Working slow but ran into problem

[jjszcar]

First of all thanks for reading.

2004 350z Magnetic Black, lots of swirls but very reflective and good color. Its garaged all the time, I used to wash it incorrectly until I watched Junkman and his vids.

I have wanted to fix the swirls for a while so I bought the da power system, did a test run on a honda hood, that came out perfect. Wash (2 bucket), clay, UC, Red bottle Polishing compound and yellow wax.

I started the 350z resto. on Labor Day weekend. Full 2 bucket wash, full day to clay, used DAPS (dual action power system) on passenger side hood near windshield, 1.5 ft x 1.5 ft area. Hit with UC first, went okay not all swirls removed did get water spot out, tried UC again and it hazed. I worked the product until started to turn clear, then wiped. The haze showed up on the edges of the work area.

I hoped UP would remove the haze but it did not. I made two attempts making 4 passes cross hatch. UP did take care of the swirls, couple of scratches left but later for them. The haze is not leaving. BTW, I'm in a gararge but not climate controlled and humidity was up. IMHO I think the work area was too large and the temps forced the product to dry early.

Should I get some M205 to remove the haze or keep working with UP? I know not to go back to UC. Is it okay to mix professional with ultimate products.

Is it fixable? or do I stop now, go with Show Car Glaze 7 and yellow wax and call it a draw.

I was a little surprised this happened but maybe too much pressure or too fast of the pad may have run dry.

Please advise and thanks in advance.

Tell Nick at the Meguiars help line thanks for his advice on what to purchase.

JJ

[BillE]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

Sound like the edges of your work area dried up on ya...

Try putting a tiny bit of UC on your finger tip and GENTLY (you don't to use it as a compound-just the liquid) wipe over some of an hazy area and wipe it off. Anything happen?

A LOT of times like products will remove like products.

Bill

[Psynx]

Up should remove the haze that uc caused.
What color pad are you using with uc and up?
Yes it is OK to mix up the Ultimate line with professional.
Where are you located?

[jjszcar]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

Yellow pad 4" for UP

Dark Red Pad for UC

Clayed first, baggie test

[jjszcar]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

South Carolina

[The Guz]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

Sounds like you overworked the product and it dried on the paint. Put a little UC on a pad and run the daps over the area in a quick pass. Remember like removes like.

It is fine to mix products from either line.

You may also skip M7 since UP has plenty of polishing oils.

[Romad81]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

If you need some help, send me a PM. I can take a ride up there and bring my equipment during the week or a Saturday as long as Clemson doesn't have a home game. Only missed today because I've been sick. Got just about anything you'd need. Could probably get it done in less than a day.

[Jarhead0754]

2 people should b able to knock that out in a day no problem

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

The haze is ONLY on the edge of the work area??? If that's the case, it may well be a situation where the edges just did not get worked as thoroughly as the center of the section you worked on. And you only worked on one section, correct? The center area of the area has no haze and actually looks quite good.... is that also correct? Just trying to get a full understanding of the situation here as it's critical to diagnosing the issue.

If all the above is correct then we highly recommend doing another, similar sized area immediately adjacent to the one you already did. Overlap into the area you worked on, meaning you'll be going well over the hazed area, using the exact same pad and UC as you did for the first spot. It could well be that the outer edges of the cutting pad were pretty dry and it was the pad itself that created the haze, not the UC. Now, that isn't to say that UC will never create haze on any paint, but if the center of your work area looked good and only the outer edges are hazed, something else is going on here.

[jjszcar]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

Thanks to all. Sorry I took so long to respond.

Here is the update: The haze may have been the lighting in the garage (flourescent overheads and halogen floodlights, also I used a small LED and a handheld flourescent to seek out swirls). I think it was also my paranoia and fear of permanent damage to my paint. I pulled the car out into the sun on Sunday afternoon and saw no haze, just a big contrast between the compounded and polished area and the Mostly Swirled Zone (MSZ). I pulled it back inside and dusted it off with quik detail and applied a complete dose of UP through the 1.5' x 1.5' area. I hope i did not over UP the area, can you use too much UP? Anyway, got a mirror finish no swirls visible. I have not waxed yet. The treated area is only 1.5' x 1.5'.

I purchased some M205. I may move on to the MSZ with the M205 and see what happens. I also have some swirl x but not sure about the age. If the M205 does not get results similar to the UC I will go back to the UC, then UP. I think the paint my have not needed the UC. I should have started with UP first, MY MISTAKE, I should have known better.

I changed my technique also. The pads are 4", so I apply 4 pea sized dots of product around the pad, touch the paint surface with the pad 3 times in the horizontal direction, i.e. to front of car, then 3 times vertical making a 1' x 1' square. Thats my work area and I do not stray outside. I finish that area then move on overlapping it, just as Mr, Stoops described. This works better for me.

I improved a few deep sracthes with a hand application of UC. It does haze a little initally after wiping but UP removes it. I changed to position of the lights and the car in garage to get a better lighting effect.

My job and Gamecock Football is interferring with my finish resto. project, so hopefully I can get back to it a few days this week and on Sunday. I will attach some pics soon.

P.S. I love my job and the Gamecocks.
Again thanks for the help.

[Romad81]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

It's ok if you're a Gamecock. The offer still stands for the help if you need it. I've got a Rupes 21, Flex 3401, and the PC so we could make quick work of it. Now if you wait and have to start counting on the other hand come November, well, I might have to rethink things.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

It sounds as though you've got things well under control, and that's great! Use the UC if you need it, but now that you have M205, follow up with that. The extra bit of refining cut it provides above and beyond it's baby brother, UP, is well worth it.

MSZ - that's awesome and we want to use it in the proper context during future discussions. Like: "Do a test spot and then compare the spot with the MSZ to gauge your progress."

Love it!!!

[jjszcar]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

It sounds as though you've got things well under control, and that's great! Use the UC if you need it, but now that you have M205, follow up with that. The extra bit of refining cut it provides above and beyond it's baby brother, UP, is well worth it.

MSZ - that's awesome and we want to use it in the proper context during future discussions. Like: "Do a test spot and then compare the spot with the MSZ to gauge your progress."

Love it!!!

update, m205 is easy to apply, more so than up

good progress yesterday, but I have a few scratches (straight not swirls) that remained after on application of uc.

Is it okay to isolate this scratches with UC and make passes until they improve or go to scratch x? "Me no water sand Mr. Jones", I not going down that road. Another thing, the instructions on UC with the power pads says make passes until clear, the large bottle's instructions do not mention it. Kinda strange. Also two passes with M205 is enough, I think I made too many with UP and too large of an area.

I thought I had some marring in the UP areas so I applied UW,wow that stuff slick. I bought a 130 lumen LED to seek out swirls, no marring visible after UW application. I read the article on delicate paint. Is color x a good idea? I want that pop everyone talks about. My Nissan paint is not delicate just fussy or its my lack of expertise. I will roll out for a viewing tomorrow and see the results.

Thanks again

[jjszcar]

Re: Working slow but ran into problem

update, m205 is easy to apply, more so than up

good progress yesterday, but I have a few scratches (straight not swirls) that remained after on application of uc.

Is it okay to isolate this scratches with UC and make passes until they improve or go to scratch x? "Me no water sand Mr. Jones", I not going down that road. Another thing, the instructions on UC with the power pads says make passes until clear, the large bottle's instructions do not mention it. Kinda strange. Also two passes with M205 is enough, I think I made too many with UP and too large of an area.

I thought I had some marring in the UP areas so I applied UW,wow that stuff slick. I bought a 130 lumen LED to seek out swirls, no marring visible after UW application. I read the article on delicate paint. Is color x a good idea? I want that pop everyone talks about. My Nissan paint is not delicate just fussy or its my lack of expertise. I will roll out for a viewing tomorrow and see the results.

Thanks again

well I had a middle aged moment, I described my car as magnetic black, the paint code is actually super black, non metallic. My bad. However I have a couple of test spots on the passenger side hood area where I applied LUW. They look marred. I really don't care for the LED light I bought to find swirls. Its plenty bright but in the garage it's so bright, up close, nose touching paint, it makes the black look grey. I don't think the clear coat is cloudy. I need to get it outside in the sun to be sure. its been cloudy all week. I may reclay the test spot, hit it with m205 using 3 passes firm, lighter, lightest, but I am using the DA POWER system, the pressure, firm, lighter, lightest may not matter. Please advise.