olfac87
04-24-2021, 03:51 PM
I made the plunge with my first big purchase and started on my first car today. I wanted to share a few first impressions and also ask for some feedback to guide me as I keep going. Feel free to skip to step 4 if you just want to see what my questions are.
Project: 2007 Volvo V70R, black sapphire metallic paint. Not had a paint correction in at least 8 years, probably ever (I've only owned it 8 years).
Step 1: BLACKFIRE Iron Remover on a dry car. Boy, you sure use a lot of it for one car. I will be buying more soon. It seemed to work, although as Mike says, without a white car it can be hard to tell. I did see purple ooze on the ground so I think it worked.
Step 2: Rinse off Iron Remover and full two bucket wash. Used Palmolive to strip off wax from last time I waxed it.
Step 3: Griots Brilliant Finish Synthetic Clay with car soap/water as lubricant. It seemed to work well. I've done a clay bar in the past and this was easier. Admittedly, I did not follow with an actual clay bar to see if it would pick up more. The plastic bag test seemed to reveal smooth paint. Rinsed and dried the car with a blower.
Step 4 (in the middle of now): Griots G9 DA with 5" plate, Griots Correcting Cream Compound, LC Orange pad. This is where I could use some help. I have done the drivers side and hood. I used three pads so far so I am changing them out. I did 4-6 passes per 2'x2' section, up and down and back forth, very slowly. Cleaned off with microfiber towel and a little quick detailer. The car looks shiny, no doubt, and better than before I started.
What I am wondering is should I expect more in terms of scratch and defect removal? Below are some photos. None of the defects in the pictures catch with a fingernail; they are all smooth. Should I be able to remove these types of defects and scratches? Do I need to increase aggressiveness to something like Griots Fast Correcting Cream and/or a Yellow Pad? Am I not using the G9 correctly? It didn't seem to need much pressure.
I read or heard somewhere that even professional detailers say they can't make the paint perfect, just as best they can. Since this is my first time, I don't know if I have reached the limit or if there is more I should try.
Thank you.
7316473165731667316773168
Project: 2007 Volvo V70R, black sapphire metallic paint. Not had a paint correction in at least 8 years, probably ever (I've only owned it 8 years).
Step 1: BLACKFIRE Iron Remover on a dry car. Boy, you sure use a lot of it for one car. I will be buying more soon. It seemed to work, although as Mike says, without a white car it can be hard to tell. I did see purple ooze on the ground so I think it worked.
Step 2: Rinse off Iron Remover and full two bucket wash. Used Palmolive to strip off wax from last time I waxed it.
Step 3: Griots Brilliant Finish Synthetic Clay with car soap/water as lubricant. It seemed to work well. I've done a clay bar in the past and this was easier. Admittedly, I did not follow with an actual clay bar to see if it would pick up more. The plastic bag test seemed to reveal smooth paint. Rinsed and dried the car with a blower.
Step 4 (in the middle of now): Griots G9 DA with 5" plate, Griots Correcting Cream Compound, LC Orange pad. This is where I could use some help. I have done the drivers side and hood. I used three pads so far so I am changing them out. I did 4-6 passes per 2'x2' section, up and down and back forth, very slowly. Cleaned off with microfiber towel and a little quick detailer. The car looks shiny, no doubt, and better than before I started.
What I am wondering is should I expect more in terms of scratch and defect removal? Below are some photos. None of the defects in the pictures catch with a fingernail; they are all smooth. Should I be able to remove these types of defects and scratches? Do I need to increase aggressiveness to something like Griots Fast Correcting Cream and/or a Yellow Pad? Am I not using the G9 correctly? It didn't seem to need much pressure.
I read or heard somewhere that even professional detailers say they can't make the paint perfect, just as best they can. Since this is my first time, I don't know if I have reached the limit or if there is more I should try.
Thank you.
7316473165731667316773168