can i use #80 by hand?

[uhohitzmikeo]

i tried searching the forum but i could not find a direct answer. i have a black infiniti g35 and our paints are real soft. i have some swirls and cobwebs but not extremely bad. i wanted to know if i could use #80 by hand or is there another step i should try to approach. i havent really gotten into detailing but i have read almost everything that i need to so far. i heard #80 is pretty good at removing most swirls and other stuff. i dont think i need anything super agressive and plus i dont have any kind of machines to work with at this time.

thanks

[Evan.J]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

You sure can!!! I'm looking at the bottle right now and it says you can apply by hand. But, as Mike would say and others as well " you will need to put passion behind your pad" good luck i hope all goes well for you

[JAC]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

I'm in the same boat, I will give M80 a try soon.

I've tried Scratch X and it worked well, now I'm looking for M80 because it's slightly more abrasive (this will make the work a little easier) and leaves a deep gloss.

Scratch X = cleaner
M80 = cleaner/polisher (you can do 2 steps in one)

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

Its alot of work. But with the proper amount of passion behind the pad, you will get great results using #80 by hand. Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.

[jmakado]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

If you are working by hand I suggest #9. It has more filling than #80 and will do a better job of hiding. If your goal is to remove the scratches by hand then ScratchX and A LOT of time will be needed to do an entire car.

[crazymiguel69]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

I have a question about using #80 by hand but in a different light: Can #80 be used as a general cleaner/polish without using it for defect removal (basicly just use it to as a prep for #21) and do the abrasives in it have to be completely broken down or will this cause hazing if they are not?

I know DC1 and Show Glaze would be the more proper way to do this by hand but I would prefer to use #80 since i already have it and hate to waste.

I do have a PC but I am afraid to use it as I tried #80 with it two years ago and it hazed the test area. I will practice with the PC for defect removal before we sell our next car.

[Jokeman]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

I do have a PC but I am afraid to use it as I tried #80 with it two years ago and it hazed the test area. I will practice with the PC for defect removal before we sell our next car.

What pad was your pad choice on the PC?

[yalerd]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

Can #80 be used as a general cleaner/polish without using it for defect removal (basicly just use it to as a prep for #21)

A cleaner/polish product is one that in the first "phase" it will remove defects (cleaning) and then when the abrasives have diminished completely it will polish the surface giving back clarity, depth and gloss.

and do the abrasives in it have to be completely broken down or will this cause hazing if they are not?

What I said before, if you remove the product not giving it time to diminish the abrasives then you'll be in the "cleaning phase/defect removal" and not the polishing phase.

I do have a PC but I am afraid to use it as I tried #80 with it two years ago and it hazed the test area. I will practice with the PC for defect removal before we sell our next car.

Give it a try, read on how to use the PC or maybe get the DVD that Mike made. You could have done things that are not recommended like maybe you dried buff, used a very aggressive pad, maybe didn't give time for the product to break down, used a slow speed, maybe the product was too aggressive for the paint.

In this forum are covered all the things for you to just read and have fantastic results, the info is there, it just needs time to be read

In the end, #80 with the PC will give you far better results when compared to doing the job by hand, read and learn and give the PC another chance

[Mike Phillips]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

I have a question about using #80 by hand but in a different light:

Can #80 be used as a general cleaner/polish without using it for defect removal (basically just use it to as a prep for #21) and do the abrasives in it have to be completely broken down or will this cause hazing if they are not?

Yes.

Simply apply it gently with a clean, soft applicator pad and it will gently clean the surface and prepare it for wax.

Remember, besides the aggressiveness of any product specifically, type of application material and process are also key factors.

[HagFan]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

I've used #80/#83 by hand for an occasional scratch removal. Doing the entire body by hand, though, seems too much like work.

[crazymiguel69]

Re: can i use #80 by hand?

What pad was your pad choice on the PC?

It is the yellow 6.5" pad that Meguiars sells for the PC. I used it brand new specifically for #80.

I will give the PC a second try soon on the older car.
Yalerd: You are right in the fact that I was doing something wrong. I can't figure out what though. I will try to find the video that Mike made, but I think I may be better off going to one of the clinics that Meguiars has in Irvine ( I go to San Diego every summer. I can't drive up this year but next summer I possibly could.) For right now I just want to aim to keep the finishes clean and protected while hiding the fine scratches. I did get the PC with the intentions of defect removal 2 summers ago, but I have a really busy schedule now.

Thank you to all that responded with advice.