*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Its not an emergency, and probably correctable, so don't lose sleep over it. Did you use an electric polisher or by hand? If you used electric, was it a rotary or a dual action polisher? Also, what product did you use?

You usually don't need to polish paint on a new car, just wash, clay bar and sealant.

If you now need to do a proper polish to correct what you did, its not difficult.

 

Thanks man! This is a relief!

I applied it by hand using a circular motion. I've heard you're supposed to work in straight lines, but the bottle said do circles, overlapping 4-6 times so I just did what it said. Will I have to let a professional fix this? Or is there a different method I should try myself? Oh and I was using Meguiar's Ultimate Polish. Thanks for your help!


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You might want to try this system

Before I started to use a buffer I used the Mothers system with great results. However it does take time due to hand application.

Try the pre wax cleaner on a small out of the way area of paint first to see if it corrects the swirl marks.

For an over the counter solution that does not require a buffer it is hard to beat mothers. The final wax in this solution lasts an honest 6 weeks before you need to wax again.

 

Thanks! I will look into those products! I washed my truck again last night and dried it off with a microfiber and when I checked it out today in the sun, the swirl marks are very light now. They're still there, but not nearly as bad. Could it be that I left polish on it and that was making it look like the swirls were really bad? I did run out of microfibers so they were pretty soaked up with the polish. I am very relieved to see that they're not as bad as I thought!

Thanks for your help guys!


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For a quick test, hit a spot with a mix of 50% 90+% alcohol and 50% distilled water. Spray on and wipe off and see what you have. It could be that you did leave polish on (sometimes polish is hard to get off). Black is a very tough color to get right. I would invest in a orbital buffer if you want to detail your truck often. Also, have some decent MF towels (save the target/walmart brand for interior and tires) to wipe the truck down with. If you just look at black wrong it will swirl.

 

Ultimate Polish has some decent cut it in as well as abrasives that break down the more you work it. Failure to work it long enough can results in swirls.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33287

Pretty high up there. You really only need Ult. Polish when you have some serious swirls and it really needs to be followed up with a finer polish, esp. on black. Grab some decent MF towels (soft, tagless) and a finer polish and try again. Work very slow in a 12"x12" section at a time. First however, try your technique in a small area first. Do not proceed until you can achieve the results you are after. Once you do, repeat process on whole truck. No need to burn out your arm only to find out it looks like crap again.

 

A dual action polisher like the Porter Cable is a good investment, which you can use to polish out scuffs, correct swirling, and to give a final polish with luster that you can apply a sealant, to keep it looking smooth as glass.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/ulti...24-dual-action-random-orbit-car-polisher.html

http://www.lowes.com/pd_137715-70-7346SP_0__?productId=3280062&Ntt=porter+cable+random+orbit&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dporter%2Bcable%2Brandom%2Borbit

I use Sonus SFX series polish. SFX-1 is a course polish for scuffs, SFX-2 is a medium polish for getting rid of swirls and SFX-3 is a fine finishing polish to get that nice gloss.

Not seeing your swirl marks, if you had a DA polisher and these products, I would try the SFX-3 and see of that takes care of it on a test section (very likely it would). If not I would go back to the SFX-2 to fix it, then finish with the SFX-3. You only use the SFX-1 on spots where you have scuffs.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-410.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-420.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-430.html

And this is an excellent sealant glaze that will give you a good 6 months or more of protection, after you have polished.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/kus-kls-gla.html

You likely did not need to polish a new truck, but you can fix it easy enough. A Porter Cable DA polisher is about $120.00 and a good long term investment. Plan to spend another $75.00 on polishers, polishing pads, and various supplies. It sounds like a lot, but once you have it, you can care for your $26,000.00 + vehicle and preserve the value of your truck and enjoy a greater pride of ownership. I would buy the polisher and supplies and do it myself as opposed to paying a detailer.


And to answer your original question, claying before you correct the paint is not a bad idea either. So, wash, clay, correct the swirl marks with a properly done polish (with a dual action polisher), then use a sealant.

 

Good post. Be prepared if you purchase a ROB. It is addictive as far as hobbies go.

 

Hey Guys,

My 06 TRD is starting to show some surface rust on the main frame...Looks ugly.. I have been touching it up with 3M spray on undercoating.. But that doesn't last.. Is there any spray on product out there that will coat and prevent? I remember the old wax base Zee coat back in the day that was great stuff.... Any of that in a spray can?
Or recommendations... Thanks

 

OMG guys! Thank you for the responses!

This makes me feel much better because I've been pretty sick about this whole ordeal. I guess I misunderstood when I heard to polish before waxing I will go check out that orbital buffer and hopefully I can correct this without paying someone else. I looked at the hood today in the sun and it's not too noticeable, so I guess the SFX-3 will work for me. I'll update once the process is done and post pics of how it turns out!

Thanks everyone for the help and advice!

 

I would get both SFX-2 and SFX-3, in case the SFX-3 can't correct it. You can hold off on the SFX-1, because it sounds like you already have a course polish.

When you get a random orbit polisher, you will need a backing plate (if it doesn't come with one) and pads for it. Pads often come in sets, or you can buy a la carte: a firmer one for the course, a softer one for the medium, and even softer one for the fine polish. There are oodles of videos on youtube and autogeek.net showing how to polish with a buffer. (or build a kit) Also, for buffing off sealant and wax with the buffer, you should get a lambswool pad, and you put a microfiber bonnet over that. It makes quick work of sealing or waxing.

 

damm how much cost for a good kit??? a buffer kit that will take out swirls and polish with sealant and wax

 

For a decent sealant plus wax along with a kit and microfiber towels expect to spend close to $250.

I would keep looking at Autogeek every day and wait till they offer 15% off plus free shipping. They usually run a sale like that with buffers included in the sale about 4 times a year.

I was expecting a sale like that last week because AG had Detailfest going on and they usually have a great sale at the same time. Not this year.

I am looking for another buddy that wants the same thing. If I see a sale I will post it up.

I am not affiliated with AG but over the years I have found the customer service to be top shelf. Before and after the sale.

 

black friday???

 

is this the same as the 7424

http://www.lowes.com/pd_137715-70-7...ntURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=porter+cable+random+orbit

 

Hopefully there will be 4 or 5 sales before then.

HArd to tell. Yoy want the

$139 7424XP PORTER-CABLE Car Polisher and Buffer, 6", Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

7424XP Porter cable. The linked one looks like the old style. You can do a lot better than that price as well.

 

for real where??? hard to find it locally on oahu man???

 

I got mine at Lowes, on sale for about $100.00 a few years back. I don't know about the current models, but when I got mine it was the same as the one marketed as a DA polisher, just a different model number and marketed as a DA sander.

It was the same specs, just a different market. Not sure if the newer

$139 7424XP PORTER-CABLE Car Polisher and Buffer, 6", Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

7424XP has added features or not. What is the "old style" and what is the "new style?"

 

x2

 

The PC7424XP, new style, has a stronger motor. Makes the hologram/swirl mark removal easier and quicker.

Coastal tools has it for $119 with free shipping. i do not know about shipping to the islands.

http://www.coastaltool.com/a/port/7424xp_car_buffer.htm


I have never heard anything bad about The PacShak. You might want to look at this website as you could possibly save on shipping.

http://www.pakshak.com/index.html