paint reflections problem

[Ron500]

Previously i just finished detailing the car, using a full 3 step method, but however, once i took the car out from the garage, the reflections were poor and weak with hardly any depth and richness, with just unsightly blurry reflections, however panels such as the bonnet etc have pretty nice depth and reflections richnes, but i guess that is due to the bonnet being horizontal, and reflections more easily spread out, but on both sides of the car there is very poor reflective and depth shine qualities, i was wondering a possible reason for this, my procedure is outlined below;

1. Clean with G220 yellow pad, Ultimate Compound.(using right working area around 2ft by 2ft)

2. Polish with G220 black pad, DC2.(using right working area, around 2ft by 2ft)

3. Wax with Nxt 2.0, by hand.

it is pretty baffling and strange as i excpected to see much more better depth, relection, richness and clarity, but it is dissapointingly poor in those areas, however if the paint is viewed closely, it looks very good as it is pretty much flawless, as i have mentioned it look excellent in the garage but once it gets some daylight on it the shine just loses it, it has very blurry reflections, also the fact that the car is a 10 year old car, with paintwork which was in very bad condition have any effect?, but UC seemed to have fixed that anyway, as i posted a rave a few days ago on that. i was very annoyed, as all that effort and time put in also the fact that i used top products like Nxt 2.0 even in combination with DC2, has left me a bit confused.

Please advise.

cheers

[Underdawg736]

Re: paint reflections problem

What kind of car and color do you have? If you say it's still blurry and not reflective then I'm suspecting maybe orange peel may be the culperate. Do you have any pics of your finished work on the car?

[Murr1525]

Re: paint reflections problem

Definitely want pics, my first thought is orange peel as well.

[Underdawg736]

Re: paint reflections problem

I know on my Focus, the hood and rear end has pretty good clarity to it but if you look at my sides you can definitely pick out the orange peel as the clarity is definitely not as good as on the hood. Especially on the lower half.

[Ron500]

Re: paint reflections problem

just to clarify what is orange peel, how is it caused, and how can it be prevented, some pictures from this forum could be helpful. will definately post pics in a few days,

cheers

[Murr1525]

Re: paint reflections problem

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.carcareadvice.co.uk/assets/orange-peel-paint.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.carcareadvice.co.uk/faq/exterior-paintwork/can-orange-peel-be-removed-from-my-car.htm&usg=__HYbXqwf1ZA5SfyHgMrqkTBkR9mI=&h=182&w=249&sz=16&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=WsctK4qO5mUaBM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=194&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dorange%2Bpeel%2Bauto%2Bpaint%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1362%26bih%3D612%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=439&ei=coWaTJ23NIOglAeR7IitBg&oei=coWaTJ23NIOglAeR7IitBg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0&tx=103&ty=90

[Underdawg736]

Re: paint reflections problem

Yup that pretty much nails it! From what I hear and see, every car coming out of the factory will have this to a degree, even higher end vehicles!

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: paint reflections problem

I also am thinking orange peel.

I also fail to see any mention of claying. Did you clay your vehicle?

[Ron500]

Re: paint reflections problem

no i didn't clay, would this be a possible reason?, i actually read a few articles on this, and it seems very serious, hardly anything can be done about it especially on factory finishes, it is a very wierd phenomenon, so this is what limits reflections depth, richness etc?. is there really a reason why hood seems much more better looking than sides, or is it just one of those things. as i mentioned i will post some pics maybe in a few days.

cheers

[rapport25]

Re: paint reflections problem

I also am thinking orange peel.

Same here.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: paint reflections problem

Well claying will not remove orange peel. However if your vehicle has above surface contaminants bonding to the paint. The reflections you get will be on the duller side. The paint has to be as clean as possible to reach it,s maximum potential.

I would start over.
wash
clay
evaluate the paint. see how the finish looks now.if okay move on to waxing.
cleaner wax
nxt wax


I bet the finish will look a lot more reflective now.

[Ron500]

Re: paint reflections problem

ok cheers for that, actually you're maybe right because the finish was very very rough before detailing, but just to clear when i completed it the finish felt pretty smooth but was still a bit gritty, i would think that UC should remove above contaminents as well, if im not wrong, or is claying something different.

[rapport25]

Re: paint reflections problem

A clay kit is a must. Pop down to your nearest Halfords and purchase Meguiars smooth surface clay kit. Great value for money.

You get 2 clay bars/ mircrofibre towel/ quik detailer and cleaner wax.

Clean your windows first and then move onto the body.

H.t.h,

Rappy

[rapport25]

Re: paint reflections problem

ok cheers for that, actually you're maybe right because the finish was very very rough before detailing, but just to clear when i completed it the finish felt pretty smooth but was still a bit gritty, i would think that UC should remove above contaminents as well, if im not wrong, or is claying something different.

A clay bar removes surface contaminants. Basically you paint is clean prior to any machine polishing work.

A compound, ultimate compound/swirl x will remove swirls and scratches.And make the car a lot deeper in colour and reflectivity.

You may find tha due to not using a clay bar you may actually have ground in the surface defects and spreed them over the panel. Hence the dull finish.

General rule of thumb alaways use the least aggressive compound to get the desired results.

[Ron500]

Re: paint reflections problem

ok so using a paint cleaner wouldn't remove above surface defects, i think thats where i have been going a bit wrong then. thanks for that