Humbling experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Superior Shine]

OK, so great, 20+ years polishing cars and I get two vehicles one day after another that just about kick my butt!

The first car is a CLK500 fresh off the showroom floor. It had light spider web all over the vehicle as well as buffer trails on portions of the car. I also notice that it is the new cerami-clear paint.

"HAVE NO FEAR SUPERIOR SHINE IS HERE!!" Right?

The client brings me the car at about noonish. It has been in the 100s this week so it is super hot. We park it in the shade for about an hour and then rinse it with cool water.

I used a rotory, 8006 with DACP on the hood and I put in super bad buffer trails! What the heck!?!?! I reralize it is hot out but I (thought I did anyway) that I cooled the surface down.

I step down to DACP and the D.A. with a 8006. Buffer marks are now gone but the finsih looks hazy.

So far I determined that this paint is SUPER SOFT and not very hard like I heard throught the grapevine.

I then change to a new 8006 and hit it with speed glaze. Not much change. Then new pad again and swirl free polish. It gets a little better but still hazy.

I figure the incredable heat isn't helping so we decide to stop here and try again next week early inthe day when it is cool.


In this pic you can see the spider web and light buffer trails --




Here you can see some deep scratches and a "haze" in the finish around the sun reflection. --

[imacarnut]

i think you made the right choice in doing in when it's cooler and the finish isn't so hot, it will probably make things easier.

[Mike Phillips]

Just to chime in,

I've read on other forums people posting that the Ceramiclear paints are hard but in my experience I found just the opposite to be true and would say they are more on the soft side as defects easily buff out.

You have to be careful what you read and take into consideration whose posting it...

I used to read one guru's posts on CorvetteForum where he was always posting how soft the clear coats on new Corvettes are...

I think he confuses scratch-sensitive with paint hardness as every newer Corvette I've worked on the clear coat is as hard as glass, just like factory Viper clear coats.

Good luck with this one Joe... maybe give M82 a try as a final polish using the dual action polisher.

[Superior Shine]

VEHICLE TWO -

This is a 2004 Cayanne


The entire vehicle is covered in pretty deep scratches.







I first start out with an 8006, DACP with a D.A..

DIDN'T TOUCH IT!

OK no big deal, I step up to 8006, DACP w/ rotory.

NOPE, TRY AGAIN!

HUMMM!?!? I break out a 7006, diamond cut w/rotory. I am getting it a little bit but just barely!

Out comes the wool pad. I "grind " on it three to four time with the wool pad and diamond cut combo. The scratches are reduced about 90-95%. I follow with 8006 and DACP. I move the vehicle into the sun and find really bad buffer trails. I jive it heck with more 8006/DA and greatly reduce the buffer trails but I have a haze in the finish -



I realize this paint is very very hard.

I remember back to the NXT class I took and this subject of hard paint came up. I was told Meguiars recommends speed glaze for hard paint. If I remember correctly they said that it has a smaller abrasive than their other cleaners (diamond cut, compound cleaner polish, ect..) but it takes a little longer for it to break down giving it a chance to cut into the finsh and polish it.

(Meguiars, please correct me if I am wrong)

Well it did the trick!! The cayenne is going to need diamond w/ wool followed with speed glaze. Keep in mind we wipe the finish after every step with a micro fiber sprayed with window cleaner. This will remove any oils left on the finish from the product and reveal exactly how the paint looks.

Hood before --



After -- WE GOT IT!! (this shot is just after speed glaze and it has no wax or sealant on it) --



This whole process of finding out what will work the best on this paint took almost 2 hours!! We are scheduled to "SHINE" this vehicle Sept 6- stay tuned!

[Superior Shine]

Thanks Mike for concuring to what I found out. The paint is indeed soft!

Most will not belive the mental anguish I was going through -LOL!!

We did find what will work on the Cayenne but have yet to concure the CLK (I will, just havn't done it yet).

[Ranger72]

Interesting knowledge learned here. I am so glad I signed up to this forum! Just the knowledge and tips that comes from the seasoned detailers (I.E. Joe, Mike,..........) is priceless! Joe, you say that you have this car scheduled in for a later date, do you normally inspect the finish at a prior date so you dont waste time when it comes time for the detail, or did it just happen to work out that way?

[Superior Shine]

It happens both ways. If I am unsure about a vehicle I will go take a look at it before I book it. Usually though we perform the diagnoses and the detail the same day.

We planed to do these two cars then and there but they aren’t vehicles I can "grind and shine" quickly. I reserved six hours for two of us to do the cayenne.

[Ranger72]

Figrued it was something like that.
I like your idea with the glass cleaner, I have thought about using 50/50 alcohol water mix, but the glass cleaner idea is easier. (one less bottle to have lol). Its funny, so many body shops rely on their buffer swirls to be tempoarily hidden by the oils! On a side note, how much do they bang you for one of the E-Z up tents? What size do you have? I appreciate it.

[RLdetail]

Is it possible that a finish pad (W-9006) would work with #82 as there is less cutting action from the pad?

Who would think that I, a new guy, would be recommending a solution to Superior Shine!!!

I have also found in the last few days working on my own car that #80 works great on hard clear cloats for shining it up really well! The 7006 would cut the swirls and defects out but the 8006 would leave a haze to the paint. I could see this on a white car!

The paint appears very clear and smooth now after an 8006 with the #80 on my rotary. I'll have side by side pics when the sun comes back out. Hopefully tomorrow or monday!!

[stealth]

I had a similar drama unfold this week w/a Ford Expedition-black of course. Someone used a rotary incorrectly & never polished,waxed or sealed the paint. The wash shows oxidation which was removed then out comes the rotary swirls. A horror show! This is a piece work job for a used car dealer,favor for a family friend, that put me to the test. Humbling but strengthening.

[Ranger72]

Joe, do you tape off yours cars?
Also, once you diagnose your fix for the CLK make sure to post it!

[Superior Shine]

Originally posted by Ranger72
Joe, do you tape off yours cars?
Also, once you diagnose your fix for the CLK make sure to post it!

Sometimes I do. Usually not though. Most of the time I just tape off a few of the hard to polish areas.

[zey]

Superior Shine, may I know how do you tackle the haze problem after using 8006/DA?

[Superior Shine]

Haze is telling me a few things, pad is dirty, pad is too agressive and/or the product I am using is too agressive for the finish. We will follow up with a less agressive product.

[Tanat198]

"Well it did the trick!! The cayenne is going to need diamond w/ wool followed with speed glaze. Keep in mind we wipe the finish after every step with a micro fiber sprayed with window cleaner. This will remove any oils left on the finish from the product and reveal exactly how the paint looks. "

Superior Shine, I was wondering whether glass cleaner is ok to use on the paint? Is it just regular glass cleaner with ammonia or without ammonia? I always think that regular glass cleaner contains harmful chemical substances and will do the damage. Enlight me with your technique, please.