Cadillac CTS coupe...lotso swirls

[sto23]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forums...a buddy turned me onto Autogeek after I started asking him about my recently acquired CTS coupes swirls and scratches. I've read and watched a lot but am still unsure what product to actually use. I bought a DA (Harbor Freights which is similar to the PC) and did a test area with some meguiars UC but it may need something a little more aggressive as it wasn't even close to defect free. The swirls are light to moderate and there are so!e RIDS but the Cadillac paint seems pretty hard and difficult to correct. Any suggestions regarding products/pads etc would be appreciated. I've looked at Chemival Guys optical line and Mazerna but want to know what would be my best two or three step correction to get me as close to perfect as is safe.

[TheFrankenberry]

AG carries at least 25 brands of compounds, polishes and cleaners. Research it (just keep browsing the forums), or not, then pick one. If you like blue bottles, find a blue bottled product and go with it. If you like the Broncos and Rockies, try the Prima line.

In any case, continue with a proper test spot starting with the least aggressive product combo (polish & pad) so you keep as much of your clearcoat as possible. If it's not aggressive enough, kick up the aggressiveness of the polish or pad - so make sure you have a range of both.

The most popular combos are Meguiar's M105/M205 or Menzerna FG400/SF4000 - or Scholl's S3/S40 if you're from across the pond. I use Menzerna and Lake Country flat foam pads. I could try microfiber pads, but I'm comfortable and quite happy with what I have.

[custmsprty]

Blackfire Duo and it's on sale!

[davey g-force]

If you need to get more agressive, you could step up to MF pads...

[281]

Menzerna FG400/FF4000
Wolfgang Über/Total Swirl Remover/Finishing Glaze
Blackfire Duo

[Evan.J]

First off welcome to the forum!

My question for you what pad are you using?

If you are using the one that came with the HF DA then you will need more pads and better pads than that one. Along with pads you will want a better backing plate for that machine as well.

While GM paint seems to be on the harder side I have made great results with Meguiars M105 (similar to the Ultimate compound) and a polishing pad so my thought is your pads and technique will greatly improve your paint correction.

Here are two before and after photos of paint correction I did on a black GMC Sierra



So I think it will be in your pad selection and technique.

I really like either the 5.5" Hyrdotech pads or the 5.5" CCS pads

[Desertnate]

If you are using the one that came with the HF DA then you will need more pads and better pads than that one. Along with pads you will want a better backing plate for that machine as well.

I went through last Spring/Summer detailing my own cars with the HF pads. It was a frustrating experience because the polishing and cutting pads would hardly last one car...maybe 1.5 cars before they would come apart. The finishing pads last a bit longer since you aren't working them very hard.

Getting a good backing plate and pads will save you a ton of money. I learned the hard way. A six-pack of the 5.5" LC Flat Pads is roughly the same price as the same number of HF pads. You'll just need a 5" backing plate.