Full Detail Seeking Advice

[Dayonta675]

This weekend I'm planning to try and get my car to showroom status, I've got a couple good products but I'm not sure where to start.

It's a 2013 Veloster Turbo and the color is Vitamin-C.

I'll be using a Porter Cable XP and here is a list of what I have:

Menz FG400
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0
Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant
Ricardo Yellow Clay
5.5 FLAT Lake Country Orange x2
5.5 FLAT Lake Country White x2
5.5 FLAT Lake Country Black x1
5.5 FLAT Lake Country Blue x1
4.0 CCS Lake Country Orange x1
4.0 CCS Lake Country White x1
4.0 CCS Lake Country Black x1

1. My plan was to give the car a good wash
2. Clay if it needed it
3. Go over the car with Orange + WGTSR
4. Then with White + Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish
5. Finnish off with WG Deep Gloss

But after looking over the car, I think maybe going over with Orange might be a little over kill, the car has 6k on it and is 5 months old but it has seen one winter. I had Collinite 845 on it before the snow and salt hit the roads. So I was thinking I might be able to get away with using WGTSR with White all around, or am I being silly? I did a walk around with a light, really didn't see much swirls at all, only the black panels by the window trim had swirls.

[FUNX650]

First of all:
Do the obligatory "test spot".
{Remember: "Least aggressive first".}

That'll best help you dial-in, what products/pads/etc.,
that you're looking for.



Bob

[wdmaccord]

Bob nailed it. The only way you will know is the test spot. Start with the white pad and finishing polish and inspect your results. If it needs more, you can step up to the orange and TSR

[jsgntulok]

Test spot. Yes. Start with TSR 3.0 and white pad. No doubt, the car needs clay polishing after washing before you even start polishing. Do the baggie test. Good luck.

[trekkeruss]

Two words: test spot. Start with the least aggressive product and pad. Why take off more clear coat if you don't have to?

You will need to clay.

[Tato]

Clay, definitively.

I'd go at least with ADV F. Polish on white or even gray finishing pad.

Not knowing how your paint may react, I'd test a very fine polishing to see if it can get the job done.

I've worked on a '13 Civic recently, and although defects were showing up mild, a finishing approach was able to both get rid of defects also give the paint a great finish.

That's why I'm telling you to do a finishing approach first on your beautiful car. If it tackles the defects, you can 'kill 2 rabbits with one punch' (a brazilian saying - Please, do not actually hit any animal with a punch!).

Another tip:

BE GENTLE with those pillars, they may correct to ~100% swirl free, but if you go with too much PASSION over it, you may thin the edges or even instill some damage on it.

Ah, don't need to ask how I've learned that about pillars ahhahah Be careful on their edges.

For claying, like I've said, don't skip this important step. Trust me, it'll give you most of the difference at the end.

To avoid instilling clay marring that will need to be worked harder after, gentle 'GLIDE' the clay, do not scrub it. Use plenty of lube. Do straight line movements. Glide it with moderate speed. Fold it often. Do not exert pressure with your fingertips, but evenly with palm / fingers equally.

You may take a look here at my process of finishing polish:
2013 Honda Civic Full Detail + PBL Coating + Coating Booster

Wish you best of luck,

Kind Regards.

[Dayonta675]

Thanks for the sound advice, she turned out OK! Took me about 13 hours, got everything polished and sealed. Just need to tire shine it up and apply some touch up paint to the bumper, then I can seal that too.