Green hand needs help with polishing (by hand)

[szjalo]

Hey guys, glad to be here.

I own a blue color 2005 Mazda RX8. Really love the car so I purchased some detailing products from meguiars. I've been using NXT gen 2.0 WASH and WAX every now and then, and they are awesome (tho I dont really like the smell of the wax it's still the best wax ever). Then I want to give a try to polishing.

I purchased ultimate polish according to Meguiars suggestion. so this is basically what I did (for couple times):

75-85F night, artificial lights, car cooled down before work
1\ wash the car (NXT 2.0 wash)
2\ total dry with microfiber towels
(Didn't try the clay bars, b/c I think the finish here was decent. would like to try next time tho-)
3\polish: ultimate polish (coin size) was applied onto Microfiber applicator. worked onto 2X2 area once a time, moved with circular motion, very quickly(moderate pressure), overlapped 3-4 times perhaps. then wiped off WITHIN 30s-45s with a microfiber towel.
4\ wax with NXT gen 2.0 wax

What I found is, for the polishing step, even I applied a strong pressure when wiping off the residues, even I did everything as quickly as I can(30S or at most 45 sec for a section):1\ the ultimate polish is still hard to remove, 2\ and will cause a hazy surface. 3\and I didnt notice any shinny effect after polishing. However, for some area, I think it actually lighted the painting, rather than darken - that is, the painting started to appear a lighter pale color than the surrounding area(fortunately this fixed by the wax). I tried the ultimate polish on my friend's grey car, and still received the same result: hard to remove and no noticeable improvement.

So I've no idea whether there is any thing wrong with my hands. Some ppl suggest me to used a terry cloth for wiping off. some suggested that the deep crystal polish would suit my car better. I would like to give another shot for the deep crystal polish next time. but before that, can any one give me some tips? or anything I did wrong?


thanks a bunch in advance!!

[Shawn T.]

Re: Green hand needs help with polishing (by hand)

UP is a very fine finishing polish designed as a follow up to Meguiars Ultimate Compound which at times can leave minor hazing. Ultimate Polish is designed to remove this hazing and restore gloss.

Your problem here does not lie in the product as I have not met any paint that is soft enough for Ultimate Polish to haze. The problem it seems lies in the microfiber applicator. Microfiber applicators, in my experience, when used with lots of pressure mar the paint. It is this marring that causes the haziness or lightening of the paint color instead of the typical darkening.

You will definitely want to try switching over to a soft foam applicator (online purchase only) and give it a shot again.

Deep Crystal Polish is not a polish in the same sense as conventional polishes. Deep Crystal Polish is a pure polish which means it contains no abrasives and can not, will not, remove swirls. It is a product that contains "polishing" (meaning in this sense to add gloss) oils which sit on the finish and help to make that paint as smooth as possible before waxing.

Do you have any pictures of the finish on your car? It may help us suggest the best process for you to follow.

Here is what I suggest thus far though:
1) Buy some foam applicators
2) Buy some Ultimate Compound

The Ultimate Compound is great for removing swirls and restoring gloss. It can be found almost anywhere.

Do a test spot though and see what you like better, Ultimate Compound followed by Ultimate Polish (lots and lots of work since working by hand), or Ultimate Polish only. Put down a tape line and do a side by side comparison, checking your work through artifical lights and/or the sun.

I hope that helps! And just to reiterate, can you post some pics?

[Carfire]

I agree with the above post. Also you may have worked the polish too much. There should be an oily residue remaining when you polish. Initially when you polish it's like a white on the paint and as you work the polish it should get clearer and clearer. And then you wipe it off. Sometimes the problem is the paint and other times it is the user. I have gone through both issues and it is a pain to remove. You just need to make sure that you aren't working the polish too much. Good luck with everything.

[szjalo]

Re: Green hand needs help with polishing (by hand)

thanks bros. the applicator I used was a sponge or foam pad which is wrapped by a microfiber cloth. I used this kind of applicator for all the jobs. Do you suggest this would be the same with pure foam pad? or does pure foam pad give me better performance?

BTW I looked at the foam pad you said, and found some. but confused about whether those things can be washed over and over? or they can only be used once?

thx man

[Murr1525]

Re: Green hand needs help with polishing (by hand)

MF or foam pads can both be used... some of us just prefer the feel of the foam.

The Meguiars Smooth Foam appliators can be washed and re-used... I usually toss them in a bucket of Dawn for a bit, then rinse them out.