I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

[djdownfawl]

Hello everybody!
I just got my Makita 9227c and i am very excited to work with it on my car.
I want to start working on my car, but i really don't know where to begin?
What polish/compound do i start with at first? and whats next?
The car is a 03 civic with satin silver paint and has swirls all over the car, and a few deep scratches on the hood, fenders and doors.
Please advise.
Like i listed in my other post i have in my possession almost all the compounds and polishes from the mirror glaze line.
Monday i will be receiving the m105, d151, #85, sanding papers and a lot more stuff.
What can i start with today?
Please advise.
Thank you
Nitin

[Markus Kleis]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

Well, have you taken any classes or received any training on rotary use?

If so, I would start with a very safe combination such as the Meguiar's yellow polishing pad and #80. This combo is fairly safe and is good for practice. As always, Meguiar's suggests starting with the least aggressive option possible and working your way into more aggressive products as you go.

Realize that as you get into wool, or heavier cutting compounds you increase the risk of leaving more severe holograms or buffer trails, as well as eating up too much clear. Same applies for higher speeds.

[krshultz]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

Nitin, I'm in the same boat. I too purchased a Makita recently.

What's really helping me with the learning is junk body panels. An acquaintance who has a bunch of old cars out on his farm provided me with a red trunklid from a Passat, and a black front fender from another VW of some sort. I've keyed them, wet sanded them, pretty much everything - just to try and learn. This is also a great way to learn how certain products (polishes, pads) will behave.

I've heard of people learning on their "beater" cars, and I've done that too. I now believe this to be a mistake. Because one day, you may want to sell that beater car, and even if it's a beater, one with a decent paint job will sell for more money than one that's got paint damage.

If you have any friends who work at body shops, I imagine they'd let you have some junk panels that they'd ordinarily just have recycled. Much, much better to practice on donor panels than on a car.

Just my 0.02.

[djdownfawl]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

Can i start with PRC today?
If yes, then what pad?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

I want to start working on my car, but i really don't know where to begin?

What polish/compound do i start with at first? and whats next?

The car is a 03 civic with satin silver paint and has swirls all over the car, and a few deep scratches on the hood, fenders and doors.


Like i listed in my other post i have in my possession almost all the compounds and polishes from the mirror glaze line.

Monday i will be receiving the M105, D151, #85, sanding papers and a lot more stuff.

What can i start with today?

Can i start with PRC today?
If yes, then what pad?

First, watch these videos which can be found in the "Information Station" in the "How To Videos" group.

5 Video segments on wet-sanding and using a rotary buffer


Then form the habit of always working clean.

Clean car
Clean shop/garage
Clean everything

Then practice on a flat, horizontal panel and try to duplicate the techniques you see in the video clips linked above, like picking up your bead of product and then buffing a section about 2' square.

Just light pressure, just enough to keep your buffing pad flat. Overlap your passes by 50%

Don't buff on an edge or body line. Be careful around things like windshield water squirters, antennas and wiper arms.

After working a section wipe the product off and inspect your work.

Try to position your body so you can hold the buffer close to your body instead of arms stretched out. When you hold the buffer close to your body and tighten up your arms, shoulders and back and leg muscles you can better control the buffer versus if you hold the buffer with outstretched arms away from your body where the buffer can gain leverage over you.

Watch the videos to start with...

As for pads to start with, any of the Solo foam pads are easy to use and learn on as are our smaller 6" pads. The larger 8" pads because of their greater surface area can be a little harder to learn on.

As for products, choose something on the least aggressive side, D151 would be a good first choice so would M83 or M80

[christian6984]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

Heres a great guide to read. Hope it helps

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=66024

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ypolishing.pdf (PDF VERSION)

[djdownfawl]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

can i use rotary to put #26?
if yet what speed?

[g88]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

Have you corrected your defects ? Please share some photos !!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: I just got my Makita. I dont know where to start?

can i use rotary to put #26?
if yet what speed?

You can but we don't recommend it. It's better to apply your wax or LSP by hand or with a DA Polisher.

Applying wax with a rotary buffer will tend to leave you paint looking swirled.