I need some advice and help...

[67Customs]

So here is the deal. I painted my friends hood on his GTI like so...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/sixty7mustang22/Random/DSCF0010.jpg

I used BASF base and clear. I mixed the paint like I always have for every car I have done. I have never had problems before.

However, for some reason, the paint on his hood seems to have cured REALLY soft. 2 nights ago, a cat got on his hood and scratched it pretty good. So, he called me and asked me if I could get them out. I agreed and he came over. Well, I have had problems with the hood in the past. When I painted it, a gnat flew into the last coat of clear.:mad: So, after it dried, I wetsanded it out and brought out the roatary and wool pad with some compound and then finished it up with my PC and polish. But, some light vertical scratches remained runnign up the hood. We let it go at that.

So, yesterday, I started out with OP on a LC orange light cutting pad on my PC at 5. It worked for the most part. It got rid of the cat scratches, but it didn't tough the scratches that were already there.

I then moved to OC on a LC orange light cutting pad on PC at 5. This is where things went horribly wrong. After I worked the polish in for a long time and then wiped it off, it looked like I lightly rubbed a brillow pad on the hood. It looked similar to this...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/sixty7mustang22/Random/DSC00097.jpg

I dunno what happened. I suppose the compound was to harsh for the clear???

So, I brought out the same polishes and pads I used to correct this...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/sixty7mustang22/Details/Merc_006.jpg

I used a XMT #3 on a LC orange light cutting pad and then moved to on to XMT #1 on a LC white polishing pad on PC at 5. It really cleared the hood back up. But, it only got the hood about 80% swirl free. Under halogen, it still looked kinda bad. Not terrible, but not perfect either.

So, what should I do? What would be my best course of action? Apparently, stronger compounds and pads make things worse. I have NEVER had this much trouble on an car before I I detail cars as a profession.

Here is a list of things I have to work with...

Complete XMT line
Meguiar's #2 Fine Cut Cleaner
Meguiar's #3 Machine Glaze
Meguiar's #9 Swirl Remover 2.0
3M Heavy Duty Rubbing Compound
3M Microfinishing Compund
Optimum Polish, Compund and Hyper Compound
PC 7424
Craftsmen Rotary (Borken:mad: )
Full range of 6.5" LC pads
Full range of 4" LC pds
wool pads
sandpaper

Apparently, using the OP with a slightly aggressive pad worked the best. It just didn't have enough cut. Do you think moving up to a LC yellow cutting pad and OP the working my way back down through the pads would be the best option? Would that have enough cut?

I dunno, I need more advice. Sure I could keep trying different things, but but this isn't my car. I can't just practice on his car. I need to get this fixed. I need to hear some opinions and maybe some experience on this type of work.

Everythign I have learned in my detailing career has been thrown out the window with this paint. Help.

[Nuke33]

That sucks, Looks good on the car though ties the car together.

[67Customs]

That sucks, Looks good on the car though ties the car together.
Thanks.:)

[Craig]

:mad: First problem, take care of the cat. IMHO, use OP (polish, not compound), light cut pad, and move up through the pads to the finest pad you have. I wouldn't work the cutting pads long, I would work the finer pads longer. Maybe go as far as doing the finer pads 2 times each. Stay away from the compounds, too much bite for what you're correcting. With the new paint, I think the XMT3 and cutting pad was just a little too harsh. Have you tried the 4 inch pads? They will work a area a little more since they're smaller. This is a small area I'm guessing, @ 2 square feet? Swirls that fine should come out. You'll get it right, take your time, just leave the heavy compounds at home. :cheers:

[67Customs]

:mad: First problem, take care of the cat. IMHO, use OP (polish, not compound), light cut pad, and move up through the pads to the finest pad you have. I wouldn't work the cutting pads long, I would work the finer pads longer. Maybe go as far as doing the finer pads 2 times each. Stay away from the compounds, too much bite for what you're correcting. With the new paint, I think the XMT3 and cutting pad was just a little too harsh. Have you tried the 4 inch pads? They will work a area a little more since they're smaller. This is a small area I'm guessing, @ 2 square feet? Swirls that fine should come out. You'll get it right, take your time, just leave the heavy compounds at home. :cheers:
lol, we are working on the cat problem.:p

Well, I started off using the OP instead, but it just didn't cut enough. I think you are right though, stick with the OP and change pads.

Yeah, I definitely think you are right about using the compunds on this paint. Well, it has been cured for 4 months now, so it isn't really considered "new". However, the paint is obviously to soft for compunds.

Nah, I didn't try the 4 inch pads. Maybe I should and work smaller sections. Yes, I did do 2x2 sections. Maybe a tad smaller. I deivided the black part of the hood into 4 sections.

Working the OP with different pads for longer times may be the key.

Thanks for the reply.

[StephenK]

try Meguiars #83. it is suppose to be for fresh paint and bodyshop safe.