Noob at detailing... (Sort of)

[Joe 5.0]

Hey everyone!

I know the basics of cleaning/detailing (How to wash, wax, clay, etc.), but would like to step it up a notch and learn how to remove swirls with a polisher.

I have hand washed my black 5.0 since the day it was brought home, so the paint looks great. It is also garaged which helps a ton.

Could anyone steer me in the right direction in terms of buying the right polisher and pads for the job? I would like to remove the swirls on my car, but not sure if a black Mustang should be my first test... :lol:

I was thinking of purchasing the PC 7424XP since it is great for beginners, but would like your opinions on that.

Help from the detailers on M6G would be greatly appreciated!

----

***UPDATE***

I ended up purchasing the Griots Garage 6" polisher kit & HD Speed/HD Poxy combo. Planning on giving this a try when it all arrives.

Any tips or tricks? Kind of nervous doing this on my own car, but I know my setup is pretty much noob friendly.

Sponsored

 

[tx91_stang]

I use all the chemical guys products as far as the polisher I just picked up a cheap-o from harbor freight but use the pads from chemical guys they have a ton of how to vids on YouTube check em out!

 

[tx91_stang]

:cheers: that's from this past weekend butterwetwax works amazing !

 

[Joe 5.0]

I also use CG products! I heard great things about the shine from their butter wet wax, but how is the durability? i.e. Will you get a couple months worth of paint protection from it?

 

[stoli]

Depending on how bad the swirls are, you may be able to get away without a full cut/polish and instead just a good polish with an orbital.

I'd highly recommend checking out the AutoGeek forums for anything detailing related: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

Hey everyone!

I know the basics of cleaning/detailing (How to wash, wax, clay, etc.), but would like to step it up a notch and learn how to remove swirls with a polisher.

I have hand washed my black 5.0 since the day it was brought home, so the paint looks great. It is also garaged which helps a ton.

Could anyone steer me in the right direction in terms of buying the right polisher and pads for the job? I would like to remove the swirls on my car, but not sure if a black Mustang should be my first test... :lol:

I was thinking of purchasing the PC 7424XP since it is great for beginners, but would like your opinions on that.

Help from the detailers on M6G would be greatly appreciated!

A PC7424 is great for beginners, however if you plan on using it quite a bit I'd jump up and just get the Flex 3401 the first time around. It's still safe enough you will be fine starting out, but saves you the extra money of wanting something better down the road.

After you use a cheaper, beginner DA and jump up to the Middle and Expert tiers you'll see that effort and time has been practically cut in half. A 1 step polish that typically took 4-5 hours now takes 2-3 etc.

Pads are pure personal preference really. People see better results with one set etc. However I, and a lot of others prefer Lake Country for pads. Specifically Lake Country Hydro-Tech Pads. The 8oz Meguiar's M105 and M205 are excellent starting out Cut/Polishes. From there you can branch out and try other things that you may like better. Chemical Guy's Blacklight is an excellent all-in-one gloss enhancing sealant that you can try first as well.

 

[tx91_stang]

I daily drive the car and I've had it for over a war with proper washing techniques my swirl marks are minimal

 

[jasonstang]

Clay bar when the paint feels like paper.
Usually just wax.
As for swirl marks, two bucket method and power washer helps a lot.

 

[tx91_stang]

That ^^

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

Clay bar when the paint feels like paper.
Usually just wax.
As for swirl marks, two bucket method and power washer helps a lot.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I would highly discourage from using a clay bar and not at least polishing afterward. 90% of the paints appearance is coming from your cut/polish product and effort.

 

[Joe 5.0]

A PC7424 is great for beginners, however if you plan on using it quite a bit I'd jump up and just get the Flex 3401 the first time around. It's still safe enough you will be fine starting out, but saves you the extra money of wanting something better down the road.

After you use a cheaper, beginner DA and jump up to the Middle and Expert tiers you'll see that effort and time has been practically cut in half. A 1 step polish that typically took 4-5 hours now takes 2-3 etc.

Pads are pure personal preference really. People see better results with one set etc. However I, and a lot of others prefer Lake Country for pads. Specifically Lake Country Hydro-Tech Pads. The 8oz Meguiar's M105 and M205 are excellent starting out Cut/Polishes. From there you can branch out and try other things that you may like better. Chemical Guy's Blacklight is an excellent all-in-one gloss enhancing sealant that you can try first as well.

Thanks for the detailed post.

I looked up the Flex polisher and the price is a bit steep for my needs, but I do understand what you mean by buying the Flex now, as opposed to the PC and then the Flex later down the road.

For minimal swirls, would you reccomend these steps?

1. Wash/Dry
2. Clay
3. Polish w/ machine (Assuming a finishing polish or swirl remover?
4. Wax

 

[jasonstang]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I would highly discourage from using a clay bar and not at least polishing afterward. 90% of the paints appearance is coming from your cut/polish product and effort.

Well yes of course if the swirl is that bad, you should polish.

 

[CompO5.sl0w]

Thanks for the detailed post.

I looked up the Flex polisher and the price is a bit steep for my needs, but I do understand what you mean by buying the Flex now, as opposed to the PC and then the Flex later down the road.

For minimal swirls, would you reccomend these steps?

1. Wash/Dry
2. Clay
3. Polish w/ machine (Assuming a finishing polish or swirl remover?
4. Wax

1.Wash/Dry

For this I'd use some type of Citrus Wash to strip any kid of wax/sealant on the paint currently. Don't even worry about drying it if you are going to clay bar it immediately after as the added water on the paint will help you anyway. Since you are going to be using a type of lubricant with the paint fairly liberally, you may see that the lube will leave streaks, spots, marks etc. so I do a quick wash/dry after clay.

2.Clay
This is pretty straight forward, typical clay with some type of QD lubricant. Spray liberally to keep the clay bar running smoothly over the paint.

3.Polish w/ Machine
If you have around a light-medium swirling, use a swirl remover first. Then Go over with a polish. Polishing will only fill in a few scratches and swirls so don't rely on it to rid of swirls. That's the job of a Cut/Swirl Remover.

4. Wax
Fairly straight forward. If you use a sealant you will most likely be applying that with the DA, low speed and on a finishing pad. For Carnauba wax, that is preferred to be applied by hand. Some are pretty specific to wait before wipe-offs, washes etc. so make sure to read the directions and what other people are experiencing.

It's a whole different world with detailing and will take quite a few details before you start grasping the concept of all this. I'm always available via PM if you need some advice/help :cheers:.

Well yes of course if the swirl is that bad, you should polish.

If the swirl is even a little above a light swirl you shouldn't really be using a polish first at all. The only thing that will rid of light scratching and heavy swirling is a cut or swirl remover. Those must be followed up with a type of polish after as well. Other wise you are going to wax over a now dull and hard paint.

Polishing will help cover and fill in some swirls/scratches but it's main purpose is to restore the deep, rich gloss and the softer feeling of the paint. It also depends on the speed/pad you are using if you even intend to rid of even light swirls with it.

 

[akfinfan]

I use this stuff in between washes....its amazing!

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/speed+shine.do

 

[Joe 5.0]

Bump.

New update!

Sponsored