Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

[StoneRaizer]

Hey all, I've been looking through Meg's Online and other detailing forums for an answer to this question and I've heard different responses:

When using Ultimate Compound for removing light-moderate swirls, do you need to use another less aggressive polish after or can you go straight to a pure polish and/or wax?

Reason why I'm asking is because I recently finished a detail job on my 2002 light silver Hyundai Accent. There wasn't too much dirt on it so I used QD to take off any loose dust, followed by clay, ColorX, Deep Crystal Polish (DC2), NXT 2.0 and Gold Class Liquid (2009 formula) all by hand. It turned out great, until I saw it in direct sunlight and noticed swirls everywhere.

So, I found a good online Canadian retailer and am planning on ordering a PC7424 with 5.5" orange, white and black Lake Country pads and backing plate, an instructional DVD along with a pair of Grit Guards and some microfiber towels.

My plan of attack is follows:

1. Wash and dry.
2. Ultimate Compound with orange pad.
3. ColorX as a finishing polish with white pad.
4. Deep Crystal Polish with black pad.
5. NXT 2.0 with black pad.
6. Gold Class Liquid with black pad.

The only product I don't currently own is the UC but that's easily found in my area.

A few questions:

1. Will the orange pad with UC be too aggressive?
2a. Can I use ColorX as a finishing polish between compound and pure polish?
2b. Is this step even needed?
3. DC2 is supposed to be a pure polish/glaze with no abrasives or cut. If I do decide to use ColorX, will the wax in ColorX prevent the DC2's oils from penetrating into the paint?

I also plan on using the Accent as a practice car to get my technique and strategy down so I can detail my Dad's 2003 Malibu for his birthday later on this month.

I understand that there are a lot of questions in here so I appreciate all of your answers. Thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - UC. SwirLX would be the milder product to use if needed. Really, a test spot should be done with SwirlX, then stepping up to UC if needed.
4. Polish - DC2 if wanted
5. Wax
6 .Wax

[Shawn T.]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

Let me try and address this question by question:

When using Ultimate Compound for removing light-moderate swirls, do you need to use another less aggressive polish after or can you go straight to a pure polish and/or wax?
It truly depends on the paint you are working on. On some paints, UC will finish LSP ready while other paints, that are much softer, will haze up under UC and need another step such as Swirlx. In fact, if you look at the Thursday night pictures, I believe Mike Stoops gives a situation like this.

There wasn't too much dirt on it so I used QD to take off any loose dust, followed by clay, ColorX, Deep Crystal Polish (DC2), NXT 2.0 and Gold Class Liquid (2009 formula) all by hand.
If you are going to use a pure plish, I recommend using it before applying any wax. You will still recieve the shine from the polish, but it may not be absorbed into the paint. In fact, modern clearcoats are sometimes unresponsive to pure polishes until the pores (yes, paint has pores) open up when the paint gets older. If you wanted to use a pure polish then I would have only done DC2, then NXT 2.0. Or, you could Colorx and then NXT 2.0 as both of these products contain a small amount of polishing oils. There is no need to use 3 different waxes on a detail; Colorx followed by NXT 2.0 or GC (old or new) serves as a quick detail for many people. Therefore, your process would like the one Murr stated.

1. Will the orange pad with UC be too aggressive?
As stated before, it depends on the paint. I would try Swirlx first as I am not familiar with the hardness of a Hyundai clearcoat. Remember though, hardness varies a lot with cars so there really are no hard and fast rules; just an FYI.

2a. Can I use ColorX as a finishing polish between compound and pure polish?
Colorx is a cleaner/wax, not a finishing polish. If you wanted a true finishing polish (not pure polish) then I would pick up some M205 as it is extremely user friendly and yields incredible results.

2b. Is this step even needed?
Possibly. IF UC finishes out LSP ready then you could go straight to the waxes. However, the paint is 8 years old, so the paint may respond well to a finishing polish followed by a pure polish. Do a test spot of only UC and then right next to it (marking off with tape to get a distinct line) try UC, followed by a finishing polish (M205 id fantastic!), and then followed by DC2. See if there is a dramatic difference and go from there.

3. DC2 is supposed to be a pure polish/glaze with no abrasives or cut. If I do decide to use ColorX, will the wax in ColorX prevent the DC2's oils from penetrating into the paint?
It might. I would put down a pure polish before any waxes to recieve the greatest benefit. You could try DC2 followed by Colorx but something tells me that the Colorx will clean out many of the oils you just implanted in the paint and replace them with its own. It may be just be overkill to follow a pure polish with Colorx.

Whew! A lot of information there. If possible, try and limit the posts to 3 questions, Many people browse the site while on a break at work, or during work, or just quickly browsing. If they see a long post they may not look at it or not be able to answer it due to time restraints. If you have any more questions do not hesitate to ask!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - UC. SwirLX would be the milder product to use if needed. Really, a test spot should be done with SwirlX, then stepping up to UC if needed.
4. Polish - DC2 if wanted
5. Wax
6 .Wax

Sound advice. I would go with if.

[StoneRaizer]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

Thanks for all the replies. I thought ColorX had some polishing properties in it so that's why I thought it could be used as a finishing polish. SwirlX isn't available up here but it sounds like it might be worth ordering from an American retailer and shipping it to Canada. Alternatively I could try and find a similar product from a Canadian online store.

[Murr1525]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

#205 would be similar to SwirlX as far as Meguiars products go. A bit milder though.

[StoneRaizer]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

Thanks again, I'll keep that in mind. Now if I was going to use the least aggressive method, I would go as follows:

1. SwirlX with a white CCS polishing pad
2. SwirlX with an orange CCS light cutting pad
3. Ultimate Compound with a white CCS polishing pad
4. Ultimate Compound with an orange CCS light cutting pad

If I needed to use the UC I'd inspect the surface once I'm done and then apply SwirlX as a finishing polish if necessary before applying DC2 and then wax?

I just want to make sure I have the right plan in mind so I don't buy products that I don't need.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

If you did the original work by hand and discovered a lot of swirls at the end of the process, it may well be that you have very soft paint. We've seen this on some black Hondas recently - the paint was just incredibly soft and it was very easy to mar it even by hand with the proper foam applicator.

We would suggest that you definitely start with SwirlX and a white pad, but just do a 2' x 2' test spot first and then reinspect that area in direct sunlight. If you see that an initial pass is making some headway but not correcting everything, give it a second shot with the same combination before stepping up to either a more aggressive liquid or pad.

We have seen cases on extremely delicate paint where all that was needed was ColorX, D151 or M66 - nothing more. You may find that SwirlX and your choice of wax will take care of everything.

[StoneRaizer]

Re: Does UC need something before LSP when removing swirls?

Thanks Michael. I don't know how soft the paint is honestly because it was purchased used from a family member who bought it brand new and didn't know much about car care. The swirls could've come from anywhere - improper washing, going through a commercial car wash, dirty drying towels, etc. It could've been caused by me or by someone else, but I'll definitely start by using SwirlX or similarly aggressive product with a white pad before stepping up to something else.