Grand Prix GTP

[TonyTahoe]

I am testing the PC on the '98 Exploder before spring cleaning on the black '01 Acura but I have a question.



I was SMR'ing the ford to test drive the PC (white pad) and it was going fine until I realized I wasn't sure when to stop and wipe down with the towel.



I have heard people say, "use the PC until the material is just about completely buffed out, then clean up with a miracle towel." I have also heard them say, "use enough material and don't let the PC get to the point where it is running dry. It will generate too much heat." How do you define the point where you are almost "buffed out" but not "running dry."



-and yes, I am still talking about the car.-

 

[dougn]

i have the same question only i'm using a rotory. so i replied so the thread would not die. maybe showroom lincoln can tell us.

 

[Detailing NY]

When using the PC, check the area you are cleaning. When you first apply the product you will see it heavly on the car. as you move around it will spread out and become thinner. If you no longer see any product on the car you might be running dry and it is time to stop and wipe the product off the car and re-apply.

It might take some time to get used to, but once you get the feel for it you will know when you are running dry.

 

[BradE]

"Buff out" means there is very very little residue on the surface, but you can still see very small amounts of product being applied with each pass of the buffer. The layers may be so thin that this appears to be a film, but it still product. In this stage the abrasives are in their final stages of breakdown before the product is totally dried up.



"Running Dry" means the product on the pad and on the surface is totally dry. The heat from the machine has dried up the pad so the pad is not applying anymore product to the surface being polished. This very dangerous, the product acts as a lubricant and without it you can burn very quickly.

 

[imported_Sal329]

One of the techs at my job purchased this vehicle little over a year ago. It has 94k on it and he drive it daily. He told me no matter how much he washes and waxes the car still feels "grainy". So we opted for a wash, clay, the most correction we can get with just a one step polish and seal. So Saturday I met him at work on my day off and got to work. I was excited because I was trying a few new products on this detail.

First I pulled the car into the wash bay at work and rinsed with the pressure washer
Washed with First Place finish car shampoo, mixed in some First Place finish APC and Zep Citrus figured the paint was bad so I used a new brush they had in the package
Then I sprayed the entire car with Iron X (I was in a very well ventilated area and this stuff was still horrible)
Then cleaned the wheels with same APC mixture and wheel brushes
Sprayed wheels with Iron X
Rinsed the paint then the wheels then proceeded to clean the vehicle again
Out of the wash bay into the detail bay for clay
Used Dodo Clay with Dodo Born Slippery you could feel the paint felt very bad but the clay was not very dirty. After looking over the car I noticed over spray all over the paint and window moldings
After clay was done I then proceeded with the polishing step and for this I was to use my new Meguiars MF cutting pads and D300
Did my test area and D300 was not giving me the cut I was after so I used a little M105 in the mix and wow what great cut, finish and NO dust
Using a MF pad primed with D300 and a few drops of M105 with my Griots Garage DA I did the entire car with this combo using air to clean the pad
3 IPA wipe downs ( I did this also because the paint was so oxidized I wanted to make sure I was seeing the true paint and not oiling the oxidation ). The paint was near perfect the ABS Plastic (bumpers, spoiler and side skirts not so much, they were better a lot better, glossy but still looked like crap to me).
Sealed the car with ReLoad this worked well but on the black hood it streaked very bad. I will see how well it holds up but I think I will continue to use Opti Seal

Well I am very bad with pics and never take 50/50 so this one I did my best and took all the in process pics I could


Before

Iron X doing its thing

All washed and clayed

In process

All Done

detail bay

wash bay

Sun Pics

 

[michakaveli]

Came out good Sal! Nice job :rockon:

 

[imported_Sal329]

Thank you Chris

 

[rob8082011]

That came out rather well Sal. No dressing was needed on the tires and fenderwells or was it done after?

 

[bmw5541]

Lookin' god Sal.:thumbup:

 

[imported_Sal329]

Thanks guys. Yes dressing was needed but tech told me to leave em undressed

 

[Old Pirate]

Looks very mean now Sal, great work on it. :wizard:

 

[mikenap]

Great job Sal. Those hood reflections are insane!

 

[imported_Sal329]

Thanks guys. The paint on the hood was a pain. It corrected fine but had to spray a fair amount of QD to wipe off in order to not marr it.