Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

[davey g-force]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

^^ I can't see your above picture for some reason Mike.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

Thanks Michael. Does anyone make a product for using foam pads or any other type of pad that helps evenly distribute the weight as you apply by hand? I usually held onto the foam pad with my 4 fingers across the top creating a wide and not focused on putting pressure just on my fingertips.

Actually, we make such a product. Our S3HP works great with our 4" Soft Buff 2.0 pads. The S6HP works equally well with our 7" Soft Buff pads too.

The image below is from The Challenge of Delicate Paint and using the S3HP with the 4" pads made quite a difference on that particular car.

[davey g-force]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

Welcome to the DA users family!

Can't wait to see some after pics...

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

Just washed and dried the Fusion. I used a test spot and made two applications. The swirls are gone in the two test spots, but I think I am going to wait on the Meguiars DA to do the rest of the job. I purchased one early yesterday from Amazon so I should have it sometime this week and have everything done and waxed by next week. Pics to come.

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

Thanks Michael. Does anyone make a product for using foam pads or any other type of pad that helps evenly distribute the weight as you apply by hand? I usually held onto the foam pad with my 4 fingers across the top creating a wide and not focused on putting pressure just on my fingertips.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

Well, having just watched these videos, I have to question the technique displayed, particularly with the second Ultimate Compound video: (1) the PC is set for speed 4 but I would think that speed 5 would be more productive; (2) the man polishing does not appear to be applying any pressure; he is simply allowing the machine to glide over the surface; (3) he is moving the polisher too fast; (4) he needs to work a smaller space.

I know I'm a detailing dunce but those are my observations.

That video was done by our Asian distributor. Sometimes our distributors take some liberties with how things are done, sometimes because of regional techniques developed from years of doing things a certain way, etc. While we would not recommend the exact method shown in that video to someone just getting started, it is a bit difficult to argue with the results. The level of clarity in the paint on both cars was hugely improved by both products, and the horrific holograms in the UC video were totally eliminated. How easily the paint corrects has a lot to do with this too. Very hard paint is just flat out going to need more dwell time with the pad and liquid, meaning very slow passes, and probably more pressure as well. Very soft paint that is easy to correct gives you a lot more leeway in terms of speed, pressure and size of work area (half the hood is stretching it a bit, but again we point to the final result).

I'm new to using a DA, but I noticed this also. Not only did he appear to be moving the machine to fast, but initially the product was not spread quickly around his working area at a slow machine speed. I like to spread it around quickly using a speed of 2 or 3 before speeding up the machine and slowing the motion way down.

While it is a good idea to initially the product over your work area, that's maybe a bit less critical when using SMAT liquids like UC and SwirlX. Still, we'd rather see you stick with your "best practices" approach and spread the product out a bit first.

I have to tell you, polishing out an entire car by hand is hard, time-consuming work. There are good reasons why most of us amateur detailers have broken down and purchased a dual action polisher. If your heart is really set on this, may I suggest that you divide the work over a period of days or weeks, working one panel at a time. And check out the various articles and threads in the Hand Polishing forum. Hand polishing is more than just the application of elbow grease. If done improperly, it can create quite the mess (see, e.g., this disaster). Warning to the wise.

That "disaster" thread involved a guy who very aggressively used UC on what turned out to be extremely delicate paint on that particular Honda. We've seen this first hand in the garage during TNOGs and it prompted us to write the article on dealing with delicate paint. It is unfortunate that the OP of that thread didn't come back with a final resolution. As bad as his picture looked, the situation was actually very easy to correct, just as we did on the similar car used in the article on delicate paint. All it took was a more uniform distribution of pressure while applying a much less aggressive product. UC was just total overkill for these incredibly soft paints found on some Hondas - SwirlX did a far better job in that it removed all the swirls and left a high level of clarity to the paint. We very much doubt that the paint on your Fusion is even close to being this soft, but we still strongly urge that you do a test spot with SwirlX first - as shown in that thread - to get an idea of just what you're dealing with.

You'll be fine mate. Sounds like you've got basic knowledge and common sense.
Go ahead and polish that baby out by hand and be sure to let us know how it goes!

Agreed. It sure sounds like 2010fusion has a good bit of experience, not to mention the physical ability to do this job via hand work. We think it's just more a case of "I've got a brand spanking new black car that's been a bit compromised once already and I just don't want to make it any worse". We understand that trepidation. But we also have confidence that you can take this on and end up with the shiniest Fusion in town. Black or otherwise.

[davey g-force]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

You'll be fine mate. Sounds like you've got basic knowledge and common sense.
Go ahead and polish that baby out by hand and be sure to let us know how it goes!

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

My spell check on my phone makes my English look awful. I don't think the guy that put the real bad swirls in his black car was working with a smooth surface. Looks like he made it worse. My surface is as smooth as glass minus the swirls.

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

Well this isn't my first rodeo at detailing a car. I would rather work by hand. I always use foam applications and I'm smart enough not to grind in an abrasive material weather it be light or heavy all over my car before I see how it reacts.

[akimel]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost?"

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

I figured it would be the other way around. That just makes me not wanna mess with it at all. Did the guy ever figured out what he did wrong? I would use medium pressure with equal distribution of pressure and I always use foam pads for everything.

[akimel]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

The cobweb effect means micro-scratches. These can only be removed by polishing. Follow Michael Stoops's advice and do a TEST SPOT with SwirlX. The test spot allows you to (a) find the right products for the task and (b) refine your technique. I strongly recommend that you use a foam applicator. I have a black car, and it hates microfiber and terry cloth applicators. You don't want to find out whether your black Fusion will hate them, too. Trust me.

I have to tell you, polishing out an entire car by hand is hard, time-consuming work. There are good reasons why most of us amateur detailers have broken down and purchased a dual action polisher. If your heart is really set on this, may I suggest that you divide the work over a period of days or weeks, working one panel at a time. And check out the various articles and threads in the Hand Polishing forum. Hand polishing is more than just the application of elbow grease. If done improperly, it can create quite the mess (see, e.g., this disaster). Warning to the wise.

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

I have both actually. The sun finally peaked its head out today and upon closer examination its just the cobweb effect and when the sun hits it looks like a haze. The detailed probably just scratched it up or put the cobwebs in it by washing it.

I don't think they would do much more work the washing it considering it is a dealer. I think the first time I used the ultimate compound I didn't use enough elbow grease. I guess I was to scared to hurt the clear.

I can start with the swirlx and put some stank into it. I am by no means a small guy at 6'5" 300 lbs. I have been asked about 1,000 times what college I play football for. Just didn't want to damage the paint on it right after I made my first payment.

It's suppose to rain tomorrow so Friday or Saturday I will knock it out and take pics.

[2010fusion]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

I have both actually. The sun finally peaked its head out today and upon closer examination its just the cobweb effect and when the sun hits it looks like a haze. The detailed probably just scratched it up or put the cobwebs in it by washing it.

I don't think they would do much more work the washing it considering it is a dealer. I think the first time I used the ultimate compound I didn't use enough elbow grease. I guess I was to scared to hurt the clear.

I can start with the swirlx and put some stank into it. I am by no means a small guy at 6'5" 300 lbs. I have been asked about 1,000 times what college I play football for. Just didn't want to damage the paint on it right after I made my first payment.

It's suppose to rain tomorrow so Friday or Saturday I will knock it out and take pics.

[davey g-force]

Re: Buffer swirl and Ultimate compund

^^ So what product have you decided on?

I still say ScratchX 2.0 if you're working by hand...