Do i have the right selection for my correction?

[aznives3]

ok, didn't mean for the title to rhyme, but it asks exactly what i need to find out!

the 2 cars im thinking of doing paint correction on mostly are my :
2006 honda civic in Atomic Blue
2004 Honda S2000 in Suzuka Blue

both cars have pretty light swirls, nothing too bad for the most part.

However, the s2000 does have 1 scratch on the rear 1/4 panel about 2" long. When i run my fingernail over it, it doesn't really "catch" my fingernail, however, it feels kind of "rough" when my nail goes over it.

The Civic's trunk also has a scuff line going across it from a spoiler that i had on the car from before, it almost looks like its been sanded down. (this is something that would be a bonus to correct, as i have a carbon trunk, but wouldn't mind fixing this up, but if not, thats not a big deal)

This is pretty much all the problems that i've got with my cars, but with all the stuff im buying, i was hoping to do some more cars as well for friends etc, maybe my gf's mazda 3 in winning blue. This car has some more moderate type swirling, so hopefully the stuff i'm thinking of will be good with this as well.

here is what i've got so far for equipment:

I'll be using a flex DA polisher, with LC pads yellow, orange, white, black.

Now the 2 products im thinking of using from Megs would be #83 and #80. After some reading, im thinking this should be a pretty generous lineup of polishes to use to correct the paint defects, and get the paint ready for LSP.

I would like to try 105/205, however, im going to be ordering from eshine.ca since i'm from canada, and he doesn't have 105/205 yet, and the 83/80 is very well priced for buying locally as well.

Does anyone know if these 2 products, combined with the pad selection i have, is going to give me some good results? is there something i should look into thats different?

Anyways, im open to opinions, but right now im 99% sure that ill be okay with the 83/80 combo, as there seems to be quite the praise behind these products.

Convince me please! and thank you in advance!

some pics of the scratch on the s2k...

[Murr1525]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

To question is fine,
The proper product choice,
For perfect results.

Before the 105/205 came out, those were the go-to products for use. I dont know if the Ultimate Compound is available yet up there, but that would be something to look into. You may have to work by hand on those few bad scuffs, as you can focus more power that way, and that would be a good product.

I am not familiar with those pads, but dont start of with a cutting pad.

[aznives3]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

wouldn't the flex DA be able to put more work into spot correction than using my hand? i understand its not as powerful as a rotary, but i've read that it is more powerful than the PC.

also, yes, i wouldn't start right out with the cutting pad, i would go something like this as a method:

1) wash
2) clay
3) try a test spot of #80 + LC white pad (polishing)
4) if step 3 didn't correct enough, could try 80 on a LC orange cutting pad, or perhaps #83 with a white or orange pad depending on what results came.
5) then finish off with #80 on white polishing pad (if i had to use 83), if not, hopefully the #80 on white with 1 or 2 passes would be enough to correct and make the paint LSP ready. I'm aware that i need to start with the least aggressive combination, but hopefully these 2 products will give me enough firepower, and enough range of combination to tackle moderately swirled all the way to light corrections! any more reccomendations?

[Murr1525]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

The thing is the clutch... if you are trying to focus on one spot with some pressure, you may find the pad stops moving.

You can certainly try the Flex first, and I hope it would work, but you might find going back and forth across the deep scratch knocks it down the most.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

Removing deeper scratches means removing enough paint surrounding the scratch to level the upper surface with the lowest depths of the scratch.

Tackling random, isolated deeper scratches is usually best done by hand because with your fingers and an applicator pad you can focus on a smaller area than using a machine with a buffing pad unless you're using a machine with a small buffing pad, for example 3" pads.



M83 might get the job done, just depends upon how deep the scratch is. You also have to be careful that you don't rub through the clear layer and expose the color coat. Sometimes you're better off only improving a scratch instead of trying to completely remove a scratch, especially if the car in question is a daily driver, not a garage queen.

The best product for this kind of job is either Ultimate Compound or M105, but if you can't get these products then you'll have to try with what you have.

Keep us posted as to your progress...

[aznives3]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

right on, the scratch on the S2k right now doesn't kill me inside, it just bugs me but i've grown to live with it, hey its a car, its going to get things like this, i can deal with it. BUT, if i can even get it to disappear a little or make it look a little bit better, then hey i'm all for it. I don't think i would be able to use a whole bottle of 105 right now, so i wont be adding it to my cart, however, i will try to source some ultimate compound locally and give that a whirl. UC should be more readily available in regular dept. stores correct? its a consumer line product?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

UC should be more readily available in regular dept. stores correct? its a consumer line product?

Yes but I don't have much information as to retail locations for new products in Canada, you might try contacting someone here,

Dealer Locater in Canada


Also, check out these pictures from this thread and note that the scratch wasn't 100% removed, but very close to it and you could only see traces of it if you knew where to look and were very close.

Also, in all the below pictures there is no wax yet applied, the clear, glossy shiny finish is the result from only correctly applying Ultimate Compound using good technique and a clean, soft foam applicator pad like these,




Scratch Removed using Ultimate Compound


Deep Scratch just above the door handle - Original resized to 800 pixels wide after cropping





These are all original shots, the photos have not been resized, the portion shown was cropped out of the original.

Before



After 3 applications of Ultimate Compound



After a few more applied by the owner


Also, those results were before any wax or any other product was applied. What you see is just the results of Ultimate Compound hand applied using a clean, soft foam applicator pad.







Scratch Removed using Ultimate Compound

[mlc]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

Ooo..yeah! I knew you would like it here. If you have questions these guys have the answers. I think you are going to do just fine. If you have more questions post them up and I am sure Mike or someone else in the community will help out.

My experience with my black S2000 is the paint is "soft" and corrects pretty easily. With the amount of research you have done you are going to to well.

Now get the products and get started!

Good luck and you better post up pics of the results.

Kevin

[aznives3]

Re: Do i have the right selection for my correction?

ill be sure to do my best to remember to take many pics of the whole process to show how well all these things worked out! i know honda paint is usually soft, so thats why im thinkign some "milder" products will work, im sure ill have enough fire power to get my S back to pristine condition!

I've gotten alot of help from my s2000 community as well, so i think im finally ready to purchase my stuff and get to it! i will post updates as they come