What the heck is up with this??

[Xtreme99_s-Dime]

Hey all,

I am working on my project of a full detail on my new GTO today, and everything has gone smoothly. It washed up wonderfully, it clayed with no problems, but when I got to the paint cleaner (DC #1), it started giving me lots of trouble.

I wanted to make sure that all of the wax (whatever the previous owner used) was off before I started polishing. I was putting on DC 1 and it would almost seem to dry up immediately! This has NEVER happened to me before and was wondering if it had happened to anyone else. It was an absolute BEAR to take off. It took me 2 hours just to do the paint cleaner. Almost like scrubbing tar off or something. I was working in the shade, but not a garage, and the bottle of DC 1 I have is gone now (which means it was an old bottle).

Is this gummy-ness a result of the cleaner taking off some kind of wierd coat of wax? maybe something silicone that a dealer put on?? I have no idea, but after i got done, I pulled the car (silver) into the sun to have a look, and it hurt my eyes it was so bright, and the metalic flakes were popping a lot more.

Just curious as to what you guys think was the reason for this problem.

Thanks,

Stephen

[TH0001]

How where you applying it? How long before you removed it? Where you letting it dry first?

[Xtreme99_s-Dime]

I was applying with an applicator pad, taking it off with a meguiars microfiber terry towel, in the shade. I was removing it once it was dry, but like I said, it was dry almost as soon as it touched the surface... Usually when I put it on other vehicles, it beads up like water would, but not this time...

Any thoughts?

[TH0001]

My only guess is that the DC was really old and you where using the solid paste material. I have done that on DC that sat forever and I ended putting swirls in my paint by having really buff the the caked on DC off.

Then I bought a new bottle and was amazed how fluid it was (It should be borderling runny vs. paste like and thick).

[Xtreme99_s-Dime]

no, that couldn't have been it, because I used it yesterday on my buddy's Trans Am to show him what it did, and it was as thin as could be. It wouldn't thicken up that quick... besides, it still looked normal when it was on the pad, and not the car.

I'm still thinking that there was somekind of strange polish or wax on this car because while polishing, it was doing the same thing in some spots. This tells me that the paint cleaner got most of it, and the polish and the PC was picking up what was left. By the way, I was polishing with the PC and a foam cutting pad with #83. This paint was suprisingly hard, so I had to get more aggressive than what I'm used to. It still didn't take all of the swirls out, but I'm hoping that 2 coats of NXT will help.

[RamAirV1]

How warm was the surface? Maybe claying first would have helped. Does the car have any above surface contaminants?

Great choice of car BTW!

Here is what it will look like when you're done:



Be sure and post some pics when you're done.

GTO_04

[KenNETx]

Re: What the heck is up with this??

Perhaps, but maybe not. I have found on OLD finishes that have not been regularly cleaned properly that a wax/oxidized paint layer will form that for all appearances will look like clean paint. It isn't however and will act like a sponge when cleaning with DC #1. With enough product worked into it it will liquify and wipe off. DC#1 is not suppose to be allowed to become dry. It then becomes like trying to wash dirt off with too little water. You get mud rather than dirty water...ie...thick and difficult to remove without properly cleaning in the end. Especially if the vehicle was ever YUCK!!! nu-finished without an appropriate cleaning beforehand...ie...making the oxidized paint shiney. Prehaps not though...just my observance. Enjoy!