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**Markus Kleis** · May 31, 2009, 01:17 AM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Welcome to MOL "thescreensavers,"

I had to spend about 5 minutes editing your post because it was riddled with links. We have a forum rule that new members can not post clickable links until they reach 30 substantial posts. Feel free to add in EMBEDDED (not links) of your pictures, but please keep them around 800x600 or smaller so it fits on peoples' screens better.

Thanks!

Mark

**thescreensavers** · May 31, 2009, 05:32 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

bump

**Cosmin** · May 31, 2009, 05:39 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by thescreensavers View Post

bump

for polish go with swirl x , or if u wanna go pro go with 80 on finish pad, and 83 with polish pad. use a da/pc or rotary. if u don`t have experience with rotary practice first on a junk piece. also before u put any machine on your vehicle wash/clay bar /and wash again , let it cool and dry and tape all the trims /rubber/plastic so u don`t demage , and take your time , use day light as much as possible so u see the defects.
look for kit starter sometimes has the right stuff to get the job done.

**ClearlyCoated** · May 31, 2009, 05:49 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by thescreensavers View Post

This reminds me of something...

**Bounty** · May 31, 2009, 05:54 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by thescreensavers View Post

A. Porter-cable 7424 with 5inch Backplate
I was recommended to get
-Gray Finishing CCS Smart Pad (to apply glazes, sealant, and waxes)
-White Polishing CCS Smart Pad (to restore gloss back to your paint with a polish or finishing polish)
-Orange Light Cutting CCS Smart Pad (for swirl/scratch removal with a compound or polish)
all by lake country

List looks good. Make sure to get the pads in 5.5" sizes for that particular backing plate. By the way, you really won't need 3 finishing pads just for wax application. As for replacing them, you need to monitor your pad and "clean on the fly" between panels (do a forum search). Three typically do a whole step for me on a small to medium-sized car. Utilizing something like the Kevin Brown Method will yield better cutting results with SMAT products and can extend working time.

B. JetSeal Sealent + 5050 Wax
Someone on the G35 Forum used them and got great results

Waxes and sealants are very subjective and everyone has their favorites. NXT 2.0 is an excellent and durable sealant that works well on all paint colors and types. I'd apply two thin coats spaced at least 4 to 8 hours apart (overnight in your garage works fine). If you are looking for something over the counter besides a true sealant than the Meguiar's Gold Class Carnauba Wax paste is a personal choice for me on dark-colored cars. You can even layer the two if you so desire (NXT on the bottom). Have never used JetSeal so can't offer an opinion on it.

C.Black WOW Exterior Trim Restorer
Again someone used this in the G35 Forums with great results

Have used it before and am not a big fan. Unless your trim is really faded or discolored I'd stick with Mother's Back-to-Black or Meguiar's Gold Class Trim Detailer. Both can be found at your local Walmart or auto parts store. I personally clean trim with M39 and dress with M40 but those are Meg's Professional Line products and would need to be ordered if you don't have a local PBE store.

D. Polish
Yea, I dont know what to get :O

In short...M105 and M205. No you can't find them in your local store but they offer the widest range of defect removal and finishing ability. I absolutely love them and use them on all polishing jobs. A quick search wll yield plenty of threads on them and their uses/results.

Edit: Grit Guard now added to the list

Excellent choice...will help in preventing swirls from being reintrodced to your freshly polished paint.

If you guys have any recommendations/thoughts to change any of the products above please say it I want all input possible!

I would find some All Purpose Cleaner (like Meguiar's APC+) for engine cleaning and wheel wells. Get a good assortment of brushes to tackle a variety of jobs. You will need plenty of quality microfibers for everything ranging from rims to engine to paint to polish removal to interiors to final LSP removal and wipedown. For polishing, get some IPA (isopropyl alchohol) in a sprayer bottle to wipedown the surface after each polishing step. This removes all the lubriacting oils and fillers from the surface and allows you to see the true paint condition so you can gauge your progress. Get some quality interior products as you sit in there every day and want it just as pretty as the paint. I would suggest a Foam Gun for washing and quality drying towels to further prevent swirls. Probably missing a few things in there but others will chime in...

Also I got another question, lets say I remove all the swirls and do a awesome job. but later on somehow I get swirl marks/holograms...ect again. How many times can I keep doing this before I get to my color coat? or is my thinking wrong?

With the proper washing/drying/waxing techniques the odds of you reintroducing swirls should be minimized. That being said you can safely conduct a full polish on your base coat/clear coat paint with an orbital polisher like a G110 several times.

Its been raining here everyday now(S.Florida), so stocking up on cleaning stuff for when its time to clean

Where in South FLA are you located? If not too far you can swing by and test out some of my different products/machines on your ride and see what you like...

BIG THANKS TO WHOEVER HELPS ME

Hope this helps...

**ClearlyCoated** · May 31, 2009, 05:55 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

On a more serious note

I would add Ultimate Compound to your polishes. Your swirls (what are those red things?) look pretty nasty and you may need the cutting power of UC to fully eradicate them.

Have you ever used a DA before? From your post I'm guessing no, so technique will be your major concern. Read up on this thread (Tips & Techniques for using the G110, G100, G220 and the PC Dual Action Polisher) to get your feet wet. You can also check out this vid:How to use the G110 DA

Don't go whole hog on your first attempt. Section off one or two 18" square areas and test out SwirlX first, and then UC if swirlX doesn't get it done for you.

**akimel** · May 31, 2009, 06:30 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

You might consider substituting Meguiar's pads for the Lake Country pads. I would suggest 4-6 yellow polishing pads and 2 black finishing pads. One sometimes needs more polishing pads than one anticipates.

Get yourself a bottle of SwirlX and a bottle of Ultimate Compound, then search the MOL forum on how to use them properly.

Meguiar's G110 dual action polisher is slightly more powerful than the PC 7424--that might be something for you to think about. Porter-Cable is also coming out with a new polisher that is slightly more powerful than the G110--another thing to think about. Give Rick a call at Auto Detailing Solutions.

Be sure to get yourself plenty of good microfiber towels. You won't find 'em at the local auto store; you'll need to order them online. Meguiar's sells very good towels, as does PakShak.

CG 5050 is a very good wax and easy to use, but there are plenty of good waxes out there. Don't expect the wax to change everything for you. The look you are looking for is to be found in the polishing.

You may find helpful some of the resources listed here: Internet Resources for Detailing Newbs.

I also recommend purchasing Mike Phillip's DVD: "How to Use the PC."

**thescreensavers** · May 31, 2009, 06:53 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by ClearlyCoated View Post

On a more serious note

I would add Ultimate Compound to your polishes. Your swirls (what are those red things?) look pretty nasty and you may need the cutting power of UC to fully eradicate them.

Have you ever used a DA before? From your post I'm guessing no, so technique will be your major concern. Read up on this thread to get your feet wet. You can also check out this vid

Don't go whole hog on your first attempt. Section off one or two 18" square areas and test out SwirlX first, and then UC if swirlX doesn't get it done for you.

Lol, thats part of the work light I have.

**thescreensavers** · May 31, 2009, 07:04 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by Bounty View Post

Where in South FLA are you located? If not too far you can swing by and test out some of my different products/machines on your ride and see what you like...

I am around the Aventura area. I dont think I can PM yet till 30 posts or something

I got a few questions,M105 and M205 are both 30 bucks were as SwirlX and UC are like 9.99. They must do something different?

I can get M105 and M205 on Amazon.

After the polish I can Use NXT 2.0 two coats, then get some Spray wax and apply that on.

**thescreensavers** · Jun 1, 2009, 09:29 AM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

ok I edited the OP with some changes.

Let me get the whole routine down.

1. Wash 2 bucket method
2. Clay bar, I want to clay my whole car will the 2 bars in the kit be enough?
3A. Start with M105 compound, put a nickle sized amount on the Orange Light cutting pad. ( I saw a video were they said to apply pad conditioner? Also is there presoaking the pad with M105?) Spread it on the car, start at speed 3 to spread around the area I am working, then switch it on to speed 5 work the polish in untill it completly breaks down. Then Wipe off. Continue this for the rest of the car.
3B. Now put the White polishing pad on. Apply M205 same prosedure as 3A. Then wipe when its broken down continue on the whole car.
4. Now its time to apply Nxt 2.0 Tech wax. Apply to Grey finishing pad and same procedure as 3A, but I can move faster. I let the Wax dry then wipe with cloth. 8 Hours later I can apply a second coat if I want.

5. Look at my awesome looking black car!

Do I have it down?

Thanks for all the help guys/gals.

**Solipsist** · Jun 1, 2009, 10:03 AM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Hi there, I can't be of much help, as I'm new to this too, but just a little hint, go on youtube and do a meguiars search, you'll find heaps of step by step videos on how to apply the products, also have a look on the articles section of this forum, if you haven't already, that'll talk you through it too.
Sorry I can't be of much help, I just found watching a video was helpful so I could see the process

**akimel** · Jun 1, 2009, 11:39 AM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by thescreensavers View Post

Let me get the whole routine down.

1. Wash 2 bucket method

2. Clay bar, I want to clay my whole car will the 2 bars in the kit be enough?

The two claybars should be adequate for several cars. Be sure to break the bar into two or three pieces, just in case you accidentally drop the piece you are using on the ground. If you do drop a piece, do not use it again on the paint.

3A. Start with M105 compound, put a nickle sized amount on the Orange Light cutting pad. ( I saw a video were they said to apply pad conditioner? Also is there presoaking the pad with M105?) Spread it on the car, start at speed 3 to spread around the area I am working, then switch it on to speed 5 work the polish in untill it completly breaks down. Then Wipe off. Continue this for the rest of the car.

Given that I am unacquainted with the LC pads, others will have to offer their opinions. My one piece of advice is to first do a TEST SPOT! You may also wish to start off with M205 and a polishing pad, just to see how it works. The rule is to begin with the less aggressive approach and move up. Do not polish your entire car until you have both found the right pad and polish combination and have gotten your technique down.

Because both M105 and M205 contain non-diminishing abrasives, you do not need to break them down. You can stop at any point during the polishing to check on your progress. Just be sure not to buff to a dry surface. There should always be a thin lubricating film present.

Be sure to clean your pad after every panel: Cleaning Your Pad On The Fly.

Hopefully the pros will step in here and offer their wisdom on working with both M105 and M205. There is a learning curve with these products.

Now put the White polishing pad on. Apply M205 same prosedure as 3A. Then wipe when its broken down continue on the whole car.

Don't forget the test spot.

4. Now its time to apply Nxt 2.0 Tech wax. Apply to Grey finishing pad and same procedure as 3A, but I can move faster. I let the Wax dry then wipe with cloth. 8 Hours later I can apply a second coat if I want.

Apply at speed 3. Thin coats.

5. Look at my awesome looking black car!

The essential step!

Good luck and have fun!

Cheers,
Al

**thescreensavers** · Jun 1, 2009, 11:48 AM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Originally posted by akimel View Post

Good luck and have fun!

Cheers,
Al

Thanks

Yea, ill do a test spot, I think I am going to try M205 with the light cutting pad first to see how that looks on my test spot. All I got is light swirl marks all over nothing too serious. But I will buy M105 in case I need to use that with the light cutting pad.

Also if M205 is good for what I need to do, when I am finished with the Light cutting pad do I still need to Use the Polishing pad with the M205?

Thanks again Al

**RaskyR1** · Jun 1, 2009, 12:06 PM

Re: A DIY'er starting to Detail! need some help

Based on your pic I would think M205 on a polishing pad (Yellow Megs/While LC) would be sufficient to remove the light marring/swirling you have, but a test spot should confirm. If that doesn't work then I would try the M105 on a polishing pad and that should be more than enough. Follow that up with M205 on a finishing pad and then wax away. I really don't think a light cutting pad will be necessary.

4-6 passes with medium pressure is all I will usually do, and then I wipe to see if the defects were removed.

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