaps lightly refining a polished car or removal of road grime. If the paint is trashed you'll need an orange pad, microfiber or even wool. I use them all and match with product for the paints needs. It does also depend on the paint. For example on soft Honda Paint you may find some of those combo's too harsh.

[DyVillian]

56686

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[DyVillian]

Hard to tell from the uploads, but the 2nd pic was the finished product.

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[TTQ B4U]

I'll leave my gallery for this rare baby for you to view. Again, match the product and pad to the paint. You'll thank me later.

This was M101 Compound on microfiber followed by a polish on either a green or orange pad. I can't recall.

MBZ AMG 36 by PDQS4 | Photobucket (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/PDQS4/library/Some%20of%20the%20vehicles%20I%20have%20detailed/MBZ%20AMG%2036?sort=2&page=1)


BEFORE:

http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah133/PDQS4/Some%20of%20the%20vehicles%20I%20have%20detailed/MBZ%20AMG%2036/20161118_110211%20web_zpss0kfqmji.jpg (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/PDQS4/media/Some%20of%20the%20vehicles%20I%20have%20detailed/MBZ%20AMG%2036/20161118_110211%20web_zpss0kfqmji.jpg.html)

AFTER:

http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/ah133/PDQS4/Some%20of%20the%20vehicles%20I%20have%20detailed/MBZ%20AMG%2036/20161118_210301%20web_zpsbvxcrxbs.jpg (http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/PDQS4/media/Some%20of%20the%20vehicles%20I%20have%20detailed/MBZ%20AMG%2036/20161118_210301%20web_zpsbvxcrxbs.jpg.html)


Again, see the gallery for more of each.

[DyVillian]

Agreed, i just tried the white pad without the orange and it worked how i wanted. 1 less step woo lol. The swirl remover takes care of anything left after the 105. Love the porter cable. Best thing ever

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[TTQ B4U]

Agreed, i just tried the white pad without the orange and it worked how i wanted. 1 less step woo lol. The swirl remover takes care of anything left after the 105. Love the porter cable. Best thing ever

I'll start by stating if you think the porter cable is the best thing ever, then go buy a Flex 3401 and come back to me :) Think Kia Rio vs MBZ AMG 63. With a Flex you'll finish in 1/3 to 1/2 the time, never stall or slow and have a wider range of pads that work well with it.

Also, in terms of 1 Step, you'd be surprised at how well today's wool and MF perform. The follow up polishing is really just a couple 2-3 passes with a white pad and you're at perfection. Not much work at all. I used Meg's M205 on Wool to cut through some mild swirls on this Optima and honestly there was really not much if any need to go back over it with a finishing pad and polish. I did just a couple passes on each panel though to make myself feel better. The end results is stunning.

http://s1379.photobucket.com/user/PDQS4/library/Some%20of%20the%20vehicles%20I%20have%20detailed/2013%20Kio%20Optima%20Turbo?sort=3&page=1

[DyVillian]

56689

She's finally done.

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