2005 Infiniti QX56 - In progress

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

The wife's beast - while the color hides defects pretty darn well, I know it could be a lot better. Unfortunately, photographing it to show defects is a pain.

I started with a test spot on the hood - by far the worst part of the paint. This paint definitely does NOT fit into the stereotypical "Japanese paint is soft" category. Holy crap. Started with M205 on a Lake Country White Polishing Pad - no go at this station. I then moved on to M105 on an Orange Light Cutting Pad on the PC. The swirl marks laughed at it. Tried upping the speed, varying arm speed and pressure... Not happenin'. Upgraded to the Yellow Cutting Pad. Still nothing. Fine. Busted out the Purple Foamed Wool Pads, and finally started making some progress - on speed 6. This clearcoat is something else. I have no idea how it got so many swirl marks in it to begin with. I'm thinking the previous owner had it "detailed". Or the dealership did it. Who knows. I had to stop every half hour or so to let the PC, pad, and paint cool down.

Before:

Halfway:

Unfortunately, I only have two of the Purple Foamed Wool Pads, and they're so gummed up they're currently soaking. Thinking only half the hood will be done today...

 

[CopperMtnGuy]

Looks good so far. Sure sounds like it's job though haha!

 

[allenk4]

From my brief experience with the Purple Foamed Wool Pads and my FLEX.

They have to be fully primed and then use only three small dots of M105 per 2'x2' section.

This seemed to help it cut better

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

So prime it like you would a foam pad?

 

[allenk4]

So prime it like you would a foam pad?

No, prime it more like a Microfiber pad.

Not quite as heavy as you would with a Meguiar's Cutting MF, but I found that they do benefit from a thorough priming. By that I mean make sure that every little bit of the face of the pad has compound on it.

I also found that these pads can benefit from a moderate amount of downward pressure. Since you are likely planning on following with a polish, the light marring that will result is not an issue, just a trade-off for faster cut.

Watch the heat level in the paint as you go, as they do tend to generate a fair amount while compounding.

 

[Bill1234]

No, prime it more like a Microfiber pad.

Not quite as heavy as you would with a Meguiar's Cutting MF, but I found that they do benefit from a thorough priming. By that I mean make sure that every little bit of the face of the pad has compound on it.

I also found that these pads can benefit from a moderate amount of downward pressure. Since you are likely planning on following with a polish, the light marring that will result is not an issue, just a trade-off for faster cut.

Watch the heat level in the paint as you go, as they do tend to generate a fair amount while compounding.

larry kosilla at ammo nyc tends to use a bit of spray wax, then some correction compound

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Hm. That would probably help keep the center of the pad from getting matted down.

I'm having to use a pretty significant amount of pressure to get the correction I need, so that's what's happening with the pad (matting down in the center).

 

[allenk4]

larry kosilla at ammo nyc tends to use a bit of spray wax, then some correction compound

Larry has recently done some re-thinking on his foam pad and MF priming techniques.

He is now using a technique advocated by Kevin Brown aka "Buff Daddy".

He covers it in one of his videos on wet sanding.

 

[allenk4]

Hm. That would probably help keep the center of the pad from getting matted down.

I'm having to use a pretty significant amount of pressure to get the correction I need, so that's what's happening with the pad (matting down in the center).[/QUOTE]

May need to increase the time spent removing excess compound from the pad with a pad brush or compressed air if you have it.

 

[jamesboyy]

That's one big beast your results are looking great so far...good luck

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Alright, so before I pull the trigger on a few more foamed wool pads, would I be better off going with the Meguiar's Microfiber Xtra Cutting Pads or regular Cutting Pads? How do they compare in cutting ability to the foamed wool?

 

[allenk4]

Alright, so before I pull the trigger on a few more foamed wool pads, would I be better off going with the Meguiar's Microfiber Xtra Cutting Pads or regular Cutting Pads? How do they compare in cutting ability to the foamed wool?

PFW and M105 is an aggressive combo for a DA.

You can do that vehicle with two pads as long as you a re not using too much product...cleaning on the fly and washing out pad #1 and letting it dry in the sun while you use pad #2


I have not used the Meguiar's Xtra Cut MF pads, but I have had great experiences using the regular MF Cutting pads at the Meguiar's HQ under the watchful eye of their Corporate Trainer- Mike Stoops. Using the Meguiar's G110v2 DA.

We used them with the D300 MF Compound followed with D302 MF Polish on the MF Polishing Pad.

Mike suggests speed 4 for compounding and speed 5 for polishing with these combos.

Cut fast and finished out really nice.

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Ok. I'm pretty sure I must have been using too much compound, because I wasn't able to brush out the center of the pad until I washed it - it was too matted down. Think I might give those new Xtra Cutting Pads a shot, the linting on these wool pads is driving me crazy. That plus the M105 makes for a ton of stuff floating around the garage...

 

[allenk4]

Ok. I'm pretty sure I must have been using too much compound, because I wasn't able to brush out the center of the pad until I washed it - it was too matted down. Think I might give those new Xtra Cutting Pads a shot, the linting on these wool pads is driving me crazy. That plus the M105 makes for a ton of stuff floating around the garage...

The linting tapers off

The Meguiar's MF pads are pretty good. Might be worth buying a 2-Pack to try them out.

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Sounds good. How well do the wool pads hold up long-term?

 

[allenk4]

Sounds good. How well do the wool pads hold up long-term?

I have only used mine on two vehicles, so not sure?

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Some new toys came today - going to see how well the Xtra Cutting Discs work out on the hood.

 

[allenk4]

Looking forward to hearing how it turns out.

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Victory is mine!

The Meguiar's MF Xtra Cutting Discs are indeed effective. Together with the D300 they cut about the same as the Purple Foamed Wool, but are easier to maintain (much quicker to brush out).

I seemed to get the same amount of cut using either D300 by itself, M105, or M105 and D300 mixed.

Now on to D301 with either the Cutting or Buffing Discs, not sure yet. Might do cutting, then finish off with Menzerna 4500 on black pads.

 

[RevitalizeAutoSpa]

Polishing complete. I ended up switching to M205 with LC White discs - did a better job, and the M205 is MUCH easier to remove. Going to do a cleanse wash with Chemical Guys Citrus tonight, than CG EZ Creme Glaze, Blackfire Wet Diamond, and Menzerna Color Lock tomorrow.