New to detailing and need some advice.

[DannyB]

So i am not totally new to detailing but am really stepping it up a notch from my just wash and wax routine of old.

I have a new DA polisher and a few different cleaners polishes and waxes but not really sure where i will need to start. I have been reading in this forum for quite a while and read all the stickies at least once but still am a bit nervous about using the DA and cleaner since i have never used it.

So my car is a 2006 Civic SI that i have had since it had 2 miles on it and the finish needs some TLC. I had some rock chips on the hood which have been repaired with touch up paint and clearcoat and wet sanded lightly in those spots. There are a couple spots with some scratches which seem not to have gone through the clearcoat and the rest of the car seems to just have swirl marks.

So i am planning on washing and claying the car first then i need to address the scratches and the wet sanded spots. Assuming i am using all Meguiar's products, pads DFC6, DFP6, and DFF6 included, what product should i use with which pad on the those spots and would i work only those areas with the combination or the entire car? I don't know if it would effect uniformity or not.

After the above combination, what should i follow up with and would this be the entire car or just those spots as well? you get where i am going with this?

The products i have already are:
ScratchX 2.0
Ultimate Compound
M205 Mirror Glaze Ultra Finishing Polish
Ultimate Polish
NXT Tech wax

I am willing to get whatever is needed but this is just what i have already.

I appreciate any help which you can provide and if there is any information i am missing let me know i will answer as quick as possible.

[The Guz]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

Test spot with M205 and a polishing pad (Meguiar's yellow). If you need to go more aggressive then move up to UC and a cutting pad (Meguiar's burgundy).

If you have to move up to UC, follow up with M205 and seal the paint with NXT.

[DannyB]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

Thank you for the response.

So would i only need to use UC on the sanded spots or the entire car?

[The Guz]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

Thank you for the response.

So would i only need to use UC on the sanded spots or the entire car?

Depends on what your goals are. Are you looking to remove all swirls from the paint?

[DannyB]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

Depends on what your goals are. Are you looking to remove all swirls from the paint?

My goal is to get the best results possible.

[The Guz]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

My goal is to get the best results possible.

Then I have already made a recommendation.

Test spot with M205 and a polishing pad (Meguiar's yellow). If you need to go more aggressive then move up to UC and a cutting pad (Meguiar's burgundy).

If you have to move up to UC, follow up with M205 and seal the paint with NXT.

[DannyB]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

Then I have already made a recommendation.

Thank you for helping

[DannyB]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

So i used UC and a cutting pad and got great results but there are a couple scratches which didn't come out. Would you recommend something else to try on those spots or would i just work those areas more?

I have to say if it weren't for the scratches and the black plastic looking oxidated, the car would look brand new. Thanks @The Guz for the advice!

[DannyB]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

bump

[Selectchoice]

Re: New to detailing and need some advice.

Can you feel the remaining scratches with your fingernail? If you can they are too deep to remove safely.

How many passes/times did you use the UC on the problem areas so far and how much downward pressure did you apply in these areas?

Try to post a pic if you can. Might be helpful.