M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

[mahicks]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

Started the project today. Weather was nice,but I was sunburned from yesterday's March of Dimes outing so I only did half the hood.

I tried to not wash it, but ebony wax is a dark wax and could see it on the pad and did not think that was good.

Washed the hood with Palmolive (did not have any Dawn) worked well.

Hood did not need to be clay'd but I did anyways.

Started with UC. This stuff works! It is very aggressive in my opinion. In the wrong hands, with the DA, I think this could do some serious damage.

The test spot at that point was free of swirly's and spider web circle things, but had lost it's shine. I then went with the M80, which is a breeze to work with. I finished with m82 and it is perfect.

I then tried the same thing in another spot, but skipped the M80 and went straight for the M82. All in all, it took a few more passes, but I seemed to be able to cover more ground faster without the additional step of the M80.

To be honest, with the exception of the UC, you REALLY have to put some pressure on the pad to get any results. Not so much that you are bogging it down, but you do hear a good change in the motor's sound. I read the article about swirl removal and saw the 15-20lbs, but on a moving head, it is a little harder to gage.

It did put one thin coat of wax on the polished surface because it is suposed to rain. I used the tech wax I bought today. I seem to like it.

My wife said it looks stupid now because she has to drive to work tomorrow and the hood is night and day different on each side..lol.

[roushstage2]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

Understandable, obviously. All of that layering is too much, IMO. I mean, take your example, if that was what it was! Rediculous.

Worked at Steeda though with all the good guys.........lucky, lol!

[Bounty]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

...Dawn or not, your pad shouldn't be allowed to become clogged up with any residue (frequent cleaning)...

Admitedly a poor choice of term looking back on it. Meant more "contamination" then "clogging" but I can remember a specific example of a instance a few months back. A customer brought me a car that he had "professionally detailed" the week before. Guy basically washed, clayed, and waxed the car....and of course the detailer had to be a Zaino aficionado.

So, of course, this guy laid the full 20 layers of Z-this and Z-that on the car. The surface was smooth to the touch and didn't need to be clayed as per post-wash examination. The owner didn't want a Dawn wash to remove wax as he had specifically "heard online it fades your paint." After one panel (and just before I was to clean it on the fly) I noticed a yellow caking or clumping along the edges of my pad that I have never seen before or since. Minor annoyance but I just used one pad per panel and that Vette finished up very nice. Don't know if that's a Zaino-only issue or a fresh wax-only issue but I just try to avoid it whenever possible since I have no backgrounds on some of the cars brought to me...

p.s....after working for three years at Steeda with Orlando, Steve, Bill, and Mike down here in South Florida I can appreciate the ride...

[roushstage2]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

I understood you point. Perhaps you misunderstood mine? I understand that there are both options to clean off old wax.

I always do a Dawn wash on customer's cars before a polish job so as not to clog the pads more quickly with wax residue.

I was simply trying to make the point that either way, Dawn or not, your pad shouldn't be allowed to become clogged up with any residue (frequent cleaning), because it will also deteriorate the pad's performance while using it. Yes, I choose not to use Dawn nor would I recommend it, but I do know that it is the other popular option as you have stated.

[Bounty]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

I've never washed a car with dish soap, and have never had clogged up pads because of it. You should be cleaning them [the pads] frequently anyways for optimum performance.

I think you misunderstand the message I was trying to get across. Polishing a waxed car is not going to destroy your pads or cause them to gum up after a panel. Does the wax have to go somewhere? Yes. Is that place your claybar or pad? Yes if that's all that's coming into contact with the paint. Does it really make a difference? As I stated in my post probably not.

But this rampant fear of washing a car once or twice in it's lifetime with dishsoap causing all rubber seals to deteriorate, plastics and trim to discolor, or the vehicle dissolve to dust is ridiculous...

The purpose of forums like this is so people with different methodologies can get together, exchange ideas, and learn. Some of us prefer to leave the wax on the car prior to clay/polish. Others want the paint as "virgin" as possible to best see defects, examine paint condition, reduce clay/pad contamination and any possible product interference. Some of us prefer to have the clay complete this step. Truth is you have to wash it anyway. You have to clay it anyway. Does it really matter which step removes the wax? It's a matter of preference. I wanted to make sure he knew both options were ok. I've seen some of your work and your process works great for you...

[roushstage2]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

I've never washed a car with dish soap, and have never had clogged up pads because of it. You should be cleaning them [the pads] frequently anyways for optimum performance.

[Bounty]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

Really? I thought I would have to remove the wax so I would not clog up the polishing bonnet(s)

There's two schools of thought on this so you're going to get two different answers. YES, the claying and polishing will remove the previous wax from the surface of the car. YES, a Dawn wash will also remove the previous wax on the car.

I always do a Dawn wash on customer's cars before a polish job so as not to clog the pads more quickly with wax residue. This is especially true if the wax application is recent (two weeks or less) as the elements haven't been able to remove much if any from the surface. You can go either way and I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm just Old School I guess and prefer to have a "clean palette" so to speak after the initial wash to clay and polish.

Remember the Dawn wash is a one-time type of thing. Repeated uses can dull exterior rubber and discolor exterior plastic trim if used as a regular washing solution. A one-time application will not damage or fade anything...

[mahicks]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

You don't need to wash the car with dishwashing soap to get the wax off. Just the action of polishing will remove the wax you applied last week.

Really? I thought I would have to remove the wax so I would not clog up the polishing bonnet(s)

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

I would go with a regular wash and dry. Then mask off everything and do your test spots. Once you have your prescription dialed in, your all set.

[jmakado]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

You don't need to wash the car with dishwashing soap to get the wax off. Just the action of polishing will remove the wax you applied last week.

[mahicks]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

Thanks everyone!

I will start tomorrow. I have a job just to get the wax off that was put on it a week ago. I clayed the whole thing, then used mothers cleaner/wax, then put on a coat of ebony zymol on the whole thing, two coats on the hood!

I will use dishwashing soap to take it off I guess. I am going to try to do the hood first with a test spot and then work the whole hood tomorrow. If I mess up entirely, I was considering a new hood anyways and it would of course have to be painted.

I think I am going to try two spots:
On one spot, UC then go to M80, then go to M82.
On another spot, UC then go to M82 and work it out.

I will do the whole car which ever way works out best.

[roushstage2]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

UC will get the W8006, as akimel stated.
M80- W8006
M82- W9006 (After the above on the tougher paint, I would use the 9006 and use the M82 as more of a polish than a cleaner).

[akimel]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

You would use the W8006 polishing pad with the Ultimate Compound. As far as which polishes and pads with which to follow-up, others will have to guide you. You may well have to experiment with different combinations. FWIW, I would initially try SwirlX with a finishing pad. A lot of people seem to be having good luck following-up UC with SwirlX.

[mahicks]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

Thank you all for the posts!! Everyone is so friendly and informative.

I can get Ultimate compound locally, and since I wanted to try everything out on Sunday, I will buy it instead of the M83. That way, I have everything I need for my test spots.

Could you help me out with the right pads for the right product??

I have 4 each of the W8006 and W9006.

If I started with the Ultimate compound, which pad?

then would I go to the m82 and which pad?

Or would I go to the m80 and which pad?

Or would I go Ultimate compound, m80, m82.....and if so, which pads?

Thanks in advance!!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: M82, M80, Swirl X Questions for 2008 Mustang GT

We've seen quite a few cars that have been routinely run through a brush type car wash and the paint on these types of cars is as bad as it gets.

If this car is Swirl City, might as well pull out the big guns and pick up a bottle of Ultimate Compound.

Be sure to read this first and only work small sections at a time for the swirls removal step.


How To use: G110 - G220 - G100 - PC/Porter Cable - UDM
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Tips & Techniques for using the G110, G100, G220 and the PC Dual Action Polisher
(These are all similar tools)