Test Spot Protocol

[h_bomm]

Just kinda curious as to actually how to do a proper test spot. Say you have moderate swirls on a darker color vehicle and you figure your plan of attack should be Ult Compound, Ult Polish and Ult Liquid Wax. When doing your test spot you obviously tape off your test area and then test out the UC. If you are satisfied with the results of the UC do you then pull off the tape and UC the whole car and tape off a new test area for the UP to see if it's necessary or move onto UP then ULW within the same test area. To me common sense says to UC the car and then do a new test spot but I just want to check in to reassure myself. Thanks!

[davey g-force]

I suppose you could do it either way.

In your scenario, I personally would prefer to do the UC / UP test spot first. Once I have a clear plan for the vehicle, which I know will work, I then proceed to UC the whole car, then UP the whole car.

That's interesting - I don't think I've ever done a test spot for wax/sealant..

[h_bomm]

I never have either. I usually do a test spot with the UC then if I'm happy with the result then I UC the whole car then I do a test spot with the UP, although the more I think of it a test spot with UP may not be necessary at all, then I UP the car then I just throw wax on with no test spot.

[wifpd4]

Like Davey, I get the testing done and out of the way. Once I get in the "zone" of running the buffer, I just want to keep going.

In my opinion, doing two small test areas to compare waxes might be difficult. Now two full doors side by side, that would be different. Although for me, I need to see the whole car done to make an evaluation. Do it with one wax and a couple of weeks later do it with another different type of wax/sealant. Again for me, it's an impression I get rather than specific differences.

[Murr1525]

I think you'll be ok either way, just whichever fits your work flow better.

And yeah, for the look of polishes/waxes, a bigger area may be needed, or esp if a wax for a longer term test.

[h_bomm]

Is there a problem over lapping your test spot with more UC after you have UP on it already?

[Murr1525]

No, but would remove any oils UP left behind. Or set the finish back if the UC was leaving any marring.

[h_bomm]

Probably not a problem though if you still had to go over it with UP anyway I would imagine, huh?

[davey g-force]

Probably not a problem though if you still had to go over it with UP anyway I would imagine, huh?

Correct..

[umi000]

I've always worked out the entire combo on the test spot - in your case, use UC, and then UP on the same spot - then applied it step by step on the whole car.