Paint cleaning help!

[S-T48]

Hello everyone. This is my first post, so pleas bear with me. Its been several years since my paint (single stage) was thoroughly detailed. The car is hardly driven, so the pint is in good condition. To apply fresh wax, I first hand applied Pinnacle's Paintwork Cleansing Lotion (non-abrasive) on a small test area. Pinnacle claims it prepares the surface for waxing by creating a clean, smooth, highly-reflective surface. I'm not an expert, so I don't know if "high reflective" means to have more glare... I'm not too comfortable moving forward as it seems the non-treated area looks glossier/better (under LED light). BTW, I have also applied Pinnacle's carnauba wax to the treated area (see pic).

Did I miss something? Is the slight light glare/hologram in the treated area normal? Reading some of the posts here, it seems I may have "micro marring." My goal was to use the least abrasive polish possible. I cringe when seeing paint residue on my towel.

[allenk4]

What was your exact process when using the Pinnacle Paint Cleansing Lotion?

What type of towel?

Applied by hand or with a machine?

How much downward pressure?

Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion (http://www.autogeekmobile.net/pinpainclean.html)

[S-T48]

What was your exact process when using the Pinnacle Paint Cleansing Lotion?

What type of towel?

Applied by hand or with a machine?

How much downward pressure?

Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion (http://www.autogeekmobile.net/pinpainclean.html)

Hand applied. Used an application pad with light pressure. Wiped it off with Microfiber.

[Mike Phillips]

What are you working on?

What did you apply the product with?

How did you apply it?


And... welcome to AutogeekOnline!


:welcome:

[Mike Phillips]

Hand applied. Used an application pad with light pressure. Wiped it off with Microfiber.


Make another slow wipe over the area with a folded, microfiber towel. Could be you just haven't removed all the residues.


For what it's worth... it takes more skill to work by hand than it does to work with a simple dual action polisher.


I don't use paint cleaners very often because whatever the paint cleaner is going to do I can do with a fine cut polish and actually get more bang for the buck as far as shine, gloss and clarity as well as removing everything a paint cleaner would remove PLUS removing some fine swirls and scratches.


Here's an article I wrote back in 2010 using Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion on clearcoated black paint.

How to clay, clean and wax paint by hand with Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion and Pinnacle Signature Series II Carnauba Paste Wax (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/25218-how-clay-clean-wax-paint-hand-pinnacle-signature-series-ii.html)


To use Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing lotion, apply using a clean, soft foam or microfiber applicator pad using a back and forth motion. While the goal is to always work clean, working in a back and forth motion will prevent you from instilling circular swirls just in case any dirt particulates enter the polishing process.

Because the Lexus LX 470 is a very large Sport Utility Vehicle it can be difficult to rub out an entire panel at one time, so for vehicles like this you can break a panel up into smaller sections.

After the Paintwork Cleansing Lotion dries to a haze, buff off using a clean microfiber towel.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand007.jpg


Next we'll move onto a new section and overlap a little into the previous section.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand008.jpg


Then using an aluminum work platform to stand on to reach into the middle of the hood we then worked the inner back section of the hood again using a back and forth motion and overlapping a little into the front section where we started.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand009.jpg


Then lastly, we worked the rear, outer section...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand010.jpg



While claying will remove above surface bonded contaminants, Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion will remove embedded road grime and pollutants as you can see when we compare the applicator pad we used to a brand new, clean applicator pad.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand012.jpg


New, never been used clean foam applicator pad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand013.jpg



Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion removes road grime and dirt that stains the paint and will hinder any wax from bonding to the paint. Besides helping your wax to bond better to the paint by removing embedded road grime and dirt staining, you create a more clear finish which will enable your eyes to see the beauty of the color coat under the clear coat as well as sharpen reflections and increase gloss.

After cleaning half the hood...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/858/PaintCleaningByHand014.jpg




The techniques would be the same for single stage paint.


What are you working on that has single stage paint?


:)

[S-T48]

Mike, thank you for the quick and detailed reply. That's the exact pad and application process I used. Paint is single stage.

[Audios S6]

What kind of temperatures were you working in? I'm assuming based on your location that it was 50F or greater.

To me, that looks like it may be ghosting from over application of the wax. If you used a foam applicator and a quality MF towel, then your process isn't throwing up any red flags. If you wipe a towel over the hazy area, does the light reflection change direction to follow the towel?

You need very little of either of these products to do a 2'x2' area. You should just barely be able to see the product as it's being applied. For the paintwork lotion, you do have to work it into the paint until it hazes or disappears, which will take some effort by hand; then wipe off after it dries.

Which pinnacle wax did you use? This should also be applied very sparingly (for the liquid wax, one ounce should easily to a sedan). As above, you should barely be able to see the product during application. If you are putting it on heavy or not letting it dry before removal, then the result will be hazy trails behind the towel.

[S-T48]

Temp was around 65f. It looked almost the same before the wax. Though the wax made it a tad better. One thing I didn't do is apply force.

[Bill1234]

I dont have any experience with paint cleaning liquids. Im more of a classic or artifical clay guy. Really what you are doing when preparing paint for an lsp is to make sure its free of defects and contaminants so that your lsp is not rendered useless. Usually I will do a strip wash.dry, iron x if it looks really bad or it feels rough. Then clay. Correct, then seal with collinite 476. I see from mikes work that it looks like it is working. Wax makes paint look reflective becuase it adds depth, however, preparing paint for protection is really where gloss and appearance is added.