C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

[Demon_C5]

Ah man, this polish is destroying all my work. What the heck is going on here.

Used a clean brand new foam applicator right out of the box, and it pit swirls all over the test spot.

[akimel]

#7 has a learning curve (and I'm still learning!).

The key is to apply #7 thin and not to allow it to dry. Massage it into the paint surface, one section/panel at a time, and immediately remove it with a clean microfiber towel. But you need not remove the entire layer of glaze on the first try. #7 tends to "skin," like homemade pudding. You remove a layer of skin, thus exposing the pudding underneath, which will then begin to skin again. Move on to the next panel, returning to the previous panel sometime later. I usually return to the "previous" panel immediately following the "first" panel, but others come back to the previous panels after they have glazed the entire car. Does that make sense?

The important thing is not to let #7 dry and be prepared to go back over the polished panels for a second buffing.

Al

[Demon_C5]

I'm not sure what's going on with the foam applicator pad causing swirls, but I'm reading some good information on the #7 Show Car Glaze. Some of this stuff would have been good to know before I started applying it, as it gave me quite a shock.

It's far more oil based than I understood, and apparently keeps the finish sort of "wet" and is how it maintains that wet look. It just doesn't last as long as traditional waxes. This is what caused the "smearing" I was seeing, although I'm not sure why it appeared to be causing a few swirls. I'll have to look closer and see if they were actually caused during that test spot. Also, being hard to remove is somewhat normal...but it shouldn't be really hard to remove, which is a sign of too much product.

I thought I was suppose to wipe it off immediately, but I guess that's not the case. I'm suppose to do the whole car, then wipe it all down lightly to remove the film...wait for the product to develop a new film as exposed to air and wipe again? Do this a few times going all the way around the car each "pass"?

This is the article I'm reading, apparently written by Mike Phillips?? Please let me know if any of this information has changed.

http://www.autopia.org/forum/detaili...-phillips.html

I'm not sure what to do at this point, I just don't have the time to learn a new product to get this car done TOMORROW. Most likely, I'm going to try and take M205 over those test spots I did and try to get those darn swirls back out. Then I'm going to just get out the Tech Wax and finish it.



EDIT: Thank you akimel, looks like you posted while I was whipping this up!

[Bounty]

Demon, here's my method for applying #7 to vehicles when working by hand:

1. I use a Meg's foam applicator and apply a thin layer over the car one panel at a time. By thin I mean as thin as it takes to cover the panel. Not as much product as even a wax application. Even thinner...

2. Once the entire car is done I put away everything but the microfibers. Come back with a clean microfiber and use approximately one towel per two or maybe three panels. Break the "firm film build" on the surface and nothing more.

3. Repeat this process once an hour twice more and leave the car in the garage till morning.

4. Come out the next morning and give it a final wipedown and then you can apply your LSP of choice.

If being applied by DA use a few drops on a red or black CCS finishing pad or a microfiber bonnet and work a quick no pressure pass on speed 2 or 3 over a large area. I find it actually comes out a bit thinner and cleaner this way then by hand.

It does require a lot more work than other polishes or glazes such as Wolfgang's Paintwork Polish Enhancer or Meguiar's Deep Crystal Polish but produces wetter results and you already had it in your possession. Now, those results will last all of two or three washes so it's up to you to decide whether that is worth it or not. Judging by the condition of the paint in your last picture after ColorX you may want to cap the car with two coats of NXT 2.0 and be done with it.

Will the #7 give you that last 10%? Sure...but it will last a few weeks/washes and then be gone. Given the time, effort, and money you've invested and the growing stress and frustration I'd say put down everything and just apply the NXT 2.0 to the car. Just like with mechanics sometimes it's better to step away for a bit. You can always apply the #7 somewhere down the road. Wax it and enjoy the looks and finish....

[Demon_C5]

Given the time, effort, and money you've invested and the growing stress and frustration I'd say put down everything and just apply the NXT 2.0 to the car. Just like with mechanics sometimes it's better to step away for a bit. You can always apply the #7 somewhere down the road. Wax it and enjoy the looks and finish....

Thank you, this is exactly what I'm going to do. It's always hard for me to pull away from things...but I think it's time.

Going to do a quick rebuff on the test spot and put the #7 away for now. I'll work with it this winter to develop my skills with it and keep it handy for car shows only, per its intended use.

Any ideas on why the wax applicator caused the swirls, that was odd. I'll inspect it really well tomorrow and see why it did that.

Stay tuned...pictures this weekend! Finally!!

[jmakado]

Give the test spot a spray with some glass cleaner after using your #7. This will remove the oils from #7 and show you the true condition of the paint. If you see the swirls that you saw after you used your foam pad to apply #7 then you know they are *true* swirls. Sometimes #7 won't remove completely and your towel marks in the remaining #7 can look like scratches or swirls. Did that make sense?

You may also see this after using NXT if you don't remove it completely. The product will smear a little and it can look like halograms or swirls in the paint.

I just read through this entire thread by the way. Great read and I'm glad you are getting it all dialed in. Corvettes are indeed some of the most difficult cars to buff in my experience. Very hard paint yet very scratch sensitive at the same time....go figure! I have yet to finish one down with #205 but I remember #9 being one of the few products I could get to finish down marr free with a DA in the past. The first Corvette I did was a black C5. I think I spent over an hour just on my test spot trying to dial in a program that worked.

On a side note, I did just finish an 07 Audi (Way hard paint also) with #205. It took me a little time to get it dialed in but once I did I was amazed at how crisp and clear the paint was. Something I don't ever remember seeing finishing with a DA. Pretty amazing product IMO.

Again, way to stick in there and not give up. The first one is always the most challenging and I commend you for hanging in there on one of the toughest of the tough, Black vette.

[Demon_C5]

The car is just about finished, all I have left is some detail work and a LOT of cleanup.

One major problem...My G110 DA failed on me just now. It won't start at all. All I have left on the entire car is the hood. Need to get it buffed with M105, apply ColorX, and NXT Tech Wax. I am forced to do it by hand now, and I have my doubts that I'm going to be able to get it done at all. I wasn't able to produce any good results with M105 on my test spot.

So the G110 is out of commission and I didn't even get to finish one car. Maybe it's something simple? I was applying the Tech Wax with it and was just getting the whole car done. It seemed like it was slowing down a bit, so I turned it off and checked to make sure it was still plugged in all the way. It wouldn't start back up. Seems to me that the motor has failed. It was never hot, it never had a smell to it.

Any ideas?

[akimel]

Call customer support immediately.

[Demon_C5]

Getting a new G110 on the way. Awesome customer support.

Now to get this badboy finished, I made a mess while detailling and have to figure out how to get some dried up residue from the products off the car. Didn't tape it up as well a I thought. Another lesson learned.

[Desertdawg]

10 days later and no further updates.... ?