Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

[GoZoner]

Absolute newbie. I've a 2000 Acura Integra "Clover Green Pearl" with 200,000 miles - a daily driver. Maybe waxed three times; probably washed no more than 30 times. Garaged only 2 years; otherwise outside (Santa Barbara sun is not so strong ). In spite of all that abuse the car still cleans up real nice. But now, for reasons I can't remember, I've taken the Meguiar's Detailing Plunge! Maybe because my son can now drive and the car will become his, mostly.

My intention is the full treatment: wash, clay, clean, polish, wax. I've got all the basic stuff: towels, pads, clay, wash, wax, etc and have been reading a lot. Particularly enjoying the Acura TSX and TL results!

My questions.

1) I clayed the car this morning and it worked really well. Lots of crud on the clay and the car is smoother than I've ever know it to be. Perhaps it is not 'as smooth as glass' - is there an advantage to a second claying?

2) After claying I washed and dried and set about using Ultimate Compound on the hood, in sections. After getting 1/2 way through I backed the car into the sun to examine my handiwork. There might be some difference, but nothing close to dramatic. I used a Meguiar's terry application pad, added a glob of compound, set about on a small area with small circles and some pressure (but not a lot). Before the UC dried, I wiped it off. [It is a bear to remove when it dries...] I'm expecting more. Have I done things correctly? Do I need more force? I don't want to do the rest of the car until I get this correct.

3) I've lots of small scratches. I expected to remove those with ScratchX after the Ultimate Compound (if UC didn't remove them). Is that the correct order?

Thanks.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

1) You can clay until it gets smooth as glass. If it still feels rough and crud is coming up on your clay, then keep on claying!

2) I hope you washed your car before you clayed. You should always work on a clean car while claying, otherwise you are grinding dirt into your paint.

As for UC. Try using a foam applicator pad instead and work an area about as big as a microfiber towel. Work it in when you use it, you need to utilize the microabrasives to remove the swirls. Did you not see any swirls removed or was it that you were expecting the color to darken and it didn't? It is great that you are doing a test spot! Way to go!

Try doing an even smaller area than a microfiber towel, say a 6"x6" area, almost like a spot repair. If that makes a difference, then you will know that it is just going to require a little more elbow grease when working on a slightly bigger area.

3) If Ultimate Compound doesn't take out the scratches, ScratchX will not. UC is more aggressive than ScratchX.



Here is a little analogy. Think of UC as an insanely fine grit sand paper. If you take sandpaper and barely rub it across the top of some rough wood, is it going to smooth it out? No, you have to work it to smooth it down. The UC is smoothing down the microscopic scratches in your paint, so use some elbow grease.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

10 year old vehicle. Never clayed. I am sure you could clay it again.

Around here, we always try the least aggressive method first. This would be scratch-x first, then if needed the Ultimate Compound.

As to your lack of results with the uc, try it with a little more pressure.

Good luck.

[GoZoner]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

I did wash before claying.

As for UC, I'm not seeing a darkening. The hood and roof are the worst parts of the car. I was expecting to get them as nice as the sides of the car. I'll try with a foam pad and get a bit of effort into it.

Thanks.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

I did wash before claying.

As for UC, I'm not seeing a darkening. The hood and roof are the worst parts of the car. I was expecting to get them as nice as the sides of the car. I'll try with a foam pad and get a bit of effort into it.

Thanks.

Well what is making the hood and roof not as good as the sides? Is it swirled and scratched up, or is it just not as dark, or is it both?

Removing swirls and scratches will enhance the gloss and depth of your paint, but you can do a test spot with a pure polish such as the Deep Crystal System Polish or M07 and that may darken your paint as well.

Keep us posted.

[Beach Bum]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

Try a second coat of UC with a little less pressure then the 1st time. Polish is highly suggested after but don't let it dry, wipe right off.

[cnfowler]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

...you can do a test spot with a pure polish such as the Deep Crystal System Polish or M07 and that may darken your paint as well.

My thoughts exactly. Ultimate Compound will remove the swirls. A pure polish is what is going to darken the paint by nourishing it with oils.


Colin

[GoZoner]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

The Deep Crystal polish is the plan for today.

Given my lack of care for this Integra, I really don't deserve the quality paint, both before and after treatment, that I am seeing.

Here are some before pictures. (Maybe they are too large?)

Overall:

Hood reflections (sort of):


Hood stuff:


Nose:

Tail scratches:

[GoZoner]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

Here are my post-detail photos. This turned out way, way better than I had any right to expect given the horrible treatment of my car for the last ten years. The hood and roof are still imperfect, perhaps ready to blister, but the sides and back are superb. A tribute to Acura and Meguiar's products.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

Looking Good. Very nice.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Newbie Needs 'Ultimate Compound' Advice

Glad to see it turned out great!