Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

[kkarasch]

Using a PC on setting 5 and lakecountry white foam polishing pads. Ive tried UC, #66, #2, and now tonight #205. I'm getting similar results. The major swirls and everything are going away beautifully with a smooth finish, but under my light i'm getting a very consistent pattern of small maybe 1/8" scratches in a tight circular pattern. Am i not letting the product work long enough or what? Im applying medium pressure for 2 passes followed by two very light passes.

[davey g-force]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Can you post any pics?

By your description, it sounds like what is commonly known as pigtails, which are caused by small dirt particle(s) on the pad.

[greg0303]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

You've tried UC and M205 which use SMAT (super micro abrasive technology) so you don't have to break them fully to switch to polishing mode, 4 section passes which you did should have been fine.

I would start over with full wash (and claying if you haven't done it already). After that you need to experiment to get the best process for your paint. Maybe try M205/ white polishing pad on lower speed (like 3) if still leaving marring you could switch to one of finishing pads: gray, blue or black, or use less aggressive product (like ColorX). It may take some time to finally get the right product/ pad combo which your paint likes and reacts well to.

[kkarasch]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!



Before

After

[davey g-force]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Ok, so going by those photos, it doesn't look like pigtails at all.

So that was after M205? Looks like you're dealing with some very delicate paint. Perhaps the marring could be cleared up with some ColorX or A12 Cleaner Wax.

[ronniejay]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

What year is that 4runner?

[kkarasch]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Its a 2000 4Runner. I'm going to try the M205 with the Blue LC Pad tonight to see if it helps. Sorry about the bad pics. Don't have a brinkmann yet. I do have A12 at home I can try as well. Anyone else had similar experiences? Thanks for all the help guys.

[greg0303]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Our Administrator, Michael Stoops, always says: "Paint likes what paint likes". Some car paints are soft and some are extremely hard. Therefore we have to perform test spots which are unfortunately time consuming.

This article explains it all:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?44344-The-Challenge-of-Delicate-Paint

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Looks like you're getting severe DA haze on what must be very delicate paint. You've used some very mild liquids, but that white pad is probably just aggressive enough that it's creating most of the issue. Moving to the LC blue finishing pad is a good idea and would have been our recommendation (well, we would have recommended our black finishing pad..........). We'd give it a go first with M205 and if any light marring still remained go with ColorX. A regular attendee to our TNOGs has a 2011 Prius in non metallic black and that paint on that car is some of the most delicate we've encountered. ColorX does an outstanding job when all else seems to haze it badly. We've even had a situation where we worked out a pretty bad scratch on that car and, while an aggressive approach was needed to remove the scratch, the resulting haze had to be taken down in a couple of steps, culminating with ColorX. Topping with NXT or UW is an option after using ColorX, if you so desire.

Set the DA to speed 4 and use just moderate pressure, finishing up with one lighter pass. Let us know how it goes.

[kkarasch]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

That write up looks very close to what i'm dealing with! I will try tonight with the blue pad. I also have a 4inch Red LC pad. If neither of these work i can go to advance down the road and try the Meguiars Black. Will that work with my LC backing plate tho?

[Murr1525]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

A smaller pad may focus the pressure into a smaller area. Might not be a good thing in this case.

[kkarasch]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Yes. I'm aware of that. Will post pics this evening of my results. Some of water spots are not going away as well as you can see in the pics. Any solutions for those?

[Murr1525]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Well, you havent really used a very strong product yet.

Might need something like Ult Compound in a spot or two, then even everything out with the milder products, get rid of marring, etc.

Or if they were too severe, may not be easily fixed.

[kkarasch]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Well here is how it turned out. I just ended up using the #66 with the Blue LC pad and it left a nice finish with no marring. Didn't rid of all the swirls but did a great job getting the 250,000 mile SUV ready to sell for my friend.

[Murr1525]

Re: Marring with multiple products on black 4 runner. Help!!!

Looks good.

I am sure what is left behind would hardly be noticed by most people.