Not happy with Griots/Menz result...

[BLKZ06]

First off, I'm an expert with a rotary..just learning the D/A side of things.

I'm working on my new 2011 Black Z06..so I ordered up some nice goodies from Autogeek. No pics right now, but I may add some as I get info flowing in.

New Griots D/A, 5" backing plate, various 5" LC pads, Menzerna Power Finish, Menzerna Super Finish Nano, and some nice Microfiber cloths.

I also have numerous 3M products, DeWalt 849 Rotary with assorted 9" pads, etc.

I don't have any pics right now, but I started off with Power Finish and an Orange LC pad. The car was in a showroom and looking at it with my Halogen stand lights, I could see some faint to moderate "scratches/marring" but nothing too terrible. Mostly light scratches from washing/drying I assume..people leaning on it..etc.

Fired up the Griots on speed 4..The orange pad/Powergloss combo marred the paint..it actually looked worse than the original finish I started with.

I then tried another orange pad with 3M Swirl remover and that removed the marring, but didn't take out the original marring/scratching that I was trying to get out in the first place! Tried again with 3M, and used speed 5..nice shine but didn't remove any original marring. I made at least 6 medium speed passed in a up/down motion on the test panel.

Anyways..I finally gave up and grabbed the rotary with a black pad, 1000 rpms, and 3M swirl remover..this removed all the marring and scratching and left a slick finish, but now I have some holograming. Not worried about that.

It looks like I am able to get a really nice finish with a white or black pad, the Griots on speed 4 and the super Nano finish after using the rotary on the marred areas.

Honestly, I am a little disappointed. The Griots is a FINE machine..lots of power, lots of rotation..but the Menzerna Power Gloss is terrible IMO. Either that or It doesn't like the orange pad, which goes against any results I've seen over in the Show and Shine section. I also think the paint on my Vette is a little soft..it didn't take much rotary power to get the marring out.

Not sure I am using everything to its full benefit..but to be honest, using a D/A with numerous pads and different compounds shouldn't be that difficult.

Any tips or pointers would be appreciated!

[HeavyMetal]

You might try polishing at 5 or 6. Higher speeds are typcially used with a DA for polishing, 4 is a little low. Also, keep the pad flat, slow arm movement, do 6 - 8 section passes, etc. Many users report hazing and micro-marring from polishing at too low a speed and moving the DA too rapidly across the surface.

[embolism]

I only use speed 4 for cleaning my pads on the fly

for corrections, use speed 5 or 5.5

Power finish on a DA for a vette probably won't be as quick or effective as PF with the rotary.

I'd save the GG6 for finish polishing only if I had both machines available to me...

[RaskyR1]

Power Gloss is a very aggressive compound that will require two proceeding steps to finish out properly. It's really geared for a rotary as well and speed 4 is too low for the DA. The 3M swirl remover can fill like crazy too so I'd double check your work with that stuff. Sounds like you'd be better off trying some SIP or Power Finish on an orange/white pad and following it up with PO85RD on a black pad.


Edit: You call out both Power Finish and Power Gloss in your post...which did you use?

[BLKZ06]

Power Gloss is a very aggressive compound that will require two proceeding steps to finish out properly. It's really geared for a rotary as well and speed 4 is too low for the DA. The 3M swirl remover can fill like crazy too so I'd double check your work with that stuff. Sounds like you'd be better off trying some SIP or Power Finish on an orange/white pad and following it up with PO85RD on a black pad.


Edit: You call out both Power Finish and Power Gloss in your post...which did you use?

Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the confusion.

I'm looking back thru my order, and I believe I either ordered the wrong stuff, or I was sent the wrong stuff.

I have written down PO203..but the bottle I have "looks" like S34A..which is for removing 1500 grit scratches.

The other bottle is Super Finish PO106A.

I see now I was using too low a speed for the D/A- but would 2 clicks make THAT much of a difference?

Did I buy the wrong stuff?

I thought about the PO85RD...

[HeavyMetal]

Thanks for the reply, and sorry for the confusion.

I'm looking back thru my order, and I believe I either ordered the wrong stuff, or I was sent the wrong stuff.

I have written down PO203..but the bottle I have "looks" like S34A..which is for removing 1500 grit scratches.

The other bottle is Super Finish PO106A.

I see now I was using too low a speed for the D/A- but would 2 clicks make THAT much of a difference?

Did I buy the wrong stuff?

I thought about the PO85RD...

Yes, 2 clicks does make that much of a difference. It makes a HUGE difference.

Check the Menz chart here: Menzerna Polishing Compounds Products, Menzerna FMJ, menzerna polishes, menzerna car polish, menzerna nano polish, menzerna final polish, menzerna. If you got S34A, that's their heaviest compound (Powergloss). It's no wonder that you got marring. It probably would have marred with the "proper" speed.

[BLKZ06]

Yes, 2 clicks does make that much of a difference. It makes a HUGE difference.

Check the Menz chart here: Menzerna Polishing Compounds Products, Menzerna FMJ, menzerna polishes, menzerna car polish, menzerna nano polish, menzerna final polish, menzerna. If you got S34A, that's their heaviest compound (Powergloss). It's no wonder that you got marring. It probably would have marred with the "proper" speed.

Thanks Heavy..I think you are right..I believe I have the wrong stuff, no matter who's fault it is.

Now, the big question is..what do I need? the PO85RD? PO83?

Or the PO203??

I have some light hazing/marks in the car finish, mostly on the sides, and my preference is to not take a rotary to every inch of the car.

[rfinkle2]

Would you be willing to try trapping a piece of microfiber in between the dual action polisher and the paint with your p0106fa?

Mist the microfiber with some distilled water, use moderate pressure.

[HeavyMetal]

GM has some of the hardest clear out there and from what I understand they use the "hardest of the hard" on the Vettes. Personally, I'd go with the Meg's Ultimate Compound as I've had great success with that on GM's. It's cheap and it finishes nearly LSP ready using an LC flat orange pad. BobbyG has that sick looking yellow C5 and he prefers SIP. PM him and see which he'd recommend.

Follow up with the 106 you got on a flat grey/black pad, and your baby will shine. Since it's a Vette, I would go the final step and jewel with Menz PO85RD on a flat grey/black or blue pad.

What are you gonna use for your LSP? I've used quite a few waxes and tried a couple sealants. I do like Menz Power Lock topped with Collinite 845 (and a coat Pinnacle Souveran for when you really want it to shine). Or if you don't want to polish and wax that often, I did do my wife's Obsidian Black Lexus with CQuartz/ReLoad. I like it so much I'm doing my RAV4 next spring. These new "super sealants" shed dirt and water so effectively the car simply doesn't get that dirty - a quick no-rinse wash every couple of weeks and some QD in between keeps it looking pristine. Plus the super sealants do prevent light scratching and look slick as hell. The only caveat I'll throw in is that CQ has a very hard-glossy look. Some don't like that; on dark colors I definitely do.

[BLKZ06]

Would you be willing to try trapping a piece of microfiber in between the dual action polisher and the paint with your p0106fa?

Mist the microfiber with some distilled water, use moderate pressure.

Sure..I can try that!