After months of studying, I think i'm ready

Choop145

Choop145

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Hey guys, first off I want to thank all of you for all the free knowledge you provide, without the negative criticism or eye rolling you get from any other forum.

I spent the past 3-4 months studying up on this obsession and spent hundreds of dollars (i know that's nothing to most of you) on this site and I finally think I have a good idea on my process towards my 1st DA correction.

Products
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Not in photo- Harbor Freight DA w/LC back plate (I will upgrade!), Clay Bar and Black Fire Black Ice.

The test subject
My black 2010 VW CC
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Scratches
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Swirls
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Now the main reason i'm posting this, is for some advice on what pads i should use, I really don't understand my level of swirls or scratches. They don't seem too severe or deep. Would also like to know if there is anything i'm missing.

After research on VW forums, i found out the VW factory clear coat has a haze to it, so the carpro Fixer should clear that up (after decontamination). I was planning on using the Tangerine Hydro-Techs with the Carpro Fixer. Will this be to much, Or to little of a cut? Also, are two pads enough? I don't have 3" pads, so I will be using the hand applicators for tight areas for all the steps.
Then after that step, i'm going to spray down the car with Carpro Eraser. After wiping that down, I'm going to apply the Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish with the Tangering Hyrdo-Tech. My question is, do I do another round of eraser before I apply my Blackfire Crystal Seal? Or just buff out the gloss and apply the BFCS?
Once an hour passes, i will apply another coat of BFCS and an hour later, i'll top it off with Blackfire Black Ice. I also have Blackfire Waterless Wash for maintaining.

This is my master plan. Now i'm hoping you guys can help me make it even better.

P.S- I know coatings are the new big thing. But i have wanted the blackfire look for awhile now.

Thank you for reading :buffing:
 
2 pads won't be enough to do the car in one shot, but who says you got to do it in one shot? If it's your only car, that complicates things though. Don't get worked up if those deeper hood scratches aren't leveled by what your using, as they look like they may need a more aggressive approach. However, what your using should make them a whole lot better.

My only other critique would be you won't know how well it works until you do a test spot. A LC HT Tangerine Pad is a polishing pad, not so much a cutting pad. If your paint is very hard (VWs may be), you may need a slightly more aggressive foam pad or even a microfiber pad (followed by a dedicated polishing step) to maximize your work, although the swirls look quite minor.
 
swanicyouth said:
2 pads won't be enough to do the car in one shot, but who says you got to do it in one shot? If it's your only car, that complicates things though. Don't get worked up if those deeper hood scratches aren't leveled by what your using, as they look like they may need a more aggressive approach. However, what your using should make them a whole lot better.

My only other critique would be you won't know how well it works until you do a test spot. A LC HT Tangerine Pad is a polishing pad, not so much a cutting pad. If your paint is very hard (VWs may be), you may need a slightly more aggressive foam pad or even a microfiber pad (followed by a dedicated polishing step) to maximize your work, although the swirls look quite minor.
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Thanks for the response. How many Micro Fiber cutting pads would you recommend I buy? I plan on making a black friday order and would like everything i need to get through this in one super long day. So i'll buy som MF Pads and a couple more HT Tangerine pads for the BFGEP. I'm still undecided if i'm going to apply the Black Ice by hand or not.

Oh ya, i also have a cyan pad. You're right though. i'll do a test spot soon and that will tell me what i need.
 
I like you am pretty new at this and have spent hundreds on products and equipment. The best thing to do is start with the least aggressive pad and product and gradually move to the more aggressive until you achieve the results you are looking for. I like Wolfgang products as well as Pinnacle and I am not familiar with the products you chose. Wolfgang's total swirl and scratch remover worked well to remove scratches off my vehicle. I just tackled a vehicle that was not in the best condition and used Meguairs Ultimate compound the correct it, the some Klasse AIO. Was pleased with the results. Again start with the least aggressive approach and continue until you achieve desired results. That's my two cents
 
We'll, I don't use MF pads. The reason is that I corrected my cars once using yellow and orange CCS foam pads (around when MF pads first came out), and wash it correctly. So, I haven't had to do any real cutting since. Just polishing. But, I know you will need several if you need them for cutting. In reality, pads are pretty easy to clean and dry quick, so you could get by with 2 pads, you will just need to wash and dry them frequently. After to clean them, wring them out in a dry towel and free spin them dry (away from your car).

I can give you this advice, if your using MF pads you should be cutting in the low to mid 4 speeds. High speeds damage MF due to to much heat.
 
your two cent are worth a dime my friend. I'm going to do the test spot with the Tangerine, then with the Cyan. If i dont get what i need i'll up to the MF pads. After seeing reviews, i believe carpro fixer will get the job done. The scratches you see on the picture are the only noticeable scratches on my car. I think a cat found my car one night. Everything else is swirls. I want my car to be Autogeek clean!
 
swanicyouth said:
We'll, I don't use MF pads. The reason is that I corrected my cars once using yellow and orange CCS foam pads (around when MF pads first came out), and wash it correctly. So, I haven't had to do any real cutting since. Just polishing. But, I know you will need several if you need them for cutting. In reality, pads are pretty easy to clean and dry quick, so you could get by with 2 pads, you will just need to wash and dry them frequently. After to clean them, wring them out in a dry towel and free spin them dry (away from your car).

I can give you this advice, if your using MF pads you should be cutting in the low to mid 4 speeds. High speeds damage MF due to to much heat.
Click to expand...

Appreciate it Swanic. Always find your posts very helpful throughout this forum. Especially towards the noobs.
 
Having been in a similar position as you recently, the only thing I would suggest is trying to space out the work over a couple of days. It took me two full days plus a little extra on a third day to do a wash, clay, 2-step correction, paint prep and sealant. Knowing you can take your time in the compounding/polishing stage especially is helpful.
 
in ideal situation youd like to have at the very least 4 cutting and 4 polishing pads. And if we are talking MF cuting pads then id say a bit more, since they tend to get hot quicker and just in general its better to have more of them on the job.
 
When you think your ready, then you are ready and you can only keep getting better from now on.

Keep it up :xyxthumbs:
 
Also, are two pads enough? I don't have 3" pads, so I will be using the hand applicators for tight areas for all the steps.
Then after that step, i'm going to spray down the car with Carpro Eraser. After wiping that down, I'm going to apply the Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish with the Tangering Hyrdo-Tech. My question is, do I do another round of eraser before I apply my Blackfire Crystal Seal? Or just buff out the gloss and apply the BFCS?
Once an hour passes, i will apply another coat of BFCS and an hour later, i'll top it off with Blackfire Black Ice. I also have
Blackfire Waterless Wash for maintaining.

I only use two pads per product on my cars and it seems to work. Take it, its not a show car.
No wipe down before doing your Crystal Seal and you really only need to wait about 15 minutes between coats and or before your LSP
 
You really don't need multiple pads when compounding/polishing.

I've never really understood the point in changing out pads when you can just clean the pad you're working with after each section. It saves product from having to prime a bunch of pads. By cleaning the pad you are also cooling it down and removing spent product.
 
I have a question. I have that blackfire pad cleaner. Is that only to be used after the job is done? Or is that something I can mist on a terry cloth towel as I do the clean on the fly method?
 
Choop145 said:
I have a question. I have that blackfire pad cleaner. Is that only to be used after the job is done? Or is that something I can mist on a terry cloth towel as I do the clean on the fly method?
Click to expand...

Only use the pad cleaner when your finished with the pad for that particular job. You can just use a pad refresher brush after correcting each panel.

Foam Pad Conditioning Brush
 
Scott@IncrediblyDetailed said:
You really don't need multiple pads when compounding/polishing.

I've never really understood the point in changing out pads when you can just clean the pad you're working with after each section. It saves product from having to prime a bunch of pads. By cleaning the pad you are also cooling it down and removing spent product.
Click to expand...

I am with you on this one. I used 1 pad for half the car. Then another pad for the other half of the car.

View attachment 23218

I used 2 orange MF cutting pads and 2 black MF polishing pads. (Buff N Shine) 1 on each side. I do clean the pad with the orange brush after I do my section passes. So every time I am about to re apply product. I turned on the Rupes to speed 1 and cleaned it with the brush.

I did the whole car with 6 pads.
•2 orange MF cutting pads.
•2 black MF polishing pads
•and 2 red foam waxing pads. (For jeweling)

View attachment 23219

And I after I am done, I run them through the sink with water and just brush them out clean. I then give them a good squeeze. And let them air dry over night.
 
nice you have been studying a lot. lots of people don't do that. but knowing how to swim in theory, still won't protect you from drowning... practise praxtise practise...
take your time on a VW ( and any car actually), and don't go chasing them RIDS.
if you use your car frequently, you will get more scratches and have no more clearcoat to polish...

2 pads of each should be enough, 3 to be certain I always say...
 
Yeah one should be book smart and hands on smart. To be all around smart.

I had a bunch of waxes, sealants, coatings and other noob questions. However, when it came to wet sanding and using a Rotary. I don't remember asking to me many question. One of my goals though is to take the Meguiar's Advanced class to see what new and actual detailing techniques they'll offer. (I know that there style is different than the one I learned, so I want to know both)
 
Alright, after my lost black friday shipment has been found, I will start my 1st correction tuesday. Will post pictures and updates. Maybe get some on the go advice.
 
No pictures yet, but yesterday I started my 1st correction. Tell me if i'm wrong, but i think I made a mistake on using Carpro Fixer with a HydroTech Cyan pad, followed by Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish with a HydroTech Tangerine pad. I kind of feel like I put close to the same product on twice, not realizing Fixer is an all in one compound. I'm going to finish up my polishing today and then going to seal with BF Crystal Seal and wax it with black fire midnight sun. Photos to come.
 
Finally finished this evening. I will say, that took longer than i thought and I do wish I used a harder working compound. But all in all, i'm happy to finally get the first paint correction out of the way. I learned a lot and got very comfortable the further along I got. I have a couple before pics and a handful of after pics. Forgive the quality of pics, all I have is the camera on my phone. Also, I got done in the evening, so the reflection shots are a little dull without the sun shining.

My process-
1.Megs Gold Wash
2.Mothers Clay Kit
3.Lemon Scent Iron-X
4.Carpro Fixer W/ Cyan Hydrotech pad
5.Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish W/ Tangerine Hydrotech pad
6.Blackfire Crystal Seal (2 Coats)
7.Blackfire Midnight Sun Paste Wax


Picture heavy

Before:

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Tape job!
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After:
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v1oa.jpg

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