First real cleaning job in years

[ricks778]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

Two dozen separate buffings.

I used #83 at the time, and I buffed a selected area using the cross-hatch method of working the buffer north & south, then east & west in overlapping passes. I set the DA on the 5 setting, and I guess it must have taken me at least two to three minutes per buffing session.

Those stains do look rather deep. Since you are using Ultimate Compound, it might pay you to read up on this thread and see if it can help your pad have more cutting power.

I guess I just need to do a LOT more buffing. I broke the cab area up into 4 sections. doing the cross-hatch like you and overlapping, DA on setting 5. I did spend 5-10 Min's on each section. I did this 3 times to each section.
my main concern was taking the clear coat off totally, since this was my first time with a DA, and I was using Meguiar's most aggressive cleaner.

[ricks778]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

This next week end I will also try the Ken Brown method of priming the pad. Which I did not do before, I just put a bead around the outside of the bad turned the DA on 3 and quickly whent over the area to even it out.

[rusty bumper]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

Can you see any improvement in the bird stains?

Paint thickness is not my area of expertise, but I am doubting that UC is going to remove too much clearcoat. Be careful, however, around raised areas where the paint is usually thinner. And I welcome any opinions on these comments from folks with more experience with SMAT abrasives.

[ricks778]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

Can you see any improvement in the bird stains?

Rusty Bumper,
First, I wanted to let you know that the great looking reflection is with M105 as I stated in post # 25, the one with the great looking refection.

Yes, there is improvement, but not much. In that same pic you can see a dark spot just above the branch to the right. That is a stain, not a cloud. Post #29 is also after going over the whole cab with M105. This shine IS looking good but some of the worst stains I can still feel with my fingernail.

[Murr1525]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

Feeling a stain/scratch/swirl with your fingernail is usually a good sign that it will be tough to remove.

[rusty bumper]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

Rusty Bumper,
First, I wanted to let you know that the great looking reflection is with M105 as I stated in post # 25, the one with the great looking refection.

Yes, there is improvement, but not much. In that same pic you can see a dark spot just above the branch to the right. That is a stain, not a cloud. Post #29 is also after going over the whole cab with M105. This shine IS looking good but some of the worst stains I can still feel with my fingernail.

Sorry, I must have went brain dead on you concerning #105. This product is new to me, so I have not had a chance to evaluate it's abilities yet.

I see the spot you are referring to. Not sure if you can safely remove it completely, but a few more passes with the buffer should lighten it up some. A few more passes may help the other stains too, but if you can feel the etching then it may be impossible to completely remove them. I would be tempted to try ScratchX, after a few more buffer passes with 105, or even 105 by hand on the etches themselves, as I see it is formulated for hand use too.

Note to self: Buy a bottle of #105.

[ricks778]

Re: First real cleaning job in years

Well I am going to go at it again tomorrow (My weekend). Sorry guys but I just don’t have time during the week after work and all to work on the cars.
Nobody said ya or na to wet sanding so I guess I will just keep polishing. If I do not get a significant decrease in the spots, I will just move on to the rest of the truck, and come back to the top of the cab later. I will be using the Kevin Brown Method to prime the pad first; this just might do the trick.
1.We are talking about the top of my truck, and you would have to be 7 feet tall to see up there.
2.This is my daily driver that sits outside 24/7.
I just want to get it very clean and looking good.