Questions before purchase - swirl / scratch removal

[dcw1sfu]

So I've read alot of the articles and watched the videos and have a pretty believe I'm starting to get a pretty good understanding on how to get started, but wanted your guys feedback before making my purchases.

I have 2 vehicles to work on:

2017 black Ford f150 that has some pretty significant swirling holograms and numerous scratches. These were all hidden pretty well when I bought it, but after a couple washes it looks whatever was used to conceal has washed off.

2018 black Acura MDX swirling from what I can assume is when the dealership readied it for delivery. This is obviously much more minor then the F150 and only noticible upon close inspection.

Purchase plan was to get the Griot DA package with the three pads and Wolfgang swirl remover combo. The kit comes with the orange white and black pad.

Additionally I was looking at purchasing another 10-12 pads (not sure yet on which ones and could use your thoughts) as well as a sealent for after I apply the glaze portion of the Wolfgang kit.

I think for the f150 an orange pad with the Wolfgang should do the trick, but that same combo might be to abrasive for the acura. I'm wondering if even using the Wolfgang with a pad with less cut is still to aggressive.

Anyways looking for your thoughts and purchase opinions.

By the way great forum and the informational tutorials and tools have been awesome for a complete newbie.

 

[PaulMys]

Welcome to AGO!!

You have a great plan. The GG6 is amazing. It is all you need for maintaining your own cars. Make sure to get the 5 inch backing plate. Wolfgang products are great as well.

If I may suggest, also look into the Griot's line of Boss Creams. All of them work very, very well. Sun-friendly, almost zero dusting, and wipe off is a breeze.

As for pads, you'll get many opinions. I still love my Lake Country 5 1/2" flat pads. Great at what they do, and with proper care you'll have them for years.

Get a variety of different cutting ability, and start with the least aggressive pad/product combo for a test spot. You can adjust your approach after that.

 

[dcw1sfu]

Welcome to AGO!!

You have a great plan. The GG6 is amazing. It is all you need for maintaining your own cars. Make sure to get the 5 inch backing plate. Wolfgang products are great as well.

If I may suggest, also look into the Griot's line of Boss Creams. All of them work very, very well. Sun-friendly, almost zero dusting, and wipe off is a breeze.

As for pads, you'll get many opinions. I still love my Lake Country 5 1/2" flat pads. Great at what they do, and with proper care you'll have them for years.

Get a variety of different cutting ability, and start with the least aggressive pad/product combo for a test spot. You can adjust your approach after that.

Okay thanks for the insight. Would you maybe recommend this kit Griots Garage Swirl Remover Kit over the Wolfgang kit then? Then I could also pick up a 5 inch backing plate and a 12 pack of the CCS lake country pads.

This is the wolfgang kit i was looking at Griot's Garage Random Orbital Wolfgang Duo

 

[ntwillie1]

I’ve had some success w the Wolfgang kit on hard Mercedes paint. I like them and Sonax perfect finish. I used to use a meguiars m105 205 combo w good results but it was just too dusty for me.

 

[dcw1sfu]

I have another question. Would the Buff and Shine low pro long throw pads work well with this pollisher even though its not a long throw polisher? Ive heard good things about these pads.

 

[The Guz]

If you are looking for some user friendly polishes then I would recommend these two.

Sonax Cut Max for a compound
Sonax EX 04-06 for a finishing polish

The Griot's DA will work just fine. Just get yourself a 5" backing plate and plenty of pads. The Lake Country flat pads are popular. Griot's has their line of pads as well.

 

[dcw1sfu]

If you are looking for some user friendly polishes then I would recommend these two.

Sonax Cut Max for a compound
Sonax EX 04-06 for a finishing polish

The Griot's DA will work just fine. Just get yourself a 5" backing plate and plenty of pads. The Lake Country flat pads are popular. Griot's has their line of pads as well.

Thanks for all of your input. Do you think the Lake Country Flat pads would be a better choice over maybe the lake country SD Pads?

 

[PaulMys]

Thanks for all of your input. Do you think the Lake Country Flat pads would be a better choice over maybe the lake country SD Pads?

Your problem (as was mine) when first starting is the numerous options and opinions.

All of the opinions/suggested products from members are the ones they like and have great results with.

It is ultimately up to you to decide.

This is not to say you cannot ask more questions to the forum, we like that.

If you would like to PM me, I can give you my take.

 

[Mantilgh]

I have another question. Would the Buff and Shine low pro long throw pads work well with this pollisher even though its not a long throw polisher? Ive heard good things about these pads.

I don’t have a GG6. I have a few of these and they are probably a little heavier than some pads so I would say no.

I think a good choice would be the BOSS pads or the LC ThinPro.

The LC Flat pads are good and a good value, and you won’t feel as bad if you destroy one or two.

 

[dcw1sfu]

Again thanks for all your help. I think I have finally decided on the following

Griot 6" polisher kit comes with:
Griots Garage 6 Inch Random Orbital Polisher
5 inch Dual-Action Hook & Loop Flexible Backing Plate
2 qty. 5 inch Griots Garage Micro Fiber FAST Cutting Pad
5.5 inch Griots Garage Orange Foam Correcting Pad
6.5 inch Griots Garage Black Foam Finishing Pad
6.5 inch Griots Garage Red Foam Waxing Pad
2 qty. Green All Purpose Microfiber Towels, 16 x 16 inches

-Wolfgang Swirl remover
-wolfgang finishing glaze
-wolfgang deepgloss sealent

- 12 Lake Country Flat Pads 5.5"
- 5 Orange
- 5 white
- 2 black

Im thinking this should do the trick and get me started. But let me know if you think there are changes I should make.

One more questions I have is can I use the same process on the plastic side panels between the door windows on my f150 to remove those swirls as I do for the rest of the truck or no?

 

[SWETM]

Just have in mind that Wolfgang Swirl Remover 3.0 is a medium cut polish with a finishing ability. So in some situations you can need more cut. On the other hand you can often get away with only use the swirl remover with finishing so great. That the finishing glaze is not needed. The finishing glaze is a finishing polish. And has no really glaze ability in it.

I would ad a small 8oz bottle of a compound. If you where to find the cut from the Wolfgang Swirl Remover is not enough. It's hard to determind what will work on your car before you accually do the test spot. That's why I want to have at least 3 different abrasive products at hand. A compound and a medium cut polish and a finishing polish. Then you have a base of abrasive products. And with the pads to dial in what works on your different cars.

Then you have other brands to go with. Which has some different abrasive technology and some is very a like.

 

[dcw1sfu]

Just have in mind that Wolfgang Swirl Remover 3.0 is a medium cut polish with a finishing ability. So in some situations you can need more cut. On the other hand you can often get away with only use the swirl remover with finishing so great. That the finishing glaze is not needed. The finishing glaze is a finishing polish. And has no really glaze ability in it.

I would ad a small 8oz bottle of a compound. If you where to find the cut from the Wolfgang Swirl Remover is not enough. It's hard to determind what will work on your car before you accually do the test spot. That's why I want to have at least 3 different abrasive products at hand. A compound and a medium cut polish and a finishing polish. Then you have a base of abrasive products. And with the pads to dial in what works on your different cars.

Then you have other brands to go with. Which has some different abrasive technology and some is very a like.

That makes sense. The F150 might actually need a more abrasive compound. With the acura, the wolfgang swirl remover might even be to much not sure at this point.

Whats your thoughts on either going with the Wolfgang Uber Compound or the Menzerna FG400. Both seem to have great reviews, just not sure which one to choose, or should I choose an entirely different product. So many options...

 

[SWETM]

If I have gotten it right. Menzerna does the abrasives in Wolfgang. Then if it's the same kind of abrasives in Menzerna and Wolfgang I don't know. I think you will getting awesome results with both Menzerna HC400 and Wolfgang über compound. Have used HC400 with great results myself. And I have so many different brands in my arsenal so it's hard to just chose one of them. But if you have a personal likeing with the Wolfgang line and want to go with that. You have some great products at hand. The one thing is they are pricey. And they are great but so are many others too. If you where to try Menzerna I would get.
Menzerna HC400 compound
Menzerna MC2500 medium cut polish
Menzerna SF3500 finishing polish
That would be like the Wolfgang products. And on the Acura you could be fine with only the SF3500 or Wolfgang Finishing Glaze. That can only the test spot decide and when inspection it with a good light or in the sun. If you are happy and satisfied with the results you got from the test spot. And if not the cut is as you desired move up to the medium cut. And if still not doing the trick move up to compound. Then use the different pads to fine tune the results you want from the polishes.

A tips when you do your first polishing. Don't chase the deeper scratches to perfection. Do chase the best gloss you can get. When you polishing the cars next time you can adress some of those scratches that needs extra attention. Or if you go to spot polishing them further down the road. It's time consuming to polish paint. And to be stuck on some scratches can take away the satisfaction of the whole thing afterwards. Then the scratches are still there if you where to do something to them in the future. After the polishing it's important to get as little of marring and wash indused swirls until the next polishing. So you don't have to be so aggressive next time you polishing. You don't have so many times to be aggressive with compounding. Since the clearcoats are so thin. So save the deeper scratches when you have the whole maintance dialed in. Then get after the ones that is possible to correct.

 

[UncleDavy]

I starting getting serious about paint correction last year and I am still experimenting with different polishes, brand names and pads. The Wolfgang Swirl Remover is a good product but it yields way too much dust. The Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is a superb product and you should get a full 6 months of protection with it.
The brand of polish that seems to work the best for me is HD. I have used the HD Cut and HD Polish + and they are both great products. They yield no dust and the removal is easy. Based on the advice of the great members of this forum (Paulie, dlc95) I went with LC 5.5" thin pads with a 5" backing plate on my Porter Cable 7424XP and I have been happy with the results. The right amount of product on the pad and how often you change the pad is something that you will keep changing, experimenting and adjusting.

 

[Paul A.]

Don't be surprised if you need to get fairly aggressive on that black Ford paint. On the other hand, also don't be surprised on how soft the Acura paint may be and won't need anything near as aggressive.

As is always the best approach, use the least aggressive approach to get you what you want. Experiment around with some test spots on each vehicle and adjust accordingly. I like to see a particular product make a difference and then move to a more aggressive pad to bump up the cut a bit. Sometimes that little change works, sometimes it still isn't enough. If the latter, go back to the milder pad and bump up the product/abrasive.

I'd also suggest, if your budget allows, add quite a few more MF towels. You want to always work clean and that applies to towels. It's nice to grab a clean towel rather than extend a few towels into longer duty.