stebob
06-30-2010, 09:36 AM
Ok, I've now done 3 cars (I'm a noob for sure) including my '05 white Dodge Ram. I've also done a '03 silver Cadillac Deville and a '98 black Honda Prelude. None of them was I able to COMPLETELY remove the swirls and scratches from. I was able to GREATLY improve their appearance and I was the only one to still be able to see the issues left behind, but still. My truck turned out the best, but I spent more time on it. A LOT more time. It often took many, many, many section passes with extreme pressure with orange and UC (more on the process below). I never could actually stop the Griots with extreme pressure! Still, though..the swirls are still there. They are much smaller and finer in detail, but there nonetheless.
The Caddy turned out ok. Since it was silver it doesn't show up, get in the light and I can see the left over swirls and scratches. The Prelude looks 10 times better, but still swirls...it's the worse of the 3. I JUST got some 5.5" pads and did the Caddy with those. I used 6.5 on my truck and the Prelude. Honestly..I couldn't tell much difference between them other than the 5.5" fit better in some areas.
I'll tell you a quick bit about my process and see if you guys have any recommendations.
1. Wash with Meg Gold Class shampoo
2. Dry with Absorber and microfibers* following Absorber
3. Clay with Meg Smooth Clay
4. LC flat orange pad on Griot's polisher (setting 6) with Meg Ultimate Compound
5. LC flat white pad with Meg SwirlX (setting 5)
6. LC flat gray/black pad with Meg Gold Class 'nuba wax
7. remove wax by hand with microfibers*
*microfibers are yellow and purchased from Costco
I've ready many, many, many posts and watched Mike's videos several times over...I feel like I personally know the guy. I believe I'm doing it right. I use firm and often much more than firm pressure. More pressure than I know it should take. I have a slow arm speed. Seems slower than Mike's even. I do 6-8 section passes. I sometimes will repeat the 6-8 section passes 2 or 3 times, even done 5-6, with the UC (always with orange pad). I clean on the fly. Usually after a couple complete section pass segments. I do change the pads. I use 4 orange pads on a vehicle. I kinda go buy 1/4's. Each 1/4 gets a new pad unless I didn't tape off and hit the window trim real good and black out the pad...yeah..I've done that. STILL they are not being completely removed. I know I sometimes do a bit bigger area than 20" x 20", so maybe that has somethinng to do with it. I might go out 2-2.5 x 2-2.5". I haven't convinced myself the bit larger area is what is the difference between perfect swirl free vs. have them left over...I dunno. I just know I see guys using these same combinations and the pics look like there is not a scratch much less a swirl to be seen anywhere. I'm thinking I need a more agressive pad. I'm really thinking I need to start using yellow pads at 1st and then move to orange and white. Maybe it's the UC? I have a hard time believing that, though, with the results I've seen a lot of guys get them it.
Any tips? I have the patience and the desire and take the time to get this right...I guess I just haven't found the right combination. I just can't believe orange and UC isn't it, though. After 3 cars from 3 manufacturers that I'm sure have different hardnesses to them....
Frustrated and disappointed.. :(
The Caddy turned out ok. Since it was silver it doesn't show up, get in the light and I can see the left over swirls and scratches. The Prelude looks 10 times better, but still swirls...it's the worse of the 3. I JUST got some 5.5" pads and did the Caddy with those. I used 6.5 on my truck and the Prelude. Honestly..I couldn't tell much difference between them other than the 5.5" fit better in some areas.
I'll tell you a quick bit about my process and see if you guys have any recommendations.
1. Wash with Meg Gold Class shampoo
2. Dry with Absorber and microfibers* following Absorber
3. Clay with Meg Smooth Clay
4. LC flat orange pad on Griot's polisher (setting 6) with Meg Ultimate Compound
5. LC flat white pad with Meg SwirlX (setting 5)
6. LC flat gray/black pad with Meg Gold Class 'nuba wax
7. remove wax by hand with microfibers*
*microfibers are yellow and purchased from Costco
I've ready many, many, many posts and watched Mike's videos several times over...I feel like I personally know the guy. I believe I'm doing it right. I use firm and often much more than firm pressure. More pressure than I know it should take. I have a slow arm speed. Seems slower than Mike's even. I do 6-8 section passes. I sometimes will repeat the 6-8 section passes 2 or 3 times, even done 5-6, with the UC (always with orange pad). I clean on the fly. Usually after a couple complete section pass segments. I do change the pads. I use 4 orange pads on a vehicle. I kinda go buy 1/4's. Each 1/4 gets a new pad unless I didn't tape off and hit the window trim real good and black out the pad...yeah..I've done that. STILL they are not being completely removed. I know I sometimes do a bit bigger area than 20" x 20", so maybe that has somethinng to do with it. I might go out 2-2.5 x 2-2.5". I haven't convinced myself the bit larger area is what is the difference between perfect swirl free vs. have them left over...I dunno. I just know I see guys using these same combinations and the pics look like there is not a scratch much less a swirl to be seen anywhere. I'm thinking I need a more agressive pad. I'm really thinking I need to start using yellow pads at 1st and then move to orange and white. Maybe it's the UC? I have a hard time believing that, though, with the results I've seen a lot of guys get them it.
Any tips? I have the patience and the desire and take the time to get this right...I guess I just haven't found the right combination. I just can't believe orange and UC isn't it, though. After 3 cars from 3 manufacturers that I'm sure have different hardnesses to them....
Frustrated and disappointed.. :(