Ultimate Compound Not Working

[ouhockeyplayer]

I have a few light clear coat scratches that I am trying to remove from my black car and UC does not seem to be doing the trick. The scratches are light and cant be felt with the hand or fingernail. In fact you can only see them up close, from a certain angle or if the light hits them right. I am applying UC with a circular motion and moderate pressure. I am getting a nice shime but the scratches still remain. Would colder temps have any effect on the product? Would you recommend stepping up to a more aggressive product? Any help would be very much appreciated.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

What are you using as an applicator? How large of an area are you working on at a time? How long are you working that area? What kind of vehicle are you working on (how hard is the paint)?

All of these variables will have an impact on the efficacy of any product.

You want to keep your work area quite small, maybe no more than 1' x 1' when working by hand. A foam wax applicator is going to be your best bet, especially when working on black paint as more aggressive applicator material can haze the paint. You should be able to use a significant amount of pressure and work the product for several minutes in a given area, even do a couple of applications if necessary.

Probably the two most common mistakes are working too large an area and not working long enough, especially when working by hand. In our Saturday classes we demonstrate proper hand work technique using UC in an area as defined above, and we get excellent results on a wide variety of vehicles.

[ouhockeyplayer]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

I am using a foam applicator pad and it is on a 2009 HHR SS. I usually try and keep the area limited to 1' X 1' as well. How long would you recommend to work the product for in a particular area? This may be my issue as I am doing many coats at a shorter interval. Also does temperature having any effect on the products effectiveness?

[BrianPow84]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

HI nice to see another michigan person here. I would try using a back and forth up and down motion instead of circular. try working in the product for 3-5 min in 1 area

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

I am using a foam applicator pad and it is on a 2009 HHR SS. I usually try and keep the area limited to 1' X 1' as well. How long would you recommend to work the product for in a particular area? This may be my issue as I am doing many coats at a shorter interval. Also does temperature having any effect on the products effectiveness?

temperature can certainlly affect the results...what is the temperature where you are at ? and ultimate compound does give a pretty long buffing cycle..keep working the product in until it becomes completely clear as if it were to look like you just spread vaseline. basically work the product in a good amount..by hand, id say about 2 minutes of working it on one area

[BrianPow84]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

I can answer this for him it is in the upper 30s here in michigan. Product takes a little extra time to work in, in these temperatures. I did a detail on a chevy silverado with UC. and it took a while to work the product with a DA.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

Theoretically you can use the product right up until the time it starts to go dry on the surface - you never want to dry buff. That said, you will apply a greater amount of a paint cleaner to a given area than you will a wax. So if you're going easy on the amount of product used and treating it like a wax in that regard, you might want to use more product. You should be able to work a small area for several minutes, and your arm should start getting tired, before the product is really in need of being wiped off.

Very cool temps, getting down to 50F and below, may be compromising the the effectiveness of the product as well, but it sounds as though you may not be working it aggressively enough.

[LelandGray]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

HI nice to see another michigan person here. I would try using a back and forth up and down motion instead of circular. try working in the product for 3-5 min in 1 area

So, almost like you're rubbing the surface with sand paper?

[BrianPow84]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

??????? what do you mean

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

So, almost like you're rubbing the surface with sand paper?

Some people use a back and forth stroke, similar to sanding, others a circular motion. Which you use makes no real difference, other than you may find one to be more comfortable for you, or you may be able to generate more power for a longer period with one or the other. Try both methods and see which works best for you.

[ouhockeyplayer]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

Thank you everyone for the responses. I believe that my problem is related to how long I am working the product. I certainly do not work it in for three to five minutes in one area. I will try working in one application for a longer period of time and see how that works. Should the amount of product applied to the foam applicator be about the size of a dime or more?

[BrianPow84]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

Not 100% sure but I would say a dime size is good I usually use an X on a dual action polisher pad.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

More like a 50 cent piece, or even a bit more than that.

[LelandGray]

Re: Ultimate Compound Not Working

??????? what do you mean

I meant in similar way to sanding.. back and forth. Not in a circular pattern.