First time DA user troubles!!!!

[00Blazer]

Well on wednesday i broke out my G110v2 for the first time. I own a black 99 Chevy Silverado that i just got about a month ago. i dont think it had ever been clayed or buffed so the swirls were horrible. gave it a nice wash and claybar, taped it up and got to work. grabbed a yellow pad with ultimate compound da set to 4.5 and got started. i divieded the drivers door in half and to my suprise i was able to get most of the swirls out. then from there it was all down hill from there. i was able to clean the paint up very well but i could still see a bunch of swirls and rids!!!! i tried many different hand speeds and pressure but i could not seem to get everything out. since i only had one day off work i had to keep moving so i got as much as i could out polished with ultimate polish and finished with yellow wax ( it was my first time using that too and im in love with it) does anybody have any idea what i could do to improve? if i missed anything or you need more info just ask. Thanks in advance to anyone who could help me out!

[FX4619]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

Well on wednesday i broke out my G110v2 for the first time. I own a black 99 Chevy Silverado that i just got about a month ago. i dont think it had ever been clayed or buffed so the swirls were horrible. gave it a nice wash and claybar, taped it up and got to work. grabbed a yellow pad with ultimate compound da set to 4.5 and got started. i divieded the drivers door in half and to my suprise i was able to get most of the swirls out. then from there it was all down hill from there. i was able to clean the paint up very well but i could still see a bunch of swirls and rids!!!! i tried many different hand speeds and pressure but i could not seem to get everything out. since i only had one day off work i had to keep moving so i got as much as i could out polished with ultimate polish and finished with yellow wax ( it was my first time using that too and im in love with it) does anybody have any idea what i could do to improve? if i missed anything or you need more info just ask. Thanks in advance to anyone who could help me out!

The same thing happened to me today. I did four passes on a small section with many swirl marks and nothing happened. The paint was cleaned well but the swirl marks were still there. I went ahead and did the rest of the hood so it looked right. It is a white car and the swirl marks were hard to see. After using the UC with the DA the swirls were more prominent. Then I tried UC with the cutting pad (burgundy) and still had the same results.

I went ahead and finished with UP and NXT 2.0. The paint is as smooth as glass but the swirls are still there. I recently ordered a set of the 4" pads with 3" backing plate. I wonder if I would get better results with those pads. The 7" pad may be too large for the job.

[detailchick]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

If UC isnt cutting it try megs 105. Also make sure your cleaning your pads often.

Yes 7' pads are usually too large to do correction with a DA.

[Murr1525]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

Did anything change after the Ult. Polish?

[umi000]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

Are you cleaning the pad after each section?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

There is something else to keep in mind here - you're working on a 13 year old vehicle that you've only had for a month, and by your description it was not loving cared for in all those years prior to you acquiring it. That means you most likely will not be able to bring it back to a true "as new" condition. There are some things that simply can not be buffed out - some things may require far more aggressive processes to totally fix.

Any chance we can get a picture or two of the issues you're struggling with? Can you feel any of the deeper marks with your fingernail?

Yes 7'' pads are usually too large to do correction with a DA.

We'll debate that point. Take a look at any of the pictures from our Saturday classes and you'll see all kinds of cars with all kinds of problems that have been corrected with a G110v2, Ultimate Compound, and a 7" W8207 Soft Buff 2.0 polishing pad.

[FX4619]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

We'll debate that point. Take a look at any of the pictures from our Saturday classes and you'll see all kinds of cars with all kinds of problems that have been corrected with a G110v2, Ultimate Compound, and a 7" W8207 Soft Buff 2.0 polishing pad.

Wasn't trying to make a point, just a mere suggestion. A smaller pad directs the energy to a more concentrated area, therefore less stress on the user. I have used the 7" pads and they are great. The 4" pads with 3" backing are good for small areas and correcting tough paint defects.

I saw your photos and they are truly amazing. I did see however that you had to go with M105 because the UC wasn't giving the desired results. Do you think maybe a smaller pad with UC would have done the trick rather than using a more aggressive product such as M105?

[detailchick]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

We'll debate that point. Take a look at any of the pictures from our Saturday classes and you'll see all kinds of cars with all kinds of problems that have been corrected with a G110v2, Ultimate Compound, and a 7" W8207 Soft Buff 2.0 polishing pad.

I didnt look but take your word for it Michael!Im surprized though!

I have the G110v2 and used 7 "pads and maybe I wasnt patient enough but didnt seem to be correcting anything much, it also seem to bog down the machine.

I like the smaller pads better and seems like the machine doesnt bog down on the smaller pads.

But any real correction I use a high speed buffer .

[Marc08EX]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

I think the belief of using anything bigger than a 5.5" pad being ineffective is only applicable for the first generation D/As. The 2nd generation D/A's such as the G110v2 and the GG6 are much more powerful and capable. IMO, these polishers can handle the 6.5" pads with ease.

Another point I want to make is that I don't think the Softbuff 2.0 pads are ineffective because of the 7" diameter. It might equal the correction capability of a traditional 6.5" pad, if not better. I say this because 90% of the pad (the region where it's recessed for accepting the W68DA backing plate) is thinner. It doesn't have the full height as opposed to your traditional 6.5" pad which is full of foam even on the center. IMO, this feature of the Softbuff 2.0 pad reduces the load, so to speak. It also allows less product to be absorbed which makes it easier to spin.

I've done some correction using the W8207 7" Softbuff 2.0 polishing pads using the G110v2 and M205 with amazing results. So please don't assume that the Softbuff 2.0 7" pads are less effective in correcting than your 5.5" pads especially when used with the G110v2. They are really great pads.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

Wasn't trying to make a point, just a mere suggestion. A smaller pad directs the energy to a more concentrated area, therefore less stress on the user. I have used the 7" pads and they are great. The 4" pads with 3" backing are good for small areas and correcting tough paint defects.

I saw your photos and they are truly amazing. I did see however that you had to go with M105 because the UC wasn't giving the desired results. Do you think maybe a smaller pad with UC would have done the trick rather than using a more aggressive product such as M105?

Two things here:

1) The quote you attribute to me was not direct at you, but at DetailChick.
2) It needs to be pointed out that you've isolated one single case in several years where UC was not quite up to the task. Since every class other than that one obtained excellent results with UC on anything from Hondas to Audis and Corvettes, I'm confident that UC is up to the vast majority of routine detail sessions, even with a 7" pad. As a matter of fact, even in all my own detaling sessions for clients, I use our 7" pads with our G110v2 and consistently obtain excellent results.

Yes, there are times when a smaller pad comes in handy as some spaces just beg for a small 4" pad, but a 7" pad will get the job done, no question about it.

This is my favorite post from a Saturday Class last summer -

Here's the rear quarter panel of the TT. Since this and the rear spoiler were the only impacted areas it wasn't really suitable for our demo car, but for a little experiment it would do nicely.



Pretty spectacular, isn't it?



Now, some people might go straight for M105 and a small pad because they've read about Audi's having crazy hard paint. But we wanted to see how it responded to our typical classroom demo of Ultimate Compound, W8207 foam polishing pad, G110v2 set at speed 5 and moderate (ie, "normal") pressure. So we taped off a section and set to it.



We did just a single section pass using the above mentioned combination, and here's what we got after that single pass. Remember now, this is after a single pass UC only - no polish, no wax. Oh, and just for giggles, we did an IPA wipe down of the corrected area just to prove that we weren't merely filling in the holograms. We weren't.





Of course we couldn't leave the car looking like that so we had the owner finish the quarter panel using the same product/pad/tool combo. He cleaned it all up, even though he'd never before used a buffer.




7" pad, Ultimate Compound, G11v2 on a brand new Audi with both concave and convex surfaces and nasty holograms inflicted by the dealer. And it worked like a charm very quickly.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

I didnt look but take your word for it Michael!Im surprized though!

I have the G110v2 and used 7 "pads and maybe I wasnt patient enough but didnt seem to be correcting anything much, it also seem to bog down the machine.

I like the smaller pads better and seems like the machine doesnt bog down on the smaller pads.

But any real correction I use a high speed buffer .

You should make the trip up the 5 to our offices for a Saturday Class just to hang out and see what we do here. Or maybe a Thursday Night Open Garage. We'd love to have you up here regardless!

As a fan of the rotary (and who isn't once they've gotten to know it well??) have you looked into DA work with the Microfiber Correction System? If not, you owe yourself a treat!

[FX4619]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

Michael Stoops;498559]Two things here:

1) The quote you attribute to me was not direct at you, but at DetailChick.
2) It needs to be pointed out that you've isolated one single case in several years where UC was not quite up to the task. Since every class other than that one obtained excellent results with UC on anything from Hondas to Audis and Corvettes, I'm confident that UC is up to the vast majority of routine detail sessions, even with a 7" pad. As a matter of fact, even in all my own detaling sessions for clients, I use our 7" pads with our G110v2 and consistently obtain excellent results.

Yes, there are times when a smaller pad comes in handy as some spaces just beg for a small 4" pad, but a 7" pad will get the job done, no question about it.

Those are some nice results. Wish I could accomplish the same on my white ford escape. Maybe i need to attend one of your classes, when will you be in Houston

[STRIFE]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

I have both the GG6 & GG3 DAs....but from just reading stuff here and watching vids etc....I find that i can use my 6" GG pads or 7" megs pads on all 3 of my vehicles without really reaching for my GG3 and the smaller 3" pads, my GG3 has been used strictly for spot buffing of scuff marks on the bumpers etc.

[detailchick]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

You should make the trip up the 5 to our offices for a Saturday Class just to hang out and see what we do here. Or maybe a Thursday Night Open Garage. We'd love to have you up here regardless!

As a fan of the rotary (and who isn't once they've gotten to know it well??) have you looked into DA work with the Microfiber Correction System? If not, you owe yourself a treat!

Hey thanks for the invite Michael!

Ive thought about taking the class several times.Have just never got around to it. In fact one of my customers took your class and enjoyed it !

I havent been well/strong enough to polish for several months now but hope to be back at it by summer .So maybe then, I would love to see you polish out some bad swirls with the 7"pad and DA in person!
I prefer my 6"pad!

No I have not tried the MF pads yet and heard so many good things ! would love to try it out!!

[00Blazer]

Re: First time DA user troubles!!!!

There is something else to keep in mind here - you're working on a 13 year old vehicle that you've only had for a month, and by your description it was not loving cared for in all those years prior to you acquiring it. That means you most likely will not be able to bring it back to a true "as new" condition. There are some things that simply can not be buffed out - some things may require far more aggressive processes to totally fix.

Any chance we can get a picture or two of the issues you're struggling with? Can you feel any of the deeper marks with your fingernail?.

I will try to get some pictures tonight if i can. From what i started with the pickup looked gray, now it looks black. haha. id say in all my newness i got about 60% out. there are still alot of rids and fine swirls. i definatly understand that it is a 13 year old vehicle thats been tunnel washed its whole life. just want to be able to get as much out as i can.
As far as cleaning, i probably was not cleaning my pad enough. i would clean it every other panel. thanks for all the help!