New buffer. Polish question.

[astaticwinter]

So after polishing by hand for a while, I'm investing in a porter cable in a week or so with some b-day money. I've picked out all my products, and pads and stuff like that for the 5-step I like to do. Sticking with NXT wash and wax, and my quik clay claybar system.

As far as polish goes, for a new buffer kit, Mequiars recomends # 83 and #80, for paint cleaner and polish. I noticed though that both of them are cleaner polishs, one being a little finer than the other.

Would I see any results from using a pure polish, like the Deep Crystal pure polish, after using both #83 and #80? I figured it can't really hurt, since I already have a bottle, but I don't want to do the extra work if it won't do anything. I know since it's a pure polish it won't cut as much, I was just wondering if it would just add some extra shine and depth on top of the cleaner polishs. Anyone ever tried it?

Thanks!

[dtbdaniel]

Yes, #7 will give you a great shine with depth. top it off with a Meguiar wax of your choice. I like #21, #26.

[Murr1525]

Well, some paints and some colors will make it more noticeable that others, like black for instance. But plenty of people do it, if they can tell a difference.

Just use your #80, then follow up on your hood, or other visible panel with the pure polish. #7 probably would be a bigger difference than DC#2. But apply it, then remove it from that panel. If you cant see a difference, don't do any more.

#83 and #80 have enough oils in them to maintain your paint. The pure polish would just be for looks.

BTW, you mention doing a 5-step with the PC. I assume you mean wash/clay/#80/wax/wax being your normal 5-step? There are lots of ways to get to 5 steps, just want to make sure your basic routine is not extra work....

[astaticwinter]

Yeah, it's a black car, so it's annoying to work on, but the shine and depth from black is well worth it.

The 5 step I usually do is wash/clay/clean/polish/wax...products I used to use by hand were

-NXT Wash
-Quik Clay
-Scratch X
-Deep Crystal Polish
-NXT Wax

Gave me a nice shine, but it's hard to get defects and swirls out by hand, so I'm looking to upgrade to the buffer. My "5" step will be as follows now,

-NXT Wash
-Quik Clay
-#83
-#80
-Deep Crystal Polish
-NXT Wax

I know the Deep Crystal will be for looks, thats what I'm going for...the cleaners will be more than enough to protect my paint with the wax, I just wanted to top off the 83/80 with a pure polish to get a deeper shine if it was possible.

The #83 is the heavier cut cleaner correct? I would use the #83 first, then the #80, then the Deep Crystal?

[Murr1525]

I think you might be assuming that you will need #83 every time.

Do a test panel with #80 first. If it removes everything great, keep going. If after 2 applications on the panel, you still arent getting everything gone, then move up to #83 for the panel, and then the car. Then of course follow the #83 with the #80.

Basicaly #80 will be your go to product. Once you get the car up to your liking, you really shouldnt need #83 more than twice a year, unless you have some speacial situation, like off-roading, etc.

Just to give a "complete" order, it would be like this, but notice the optional steps:

1. Wash - 2 bucket system, gritguards if possible, etc
2. Clay as needed
3. #83 (Optional, only if needed)
4. #80
5. #7/DC#2 (Optional, only if you can see a difference)
6. Wax - Nxt, #21, etc
7. Wax - Remember, 2 thin coats are best.

[Michael Stoops]

I usually only go to 83 if there is a more serious defect that 80 doesn't seem to remove.

The long scratch shown on this 2006 Chrysler 300 fender took three passes with 83 to remove, but the rest of the car was just fine with a single pass of 80. I did clay before polishing.

Before:



After three passes with 83 (and some 20 to top everything off!)

[astaticwinter]

Well my car has a ton of swirls in it that I'd like to get out, as well as a general polish to smooth everything out, few fine scrathes here and there...and then a pure polish to top it off.

So since my car is an '03 it's got some blemishes I'll be looking to get rid of...so I guess I'll stick to my original...83, 80, Deep Crystal...hopefully that should work for me.

Also, for applying and buffing wax. doing both coats by hand, or applyinh with the superfine mequiars buffer pad, and removing it with a buffing bonnet?

[Michael Stoops]

Originally posted by astaticwinter

Also, for applying and buffing wax. doing both coats by hand, or applyinh with the superfine mequiars buffer pad, and removing it with a buffing bonnet?

Apply the wax with a W9006 tan finishing pad using speed 3 on the machine. After the appropriate drying time, remove it with a microfiber bonnet over a W7006 burgundy cutting pad using speed 5 on the machine. Neither step requires much pressure at all.

[astaticwinter]

Thanks exactly what I was thinking, haha. Only problem is, I can't find the microfiber bonnets on Mequiars website. Any other ones anyone knows of that would work well and are good quality?

[Murr1525]

You should be able to call and ask.. I am sure they know where they are.

Though I also like to order a lot of things from autodetailingsolutions.com, so Rick could probably help you as well.

[nhousepro]

Originally posted by Mike-in-Orange
I usually only go to 83 if there is a more serious defect that 80 doesn't seem to remove.

The long scratch shown on this 2006 Chrysler 300 fender took three passes with 83 to remove, but the rest of the car was just fine with a single pass of 80. I did clay before polishing.

Before:



After three passes with 83 (and some 20 to top everything off!)

Which pad did you use with #80 and #83???

[searle]

Although I have used the old #7 polish (glaze) for years and am very happy with it, Meguiars now have a new 80 series #81 hand polish that I understand to be very similar but slightly easier to remove. you might want to consider it for your polish step (to go with the #83/#80 cleaner/polish steps).