disappointing Saturday night! need help

[szjalo]

Well, to be short, I am a newbie in detailing, I have full Meguairs costumer line product, and I spent bloody 6hrs in detailing my car. all work are completely by HAND. with my hands almost fell off, the result was somewhat disappointing.


I have a Blue Mazda, Metallic painting. The painting is generally fine except for few fine scratches and a lot of water spots on hood and elsewhere. And these are my major goal yesterday. Here is what I did


1\ Wash with NXT car shampoo (No prob)
2\ Clay with smooth surface clay
(well it's good to see the clay became dirtier and dirtier, However I cannot feel any difference with my hand, and I didn't see the wax layer was striped away by the clay)
3\ remove fine scratches with Scratch X 2.0, with foam applicator, circular motion, strong pressure, couple times(each time worked for 40-45 seconds then buffed off) --> not working, cannot remove the finnest scratches(those can hardly be seen unless use high power bulb)
4\ remove water spots with ultimate compound, foam applicator, circular motion, strong pressure, couple times--> not working, water spots didn't become even less obvious.
5\ remove fine scratches, and super fine swirls with ultimate compound. --> not working, on scratches, probably worked a little bit on some fine swirls, tho- not working on other swirls
6\ renew the headlight with ultimate compound. --> working, the only thing that worked with ultimate compound
7\ Deep crystal polish: cannot say it made any difference. Made 3 sections comparing: deep crystal polish, ultimate polish, nothing --> honestly cannot tell any difference, tho- I feel deep crystal polish is easier to remove. End up with whole car polished by deep crystal
8\ Wax: nxt 2.0 wax (no prob)
9\ interior detailing and glass detailing


Well, the final result was great, car looks absolutely shinny, although I would say the wash and wax contributed 90% to the result


So two my major goals(remove scratches and water spots) were not accomplished. After I saw so many ppl praising ultimate compound and etc., I really disappointed by my result. Start to wonder whether those thing can really removed with UC, or with my hand? Otherwise, I really need to buy a machine to release myself and make the work done?


Thanks a bunch!

[Shawn T.]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Removing swirls by hand is a daunting process.

I would work one panel at a time and do the entire process:

1) Ultimate Compound
2) Ultimate Polish
3) NXT 2.0

Most people will recommend no more than 1 panel a day when beginning as it is tiring. It may require 3-4 applications of Ultimate Compound before you see the results you are looking for. Then follow that up with a nice worked in round of Ultimate Polish to refine the finish further, and slap on a thin coat of NXT 2.0.

Just to be safe, you are using separate applicators for each of these steps right?

The foam applicators are great for applying everything from Ultimate Compound to dressings to waxes.

Read through the Working By Hand section and this write up in particular which talks about removing swirls by hand using Ultimate Compound and Swirlx: http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...SMA-Technology.

[zbestwun2001]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

6\ renew the headlight with ultimate compound. --> working, the only thing that worked with ultimate compound

I need to ask you about this. I assume your headlights were a little hazy. What method did you use on them with the UC. Just rub them out with a terry towel? How did it work for you and how much rubbing out did it take.

Mine are not yellow.. just a bit hazy and dull and I am looking for an efficient way to shine them up.

Thanks...

[szjalo]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Well, to be short, I am a newbie in detailing, I have full Meguairs costumer line product, and I spent bloody 6hrs in detailing my car. all work are completely by HAND. with my hands almost fell off, the result was somewhat disappointing.


I have a Blue Mazda, Metallic painting. The painting is generally fine except for few fine scratches and a lot of water spots on hood and elsewhere. And these are my major goal yesterday. Here is what I did


1\ Wash with NXT car shampoo (No prob)
2\ Clay with smooth surface clay
(well it's good to see the clay became dirtier and dirtier, However I cannot feel any difference with my hand, and I didn't see the wax layer was striped away by the clay)
3\ remove fine scratches with Scratch X 2.0, with foam applicator, circular motion, strong pressure, couple times(each time worked for 40-45 seconds then buffed off) --> not working, cannot remove the finnest scratches(those can hardly be seen unless use high power bulb)
4\ remove water spots with ultimate compound, foam applicator, circular motion, strong pressure, couple times--> not working, water spots didn't become even less obvious.
5\ remove fine scratches, and super fine swirls with ultimate compound. --> not working, on scratches, probably worked a little bit on some fine swirls, tho- not working on other swirls
6\ renew the headlight with ultimate compound. --> working, the only thing that worked with ultimate compound
7\ Deep crystal polish: cannot say it made any difference. Made 3 sections comparing: deep crystal polish, ultimate polish, nothing --> honestly cannot tell any difference, tho- I feel deep crystal polish is easier to remove. End up with whole car polished by deep crystal
8\ Wax: nxt 2.0 wax (no prob)
9\ interior detailing and glass detailing


Well, the final result was great, car looks absolutely shinny, although I would say the wash and wax contributed 90% to the result


So two my major goals(remove scratches and water spots) were not accomplished. After I saw so many ppl praising ultimate compound and etc., I really disappointed by my result. Start to wonder whether those thing can really removed with UC, or with my hand? Otherwise, I really need to buy a machine to release myself and make the work done?


Thanks a bunch!

Sure I used different applicator for different products. Thanks a lot for your tips, I think I better pick up a polisher or other machine tools. thanks

[zbestwun2001]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Sure I used different applicator for different products. Thanks a lot for your tips, I think I better pick up a polisher or other machine tools. thanks

So I am assuming that UC brought your headlights back to looking normal?
What type of applicator did you use to rub it out?

[szjalo]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

I need to ask you about this. I assume your headlights were a little hazy. What method did you use on them with the UC. Just rub them out with a terry towel? How did it work for you and how much rubbing out did it take.

Mine are not yellow.. just a bit hazy and dull and I am looking for an efficient way to shine them up.

Thanks...

I found this very accidentally. once I was working on my friends car, using UC and trying to see if I can remove the scratch nearby the headlights. then the scratch did gone but I rub the UC over the edge of the headlight then all the hazy there gone! really magic. very easy to work with. I just used any applicator with a bit UC, rub circularly and buffed off, don't even need to work hard. make sure you rub the marginal area very well. after you wipe off you will see the shine. I just save few bucks for buying the plasticX

[szjalo]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

I found this very accidentally. once I was working on my friends car, using UC and trying to see if I can remove the scratch nearby the headlights. then the scratch did gone but I rub the UC over the edge of the headlight then all the hazy there gone! really magic. very easy to work with. I just used any applicator with a bit UC, rub circularly and buffed off, don't even need to work hard. make sure you rub the marginal area very well. after you wipe off you will see the shine. I just save few bucks for buying the plasticX

I tried: cotton applicator, microfiber pads, and foam pads. all of them worked on the plastic headlights. didn't try a terry towel but think that may also work

[gtrspeed]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

How large of an area were you working on during each application of Scratch-X and UC, and were the products easy or difficult to remove? I'm wondering if you were working on too large an area, which is easy to do when working by hand.

When these guys say work on a panel at a time, they don't mean apply compound to an entire panel in one application - working by hand, you want to focus on small sections (16"x16") and put a fair amount of effort into the polishing action. Working a larger area causes your product to dry up too quickly, and will make it more difficult to put the proper pressure on the applicator (you'll get tired faster, and your polishing will be less effective).

[gtrspeed]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

And yeah, you would be better off picking up a quality DA polisher like the G110v2 - makes paint correction and wax application way easier.

[szjalo]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

How large of an area were you working on during each application of Scratch-X and UC, and were the products easy or difficult to remove? I'm wondering if you were working on too large an area, which is easy to do when working by hand.

When these guys say work on a panel at a time, they don't mean apply compound to an entire panel in one application - working by hand, you want to focus on small sections (16"x16") and put a fair amount of effort into the polishing action. Working a larger area causes your product to dry up too quickly, and will make it more difficult to put the proper pressure on the applicator (you'll get tired faster, and your polishing will be less effective).

I definitely followed those instructions. Completely sure I worked on a very small section once a time and feel no special difficulty in moving the pads. I guess the pad is probably too soft or maybe I really need to pretend the car is not mine so I can use the strongest pressure ever..,

[HCAD]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Another point to consider szjalo, your RX-8 has a very hard clear coat. The deeper swirls and scratches will be a challenge even with a polisher. Some may not be able to be removed. I used Meg's #105, with my Flex, and a SurBuff pad on my RX-8 to get the job done. It's just not a "by hand" job if you ask me.

[szjalo]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Another point to consider szjalo, your RX-8 has a very hard clear coat. The deeper swirls and scratches will be a challenge even with a polisher. Some may not be able to be removed. I used Meg's #105, with my Flex, and a SurBuff pad on my RX-8 to get the job done. It's just not a "by hand" job if you ask me.

Awesome! Glad to see sb has the same car! I love the '8! I did know '8 has a hard clear coat. I thought RX8 has a very soft painting because it's super easy to generate those stony chips on hood and bumper. well, do you think I have to seek help from a professional detailing store?

[zbestwun2001]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

I went out and bought some UC and sat down at my headlights and applied and rubbed.I
I don't think they are as ''discolored'' as I think.
The thing is the are sitting right next to new side lights so of course it looks different.

I can easily see in the headlights and the reflecting aluminum inside.

It's hard to explain I should have shot a pic of it and posted it here.. I'll do that next.

Here is a pic of the car and you can see the state of the headlights pretty good here... What does anyone suggest?

Be happy that they look like this after 18 yrs of use? Ten of those years living outside?

[HCAD]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Awesome! Glad to see sb has the same car! I love the '8! I did know '8 has a hard clear coat. I thought RX8 has a very soft painting because it's super easy to generate those stony chips on hood and bumper. well, do you think I have to seek help from a professional detailing store?

Yeah, it's confusing. I've yet to figure out how a Mercedes with a ceramic clear coat as hard as nails can have so many scratches and swirls! As for your question about hiring a professional; that depends on how much you like to do-it-yourself. If you love the idea of buying a buffer, product, pads and towels, then spending a whole weekend working on your 8, go for it! It is possible. If that sounds like a lot of time, money and effort, hire a pro. Maybe you'll get lucky and find a personable pro who will share some of his methods and teach you a little so you can tackle it yourself next time.

[ShineOCD]

Re: disappointing Saturday night! need help

Well, to be short, I am a newbie in detailing, I have full Meguairs costumer line product, and I spent bloody 6hrs in detailing my car. all work are completely by HAND. with my hands almost fell off, the result was somewhat disappointing.


I have a Blue Mazda, Metallic painting. The painting is generally fine except for few fine scratches and a lot of water spots on hood and elsewhere. And these are my major goal yesterday. Here is what I did


1\ Wash with NXT car shampoo (No prob)
2\ Clay with smooth surface clay
(well it's good to see the clay became dirtier and dirtier, However I cannot feel any difference with my hand, and I didn't see the wax layer was striped away by the clay)
3\ remove fine scratches with Scratch X 2.0, with foam applicator, circular motion, strong pressure, couple times(each time worked for 40-45 seconds then buffed off) --> not working, cannot remove the finnest scratches(those can hardly be seen unless use high power bulb)
4\ remove water spots with ultimate compound, foam applicator, circular motion, strong pressure, couple times--> not working, water spots didn't become even less obvious.
5\ remove fine scratches, and super fine swirls with ultimate compound. --> not working, on scratches, probably worked a little bit on some fine swirls, tho- not working on other swirls
6\ renew the headlight with ultimate compound. --> working, the only thing that worked with ultimate compound
7\ Deep crystal polish: cannot say it made any difference. Made 3 sections comparing: deep crystal polish, ultimate polish, nothing --> honestly cannot tell any difference, tho- I feel deep crystal polish is easier to remove. End up with whole car polished by deep crystal
8\ Wax: nxt 2.0 wax (no prob)
9\ interior detailing and glass detailing


Well, the final result was great, car looks absolutely shinny, although I would say the wash and wax contributed 90% to the result


So two my major goals(remove scratches and water spots) were not accomplished. After I saw so many ppl praising ultimate compound and etc., I really disappointed by my result. Start to wonder whether those thing can really removed with UC, or with my hand? Otherwise, I really need to buy a machine to release myself and make the work done?


Thanks a bunch!

You need a machine. You will see significantly different results.