spike
05-10-2010, 01:04 AM
So I did a one step for a friend today on a white 2001 Ford Escort ZX2. I tried to use what I had on hand to do it with, and just for experimentation I used Megs Speed Glaze #80 for the polish. The paint seemed smooth for such an old car, and I didn't have a lot of time to spend on it because she needed her car back, so I skipped the clay bar. So, no pics, but I know you guys will know exactly what I'm talking about...
First washed with ONR, then taped up and used Speed Glaze with Flex 3401 and a white CCS pad. I did a "test spot" on the hood, then pulled out into the sun to compare. What I saw was that the swirls were slightly less, but they were still there. So I used the orange CCS pad, and it took most of the swirls off, but the finish looked like there was some hazing and I didn't think it finished down very well left like that (in my rookie detailer opinion). So I just did the whole car with the white pad, because I was trying to do only a one step polish because of time constraints. What I got was cleaner, slicker paint, and some of the swirls were removed, but a whole lot were left. Of course I realize that the car is old and not well-maintained, and that's why it has lots of swirls on it, but sheesh. I thought I could at least put a dent in them! But it looked like I didn't do much to remove them. I'm sure it's because my product choice was not the greatest for the job. But the paint did get "squeaky" clean! My LSP was Collinite 845.
Questions:
I've been reading lots of threads about one step polishes, and these are the 2 that keep standing out: XMT 360, and Optimum Poli-Seal. I want to buy one of these for jobs like I just did.
1. Which one removes more swirls?
2. What pad should I use for the XMT 360 and the Poli-seal? Do they both finish down nicely with CCS orange, or do you always use a CCS white pad for one-step corrections? I read something about a green pad in one of the threads. Is that a better choice?
3. And is it normal to only get rid of some of the swirls on a one-step, but not get rid of most of them? I assume so, but I at least thought I could get rid of more than I did. It almost looks like I didn't do any polishing! But I am still new to polishing, and using different products, so maybe I didn't use the M80 correctly. Here's what I did: Used CCS white and polished for about 4 mins per section with several section passes. It was hard to see when the polish had broken down on the white car, so I just timed everything. I was afraid I was going to be buffing it dry, so I only polished for 4 mins per section.
4. Please tell me how you do your one steps? With what product/pads? Wanting to learn more!! :hungry:
Thanks in advance, guys. I know there are a lot of questions here, but I didn't want to start multiple threads...
:)
First washed with ONR, then taped up and used Speed Glaze with Flex 3401 and a white CCS pad. I did a "test spot" on the hood, then pulled out into the sun to compare. What I saw was that the swirls were slightly less, but they were still there. So I used the orange CCS pad, and it took most of the swirls off, but the finish looked like there was some hazing and I didn't think it finished down very well left like that (in my rookie detailer opinion). So I just did the whole car with the white pad, because I was trying to do only a one step polish because of time constraints. What I got was cleaner, slicker paint, and some of the swirls were removed, but a whole lot were left. Of course I realize that the car is old and not well-maintained, and that's why it has lots of swirls on it, but sheesh. I thought I could at least put a dent in them! But it looked like I didn't do much to remove them. I'm sure it's because my product choice was not the greatest for the job. But the paint did get "squeaky" clean! My LSP was Collinite 845.
Questions:
I've been reading lots of threads about one step polishes, and these are the 2 that keep standing out: XMT 360, and Optimum Poli-Seal. I want to buy one of these for jobs like I just did.
1. Which one removes more swirls?
2. What pad should I use for the XMT 360 and the Poli-seal? Do they both finish down nicely with CCS orange, or do you always use a CCS white pad for one-step corrections? I read something about a green pad in one of the threads. Is that a better choice?
3. And is it normal to only get rid of some of the swirls on a one-step, but not get rid of most of them? I assume so, but I at least thought I could get rid of more than I did. It almost looks like I didn't do any polishing! But I am still new to polishing, and using different products, so maybe I didn't use the M80 correctly. Here's what I did: Used CCS white and polished for about 4 mins per section with several section passes. It was hard to see when the polish had broken down on the white car, so I just timed everything. I was afraid I was going to be buffing it dry, so I only polished for 4 mins per section.
4. Please tell me how you do your one steps? With what product/pads? Wanting to learn more!! :hungry:
Thanks in advance, guys. I know there are a lot of questions here, but I didn't want to start multiple threads...
:)