Another Blk Paint Question

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MJN

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Ok guys here is a little history:

I have been detailing my cars for little over 10 years or so and been stuck with Griot's line up, just one them ones that find a good one and not change. I have and use one of there first Porter Cable polishers.

Now I recently purchased a used 2011 Mustang GT in Blk. It has the usally marks you can see in the sun or the right light and a couple of scrathes but not deep. I have tried using there Machine Polish 3 with a couple attemps and I finished with Best Of Show but can still see some the marks still. Better but not perfect.

One my problems is I can never really keep the pad (orange Griot's) spinning, it usally always stops and just vibrates. I have been thinking maybe in the future of buying the FLEX with some different products and trying to open up a bit to something different..lol! Figure with the FLEX and the forced rotation I would have a better chance of correction.

Or am I going at this all wrong and just need a different product and pads or? Im up for any suggestions and comments help me out guys. This is my first blk car and specially buying it used and not being able to take care of it since bith I need some advice and tips. BTW yes I have been searching and watching videos, why im leaning a bit to the FLEX.
 
What size pad and speed?

If you keep it flat, you should be able to spin even a 6" pad with moderate pressure on 5 or 6. If you run into areas where you cannot keep it flat, move to a smaller pad.
 
All I have and ever used is the 6" ones from Griot's. I usally like to stay on 5 but also tried 6 and still tends to stop. Only in the first few passes will it spin. I even have the product start to ball up on me in certain sections after the third or fourth pass. Just a side note I have been to one of there detailing classes even lol
 
if it is balling up then yeah its too much polish, with m105 if i use more then 3-4 small drops it will ball up or smear a really thick layer on the paint and this is with a rotary, i would prime pad then do 3-4 pea sized drops and see how that does. if i'm correct the griots machine comes with a 6" backing plate meaning it uses 6.5" pads so if anything get a new bp and some 5.5 pads im betting it will make a huge difference. also bring out the bathroom scale place polisher and pad on it and push down until you get to 15-20lbs and note how much the foam compressed and that will be correct pressure, i did this once and realized i was using too little pressure. good luck it takes some learning to get it down from what i read(i use a rotary however i will have my DA in my hands tomorrow cannot wait to pick it up, have a perfect test subject also. my moms kia sportage with some paint transfer,scratches,swirls, the works!. just take our tips place them in your head and see how it does. practice makes perfect! just remember too much polish and the water can soak into pad leaving the other ingredients on the surface which can be sticky.
 
opie_7afe said:
if it is balling up then yeah its too much polish, with m105 if i use more then 3-4 small drops it will ball up or smear a really thick layer on the paint and this is with a rotary, i would prime pad then do 3-4 pea sized drops and see how that does. if i'm correct the griots machine comes with a 6" backing plate meaning it uses 6.5" pads so if anything get a new bp and some 5.5 pads im betting it will make a huge difference. also bring out the bathroom scale place polisher and pad on it and push down until you get to 15-20lbs and note how much the foam compressed and that will be correct pressure, i did this once and realized i was using too little pressure. good luck it takes some learning to get it down from what i read(i use a rotary however i will have my DA in my hands tomorrow cannot wait to pick it up, have a perfect test subject also. my moms kia sportage with some paint transfer,scratches,swirls, the works!. just take our tips place them in your head and see how it does. practice makes perfect! just remember too much polish and the water can soak into pad leaving the other ingredients on the surface which can be sticky.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the scale tip. I usally coat the whole pad with a layer of polish like they show in there video but like was saying after three passes it is balling up on me and like you mentioned it does get sticky on me. Even after applying its is tough to wipe it off the surface.

How big of a section do you guys do at a time. I took half the hood then divided that again, so went in quarters.
 
A quarter of the hood is a good size to work. You are using way too much product for that size section though

When you prime the pad make sure that you spread out the product on the pad. If you wipe your finder across and get product build up on your finger it's too much. Try dragging your finger nail across the pad to remove all the excess polish. Then add 2 small pea size drops and see how it does. When you finish a section the polish should look clear it shouldn't be enough to wipe off.

As for the pad not spinning I think you should adjust your technique. I have an old PC and it has more trouble with the 6" pads but it will move them. Make sure to keep the pad flat and put enough pressure until it boggs down then let up slightly until the pad starts spinning again. Once you get the feel of it you won't have to think about it anymore.
 
How old is the polisher?

The older Griots Garage polishers were WAY underpowered. The newer ones are much better and the flex is top of the line.

I also happen to agree that you are using too much product
 
The pc is one the first ones think looked and its a 7323 think it was. I'm thinking the same thing you guys are saying. Too much product, older machine and user mistakes lol.

I'm thinking now going with the LC 5.5 pads and trying some of the XMT polishes, and giving this route a try.

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