First time using the Microfiber 5" kit and a polisher

[veener79]

Today was the first time I have used a polisher (7424xp) and this Micro Fiber system. As of right now I am loving how my wife's car is looking. I have not even gotten to waxing yet. I am just shocked how well this kit gets out fine scratched and swirl marks. My wife has had swirl marks in her paint since she bought it as a demo in 2008.

It seems to take longer using a polisher then when I did a hand polish in the past. I am not sure if it is because I am new to using a polisher. I washed the the car, did a clay bar, and now have about 2/3rd of the correction formula down. That has taken me over 3 hours. Know I have a good 3 hours left I am guessing. I am doing 3 passes with some pressure and doing 3 passes with light pressure.

What just seems to be taking a lot of the time is not doing the 6 passes but having to stop after the 6 passes. Clean the pad and then clean off the car.

During the rest of the year is it OK for the paint to just wax it with Polisher when waxing it needed? Should I go back to waxing by hand?

Thank you for any tips or help.

[wifpd4]

Re: First time using the Microfiber 5" kit and a polisher

Evaluate what you are doing. Are you achieving as good as or better than results working with a DA as opposed to by hand? Can you achieve the results you want with fewer passes? Do you need to spend as much time doing your second set of passes? Will the finishing pad and finishing wax accomplish satisfactory results? This is when a test spot(s) can help out.

Do two side by side test spots, using tape helps. The test spots do not need to be larger than 2X2 to max 2X3. On both test spots do your first set of passes with correction pad and compound. Examine them, in the sun if possible. Are 90% of the defects gone? Remember using a Porter-Cable you should use one speed faster than than the Meguiar's buffer. That is speed 5 on the dial rather than 4. if most or not all of the defects aren't gone, slow down you arm and press down a little more, but keep the pad turning. Examine again. The tests spots might be just fine or they may need some more work. In the one spot, use correction pad and compound a second time and in the other use finishing pad and finishing wax. Slow buffer down to speed 4 and lighten downward pressure. Complete your passes and examine. Does the correction only side still need to be gone over with finishing wax? Does the finishing wax side look defect free and ready for wax?

A lot of what you'll see is paint dependent and amount of defects, but this is going to give you a better idea of what is needed for product used, speeds needed and passes required. Cleaning the pads will consume some time, but help in the process overall.

The microfiber system should speed up the whole process, obtain results better than or equal to hand and with less time and effort. I'm suggesting you maybe working too long/hard and may need to speed less time/effort and you will get the results desired. The test spots will tell you this.

Personally, I don't wax by hand. However, I use a 4" foam pad on the buffer. A black Lake Country (or softer) or a black Meguiar's pad. As long as the car is clean, you will not have problems waxing with a buffer.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmBACx72h4g&feature=youtube_gdata_player