some G100 advice needed, please help

[2002FX4 F150]

Hi everyone....I would like to start by saying whats up to all of you fellow detail enthusiasts.

My vehicle is a silver F150, and i am not sure what i am doing wrong.....i cant get light swirls out and i am using a PC 7424 (G100) with No.#9 swirl remover and a Lake Country White polishing pad.(light-medium cut)

My paint is in pretty decent shape, aside from some pretty light swirls and spiderwebbing which i really would like to eliminate. I thought i could be able to do it, but I see no improvments at all whatsoever. I think my problem is i am not breaking the polish down enough and i may have to do several passes. My motions with the polisher are up and down and side to side.

I am curious what the proper technique/ polish+pad combo would be to remove these light swirls and spider webs. How long to break the polish down, how much pressure, and what speed setting? I see so many finishes go from slightly/severly swirled to like brand new. I think i need advice from those who know how to do it.

[Michael Stoops]

I feel your frustration: been there, done that - still had swirls!! Grrrrr.

I'm lucky though because I learned from no less an authority than Mike Phillips himself (well, I'm still learning of course!!). I should say that I've never used #9 but the process should be much the same regardless. You need to get all the variables down in order for this to work:

1. set your PC at speed 5 for polishing
2. don't use too much product, just a ring around the outer perimeter of the pad is fine
3. work an area no larger than 2' x 2'
4. work that area for several minutes in the up/down and back/forth motion you've described, until the polish breaks down and is almost clear on the finish - don't let it dry!
5. use approximately 15-20lbs of downward pressure on the machine. this can be tricky to judge but the pad should deform pretty well under the machine, and a large panel (like the hood of the truck) should just about start to give under the weight also
6. keep your hand speed nice and slow - let the machine do the work. it should take you 5-6 seconds to move 1 linear foot (give or take)
7. overlap your passes by 50% of the diameter of the pad

You've got a lot of surface to attack on that F-150 so dedicate some time to this, but if I can do it, anyone can!

[2002FX4 F150]

thanks for the info.....should help alot.

I have heard that using a light over the panels being polished should help show how broken down a product is.

[Michael Stoops]

Good lighting is essential, that's true. I work in my garage with the door fully open and a dual halogen light directly illuminating the area I'm working. I'll still pull the car out into the sunshine to double check those really tough areas.

[Murr1525]

It might be worth throwing in the idea that #9 is very mild. If you start getting some success, but cant seem to budge a lot of the swirls, you may need to go on to something like #80.

[2002FX4 F150]

thanks fellas.....i think ill take the advice and some #80 and see what happens.

[Michael Stoops]

I thought #9 was fairly mild but didn't want to specifically say so since I wasn't 100% sure, so thanks for that clarification Murr1525.

2002FX4 F150, I think you'll really like #80 as you can work it for a really long time and it still wipes off very easily. Great stuff!

[Murr1525]

Just to add on about the strengths:

#9/#82 - Very mild

#80 - Mild

#83 - Medium