Imperfections Help

[s word]

Re: Imperfections Help

We caution against the use of the burgundy pad on a DA because it's so aggressive that the chances of hazing the paint is quite high. This doesn't mean you should never use it, just that for the most part it's really not the best choice. You might use it in a situation where you have a really nasty isolated issue, like a deep etching from a bird dropping, where you need a bit more punch to remove it. In a case like that you would just go back over it with a yellow pad and Ultimate Compound to remove any hazing that might occur.

If, on the other hand, UC and a yellow pad simply are not potent enough to remove swirls from your paint (primarily due to extremely hard paint) then instead of using the burgundy pad on a DA you're going to be better off stepping up to the DA Microfiber Correction System.

DAMF (DA Microfiber Correction System) is the way to go on hard paint.
I made little to no progress on my car with pads due to hard paint. Jumped to DAMF for instant results.

Next level action when combine with Rupes 21 and 6" finishing Disc.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Imperfections Help

Thanks for the tips and for the link to your awesome write up! From reading the write up, it didn't mention too much when to use the compound pad(burgundy). I was originally planning on using them when I used the UC on the whole car, the write up said to use the yellow pads. When should I use the burgundy pad? Thanks!

We caution against the use of the burgundy pad on a DA because it's so aggressive that the chances of hazing the paint is quite high. This doesn't mean you should never use it, just that for the most part it's really not the best choice. You might use it in a situation where you have a really nasty isolated issue, like a deep etching from a bird dropping, where you need a bit more punch to remove it. In a case like that you would just go back over it with a yellow pad and Ultimate Compound to remove any hazing that might occur.

If, on the other hand, UC and a yellow pad simply are not potent enough to remove swirls from your paint (primarily due to extremely hard paint) then instead of using the burgundy pad on a DA you're going to be better off stepping up to the DA Microfiber Correction System.

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

The deeper, isolated scratches can be very frustrating to remove by hand, no doubt about it. Now that you've picked up a proper DA you're going to find that this process is a whole lot faster and easier. You will be able to put much more consistent energy into the paint than working by hand, so we highly recommend staying with the yellow foam polishing pad and Ultimate Compound for the entire car. This should easily remove any of the light to mild defects in the paint, and most likely take out the deeper ones you were struggling with by hand. It may need two passes, or maybe just one longish pass, but the odds of doing any real damage to the clear coat are slim to none (and that's even if you try to mess it up!). Usually when people make mistakes the DA buffer they do things like not keeping the pad flat against the paint, moving the buffer too fast over the paint, working too large an area, not using enough pressure, or running the tool at too slow of speed setting. Start to do two more of these errors at once and your results do downhill really fast. You do zero damage by making these mistakes, but you also don't make any real progress.


If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and read through D/A Buffing 101 - An Introduction to the G110v2 and similar tools before you get started with the DA.

Thanks for the tips and for the link to your awesome write up! From reading the write up, it didn't mention too much when to use the compound pad(burgundy). I was originally planning on using them when I used the UC on the whole car, the write up said to use the yellow pads. When should I use the burgundy pad? Thanks!

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

I don't know if it's already been mentioned, while it's OK to use different products such as Scratch-X and UC, you still want to avoid cross contaminating your applicator pads (if by hand) or your polishing pads if you're using a machine polisher. Don't use the same pad when switching up products. It's not the end of the world if you've already done it, just something to keep in mind for the future.

Luckily I haven't mixed them up. I didn't read it anywhere but thought it would be best to be safe than sorry, so I switched it out after ever product.

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Yes, it makes things easier.

Anything a da does can be done by hand, but will be difficult to be as uniform and consistent, and as quick.

Some scratches may be too deep to remove of course, so want to keep that in mind.

After doing a whole car, would you say that most cars usually have a couple scratches/swirl marks here and there remaining?

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Ok. Thanks. That's what I was thinking with the fix them once, then won't need to for a long long while, and then at that point, can probably use something a lot less aggressive as well.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Imperfections Help

The deeper, isolated scratches can be very frustrating to remove by hand, no doubt about it. Now that you've picked up a proper DA you're going to find that this process is a whole lot faster and easier. You will be able to put much more consistent energy into the paint than working by hand, so we highly recommend staying with the yellow foam polishing pad and Ultimate Compound for the entire car. This should easily remove any of the light to mild defects in the paint, and most likely take out the deeper ones you were struggling with by hand. It may need two passes, or maybe just one longish pass, but the odds of doing any real damage to the clear coat are slim to none (and that's even if you try to mess it up!). Usually when people make mistakes the DA buffer they do things like not keeping the pad flat against the paint, moving the buffer too fast over the paint, working too large an area, not using enough pressure, or running the tool at too slow of speed setting. Start to do two more of these errors at once and your results do downhill really fast. You do zero damage by making these mistakes, but you also don't make any real progress.


If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and read through D/A Buffing 101 - An Introduction to the G110v2 and similar tools before you get started with the DA.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Imperfections Help

I don't know if it's already been mentioned, while it's OK to use different products such as Scratch-X and UC, you still want to avoid cross contaminating your applicator pads (if by hand) or your polishing pads if you're using a machine polisher. Don't use the same pad when switching up products. It's not the end of the world if you've already done it, just something to keep in mind for the future.

[Murr1525]

Does the DA make a big difference on ease of getting out scratches, etc? Are there some scratches you can't get out without using something like the DA?

Yes, it makes things easier.

Anything a da does can be done by hand, but will be difficult to be as uniform and consistent, and as quick.

Some scratches may be too deep to remove of course, so want to keep that in mind.

[Murr1525]

Does there come a time that you've used UC too much and get rid of all your clear coat? Or does doing all the steps every time pretty much add on to it and prevent that from happening?

Well, yes you can go through the clear coat, though the point of the da polisher is that it is hard to do.

What you want to do is remove most/all of your swirls now, and then not cause them again so the paint keeps needing fixed over and over.

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Does the DA make a big difference on ease of getting out scratches, etc? Are there some scratches you can't get out without using something like the DA?

[futekisenshi]

Re: Imperfections Help

Thanks for your tips everyone! I ordered up the DA polisher, don't know why I didn't look at it before, figured it would be too expensive I guess. It's actually at a decent price point though. I also ordered Meguiar's super shine microfibers, they feel a lot more plush, softer, and bigger (judging by the one I got in a box of my wax or clay kit) than the ones I was using (autozone). I'll be doing the whole car in a couple days once all of my goodies come.

Does there come a time that you've used UC too much and get rid of all your clear coat? Or does doing all the steps every time pretty much add on to it and prevent that from happening?

[yfwong]

Re: Imperfections Help

the idea of removing swirl or scratch is to make it disappear by making the whole surface even/flat.
let's say your clear coat layer thickness is 15, and the depth of scratch/swirl is 3. Then, you will have to apply UC until the layer becomes 12.
I hope this clears your doubt.

[Murr1525]

Re: Imperfections Help

Yeah, UC and a foam applicator is the way to go by hand, may need 2-3 applications.

But the deeper swirls will just be hard to remove by hand.

[ffboy]

Re: Imperfections Help

You can still use Ultimate Compound but try using a DA polisher with more aggressive pads (maybe the burgundy pads but it's not recommended for a DA) using more pressure. This may initially cause marring, then step down to the yellow buffing pads. DA polishers allows for faster, better results at a much shorter time and less effort. Then use a finer cleaner like swirlX then pure polish (deep crystal or M07) or a cleaner polish (ultimate polish).

For UC, most prefer using a foam applicator. It allows for more even distribution of product and more work time. For spot removal, microfibers can work better since it has more bite.

For the dents, you can PDR (paintless dent removal) it or try those DIY dent removal kits (pops-a-dent).