New to machine polishing, rotaty or pc?

Nick VR4

New member
I have some water etching on my VR4, vinegar solution and clay did not do much at all. and from what I've read it will have to be machine polished.



Good excuse to get a machine polisher :) the question is, pc or rotary?



I am leaning towards the rotary, but I have never used any kind of machine polisher. Should I start with the pc, or just go straight to the rotary?



I'll post some pics of the water etching shortly.



Damn, go Cardinals :D woot woot
 
Thanks for the welcome, long time lurker, first time poster I just realized :)



Will the pc or flex be able to remove water etching?
 
it depends on how deep the defect is, you would have to do a test spot and go from there. megs just came out with some new products and you might want to pick up their new ultimate compound and swirlx (both are for use by hand and D/A) and give it a shot by hand (you can also use these with the PC and Flex). they both can be bought at your local walmart for around $7-$8 each. also, try claying as well...



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Safely restore color and clarity to abused and neglected finishes with Meguiar's® Ultimate Compound. Our revolutionary formula cuts as fast as harsh abrasive compounds but without scratching… even on clear coat finishes. This dramatically reduces the time and effort required to remove defects and makes traditional rubbing and polishing compounds obsolete! This is the fast, easy way to remove oxidation, scratches and swirl marks. The secret is Meguiar's exclusive micro-abrasive technology developed from our state-of-the-art professional body shop and detailer products. Whether working by hand or with our DA polisher, this is truly the ultimate compound!

p93566z.jpg


Car Guys are constantly asking how to best remove swirl marks/spider webs/holograms to restore crystal clear reflections and have a flawless, show-car shine. SwirlX Swirl Remover effortlessly removes swirl marks while improving color and clarity. SwirlX can be applied by hand or with our DA Polisher, and is a non-abrasive formula that gently smoothes away micro-fine swirl marks so you can have a flawless finish on all paints.
 
Flex 3401 will take care of water spots no problemo coming from first-hand experience on an Audi allraod. Another vote for the 3401 here!!!
 
I suggest the Meguiars G110. It has more speed and power than a PC and more safety than a rotary. I have one and really enjoy it.



And good luck to your cardinals :D
 
Nick VR4- Welcome to Autopia!



Noting that I have two rotaries, two Cyclos, two PCs, and one Flex 3401...I'd recommend the Flex 3401 too.



Note that etching can be too deep to fully remove safely; I have etching on a few of my vehicles that even *very* aggressive measures only diminished slightly. To completely remove it would take off *much* too much clear.
 
Sorry for the slow response. I appreciate the replies.



I've attached a pic of my water etching, not the greatest pic and I'm not sure you can even tell from pictures, however, do you think the Flex will remove this etching?



Seems to be worst on the spoiler, not sure if that is due to it being a plastic of some kind.



water-etch1.jpg
 
So I've decided to go with the Flex 3401.



I am a little confused on what size backing plate and pads to use?



Would I need the 4"?
 
Nick VR4 said:
So I've decided to go with the Flex 3401.



I am a little confused on what size backing plate and pads to use?



Would I need the 4"?



the flex has a fixed BP and you can't change the size



I know it's larger then 4"



I sure someone will tell you the size or it should be easy to find with a search
 
My friend uses 6.5 pads with quite a bit of extra protruding from the sides. I believe that 5.5 pads fit perfectly but don't quote me on that...
 
Nick VR4- Whatever you use, go a little gentle on the wing as it's not quite the same as working on the painted metal parts.
 
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