Theory craft time!

Alexshimshimhae

New member
So my Gf and my brother both bought new cars:

Black Hyundai Elantra

White Lexus IS



Now for whatever reason ;) they've entrusted me to get it opti-coated.

My question to you wise gentlemen. Is what pad/polish combo/prep would you suggest?



I've realized that I could go with a new set of pads--sadly I bought the Meg's MF kit a while back but the backing plate wouldn't fit the Flex and I have yet to get any kind of conversion kit...



The Lexus is white so I'm not as concerned about looks but the elantra has already started presenting with swirls (it's only been what...2 weeks?)



I have the Valuguard ABC decontamination system coming this week.

I have Po85rd, M205, Optimum hyper polish

for obvious reasons I'm not interested in compounding or anything crazy as it is new.



Help a brother out!
 
Chicken - Egg (There is no such thing as a 'one size fits all' polish pad combination (its a vendors myth)



What paint surface problems do the vehicles have?

Conduct a 'Test panel process' on each vehicle to select a suitable polish / pad combination
 
Well I haven't seen the lexus since my brother picked it up--but I doubt I'll be doing much if any correction--as we all know it's near impossible to see anything on white paint anyways so I feel like i'd be wasting my time--figure for that I just decontaminate the paint and apply the oc.



For the hyundai, there's a very small scratch that I'm sure I can white pad with po85rd with and finish with LC black--but I haven't tested anything yet( just assuming this paint will be retarded soft) since it's black I'm seeing the micromarring and swirls from what is likely from the dealership "detail". I'm debating on if i want to go ahead and try to burnish at all but I doubt it will be worth the effort--but I'd like the paint looking as perfect as possible before putting the oc down (being a black car and all) Something tells me that I might be able to get away with very minimal in terms of pad choices--but I don't know the latest developments pad/product combo wise in the last year and change--hoping to get some insight in time for the weekend so i can order
 
Alexshimshimhae- Eh, I don't think there have been any real changes in pad tech relevent to what you'll be doing. And no, I wouldn't bother "burnishing" in this case.



But I wouldn't assume you can get away without correction on white or that "new cars" won't need somewhat aggressive correction.



Never having worked on either of those marques, I have no idea which pad/product combos will be appropriate :nixweiss
 
ahh my favorite wise sage =] (how goes it good sir)



hehe yea I was actually quite surprised when I saw the car when I visited this weekend--for a brand spanking new car there were a lot of swirls...I didn't get a good look but in some spots it almost looked buffer/hack induced....

In my head, I'm starting to lean towards say white with po53rd finished with black pad or maybe opt hyper polish-po85rd? Problem is I think my pads are just about shot--so debating on maybe ordering a new set of something new? or is that the buying itch getting to me xD
 
Alexshimshimhae- Eh, I can see getting some fresh pads, sorta a sooner-or-later kind of thing by the sound of it. No idea what to recommend though as I haven't bought any new pads for years other than the MF cutting disks.



No suprise at all that a brand new car has been hacked up, almost every one I've ever seen sure was! That's why you might have to get more aggressive than you'd expect.
 
I'm actually really worried that I might be busting out the m105--but I mean my money is on the fact (well hopes) that the clear should be soft enough to squeak by with a polish?



As always I'm stuck on what pads to buy



Edit:

ok so I bought:

1 ht cyan

1 light orange cutting (LC)

and 2 white polishing pads



Though I stuck with what (I THINK) worked for me..something about my pad choices isn't sitting right with me for some reason.. =/
 
Alexshimshimhae said:
ok so I bought:

1 ht cyan

1 light orange cutting (LC)

and 2 white polishing pads



...something about my pad choices isn't sitting right with me for some reason.. =/



What'd be worrying me is the quantity; I'd want a lot more than one, or even two, of each type.
 
I currently have 2 orange and i think another ht cyan that are still usable as well as 1 or 2 black ones

tbh I would have preferred to have more but funds are a bit tight lately so I'm actually a bit concerned...thinking worst case scenario i'll have to go panel by panel which will defnitely be a huge pita....
 
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