Need some advice/help with paint correction

[windie]

Hello All. Been a reader for a long time. Great info available here by all the experts, Thanks. ecided to finally take on detailing on a more serious level. Got myself a DA polisher, the DAS6 pro. Been trying to correct the paint on my Honda accord/tsx blue. Paint isn’t in bad condition, but can see swirls at an angle and some deeper marks. Bonnet and roof are more marked than sides.

First attempted using Menzerna pf2500 on a LC orange pad (6.5”). Then went to Menzerna fg500. Still wasn’t happy with the amount of correction. I spread the product initially on a low speed, then went upto speed 4-5 using around 5-6 passes.

Then tried megs m105 on the LC orange. Primed the pad properly. Decided to use the dual pad method. So I also primed a LC black pad. So used the orange pad on a speed of 5, 4-5 passes. Then without wiping the haze away (and without adding more product) used the primed black pad on a speed of 3 for 3 passes. Result was much better. But still at an angle I can see some more deeper lines and marks. Swirls are gone though.

Im not sure what else to do. I am applying firm pressure (not to hard though). Car was clayed before. I don’t have a LC yellow pad to try, only a wool one. But as Honda paint is soft don’t want to risk it. I cant get m205 or LC yellow at the moment as cash strapped so have to make use with what I have (such things are expensive here in aus and only available from couple online stores).

Long post I know, but any tips? Maybe I need to do more passes as it’s a DA polisher? Thanks

[windie]

Forgot to mention another thing. I worked in sections. So the roof I did in 6 sections. Trunk top 2. Bonnet 6. That’s all I have been able to do as wasn’t getting enough correction and kept giving up for a while. Been at it for 3 days. Frustrating but still trying.

After doing the boot and half the roof with m105 I felt the pad needed more priming so did a bit more. Is that ok to do? I did clean the pad after every section with a brush (both orange and black ones). Thanks

[swanicyouth]

Some things that may help:

1. Shrink your work area

2. Increase your downward pressure

3. Slow your arm speed to 1" a second

4. Add a spritz of DI water to the pad

5. Bump the machine up to 6.

Never heard of the 2 pad method.

[windie]

Achieving a flawless finish with just Meguiar's M105 and a dual action polisher - Corvette Forum (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/car-care-discussion/2646748-achieving-a-flawless-finish-with-just-meguiars-m105-and-a-dual-action-polisher.html)

[windie]

Some things that may help:

1. Shrink your work area

2. Increase your downward pressure

3. Slow your arm speed to 1" a second

4. Add a spritz of DI water to the pad

5. Bump the machine up to 6.

Never heard of the 2 pad method.


Thanks for the reply. Sections were not bigger than 2x2, probably a tad smaller. Ill go smaller a bit more. I was going pretty slow, having never used this before was challenging a bit. The vibrations, trying to keep a steady pace. My triceps have had a good workout haha.

Didnt think of the DI, will try that. Thanks

[HateSwirls]

Try working an even smaller area, like 16x16, slowly work it with moderate pressure.
I assume you washed the car well and clayed it?
Also make sure you inspect your pad and clean it often.
A few months ago I worked on a black 2011 Accord and I too had my problems , I just continued to work at it and in the end it was flawless, just keep working at it trying to get the smaller area corrected.

Good luck!

[Wes Bremec]

This is what I have learned on soft paint in general like this Honda. You must finish off the paint with a finer polish and the inspect your work. You need to bite the bullet and get some finishing polish like m205 or menz sf 4000. Soft paint requires 2 steps because the first step( your m105, potentially caused marring)

[HateSwirls]

Or buy you a bottle of Meg's Ultimate Compound , less cut than the 105 and get pretty close to last step results.
Very cheap too considering what a good product you get with the UC.
Longer work times too which helps.

[windie]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes car was washed and clayed. Cleaned pad after every pass.

Using the dual pad method with m105 I wasnt getting any marring. Just not enough correction overall. BUt I think thats too much trouble, changing pads all the time.


I actually do have menz sf4000 (or I think its sf4500). Ill re-try a smaller section, with a bit more pressure and 6 speed with m105. Then will follow it up with menz sf4500 on a LC white pad.

[windie]

Hey all. Been having success and nearly done. Ill do a detailed post after about my findings etc.

For now need quick help. Corrected the headlights using m105. I have prima epic (and amigo).

Everywhere says to avoid getting epic on trim and rubber. But nothing bout plastic. Can I seal the headlights with epic? Thanks

[Bus_Driver]

Glad it worked out. I've had no problems with epic on my headlights.
BTW. When I first started out, I had problems getting good results using 6.5" pads. Using 5.5" pads makes me feel like a pro. Easier to control the machine. Seems like I use less product. End up with less test spots too.

[windie]

Glad it worked out. I've had no problems with epic on my headlights.
BTW. When I first started out, I had problems getting good results using 6.5" pads. Using 5.5" pads makes me feel like a pro. Easier to control the machine. Seems like I use less product. End up with less test spots too.

Super, ill put some epic on now. Just finished putting epic all over. Been at this thing for couple weeks now (weekends mainly) and its almost done.

Controlling the machine was hard to start with (more on that later). I got the LC 6.5 pads, along with 4' ones. Came bundled with the das6 pro so didnt have any other LC sizes I could pick from.

Gonna let the epic cure for a while then finish. In the mean time ill just show one pic :D.


http://i40.tinypic.com/8vvt3l.jpg

This is after correction and with amigo on only. Overall it has been a fantastic experience, learnt a lot from here, thank you all. Ill update more in a few days, just too tired right now :xyxthumbs:

[windie]

Finally done with it all, put a second layer of epic today to make sure I covered it all.

Got the hang of using a DA. I def liked menz polishes more due to the ease of use. Less dusting (compared to m105) made it better for my allergies.

For the roof, bonnet, fenders, front bumper and trunk used fg500 on orange pad, then fg500 on white followed by pf2500 on white. On sides and rear bumper only used pf2500 on orange and white pad. In all cases it finished up well and didnt need to use sf4500.

I could def have used a yellow cutting pad to save me some extra passes that I made for correction. As I only had 1 set of pads I had to work in parts, washed the pads frequently as it would gunk up fairly quickly (even when cleaning on the fly).

Followed it by using prima amigo and sealing it with prima epic. Now for some pics:

[windie]

[PICTURE HEAVY]

3 shot comparisons. 1 - Pre wash. 2 - After wash and clay. 3 Final after everything.

Had a ton of chips on the front. Didnt want to repsray so took the pain staking effort of filling them in, sanding them and then polishing them out. Huge difference. Still some can be seen if you go up close, but they are bluish in color now, not white and dont stick out.


1

http://imageshack.us/a/img69/4001/0pk2.jpg

2

http://imageshack.us/a/img822/5208/4far.jpg

3

http://imageshack.us/a/img41/7267/ygh5.jpg

love the shine. THough I think the sun being out helped magnify it more, comparing with the after wash/clay shots.



1

http://imageshack.us/a/img837/6216/vq5p.jpg

2

http://imageshack.us/a/img404/6821/r3id.jpg

3

http://imageshack.us/a/img577/6761/6m9r.jpg



1

http://imageshack.us/a/img801/7683/f0ym.jpg

2

http://imageshack.us/a/img30/6630/xthw.jpg

3

http://imageshack.us/a/img208/5051/cw68.jpg



1

http://imageshack.us/a/img38/9500/ct3v.jpg

2

http://imageshack.us/a/img443/6426/sgiv.jpg

3

http://imageshack.us/a/img853/8963/wmh4.jpg

[windie]

Some Random Shots

After wash and clay

http://imageshack.us/a/img4/527/1ie6.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img202/2990/hy6d.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img855/9766/8rao.jpg


Final shots

http://imageshack.us/a/img27/6828/g0ww.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img534/9134/j8ma.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img196/2004/y428.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img844/5872/j3cg.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img208/8213/jxxh.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img15/3280/8kpk.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img542/5990/omfz.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img546/6366/vhko.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img841/504/1py1.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img401/1093/rcj3.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img51/5932/lzhs.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img34/8513/4anf.jpg