8 hours of polishing and...

[5.4 Shelby]

Dang, that paint looks whipped. No wonder you are not getting all of it out.

You will get more efficient and shorten that time. You also won't likely be working on such severe paint damage. Add in more aggressive products and next thing you know your time will be cut in half.

Look up Mike Phillips article on posting pics. It is much easier than clicking links.

 

[5.4 Shelby]

The upper right corner looks like it is too deep to take out.

Looks like several deep RIDS here.

If you can feel them, prob not worth trying to remove.

 

[jernal024]

The upper right corner looks like it is too deep to take out.

Looks like several deep RIDS here.

If you can feel them, prob not worth trying to remove.

Can you see all my photos? I tried to upload them via photobucket and I can't see them. DO you have to clikc each link?

 

[5.4 Shelby]

I just spent a few minutes skimming through your photo album. It looks to me like you made significant improvements in your finish. I realize it is not perfect. It never will be. Some scratches are just too deep to take out safely.

But, it looks to me like you are doing just fine with what you have to work with. Just make sure your future cars dont get that bad to begin with.

 

[5.4 Shelby]

Can you see all my photos? I tried to upload them via photobucket and I can't see them. DO you have to clikc each link?

Yes I had to click the links. Ended up just going through your albums.

Use the image code link on the left side and directly insert it into the post. It should look like:

"IMG]http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r256/jernal024/DSC03751.jpg[/IMG"

Except it will start with a left bracket and end with a right bracket. I took them out so they would not put your image in my reply.

Also, you can upload to autogeek.net. Again, look for Mikes article.

 

[jernal024]

I just spent a few minutes skimming through your photo album. It looks to me like you made significant improvements in your finish. I realize it is not perfect. It never will be. Some scratches are just too deep to take out safely.

But, it looks to me like you are doing just fine with what you have to work with. Just make sure your future cars dont get that bad to begin with.

I will try to upload again via the AG Gallery. Sorry all

 

[jernal024]

K, Here we go again.

Re: 8 hours of polishing and...
So, I am finally getting around to putting some pics up (don't tell my boss).

I finished polishing last night around 2am which is another 7 hours added to the job. Bringing me to an overall total of 27 hours of paint correction. YIKES

Before the pics a few realizations:
1. My Black 2006 Jetta TDI has hard clear coat!
2. TSR is not aggresive enough for a first time correction on my vehicle.
3. I will NEVER get all of the scratches out of my vehicle.
4. I am glad I spent the extra time on the TSR step because FG has no cutting power (very little).
5. The next time I do paint correction on a vehicle, my test spot will be a "problem" area instead. The reason being, my test area had very little scratching, so the technique that worked there was not applicable to 80% of the rest of the car.
6. If I ever want to do paint correction in an 8 to 12 hour period (instead of a 27 hour period), I need to find a new process.


Alright, enough lessons learned.

Wash:
Jorgen's Hyper Gloss Car Wash (I really like this wash, super slick)
Jorgen's Fatty 3" Wash Mit (synthetic, falls apart kinda quickly)
Jorgen's Waffle Weave
Jorgen's Grit Gaurd Bucket

Wheels, Wells, Tires
Eimann Fabrik Hi-Intensity Cleaner (Did a good job, but not a good value. I will def buy APC+)
Carrand Wheel and tire brushes
EZ Detail Brush

Clay
DP Universal Clay (Great stuff)
ONR as clay lube

Correction
GG Random Orbital
LC CCS pads (6.5 inch yellow, orange, white, grey , and blue) (4 inch orange, white, blue)
Wolfgang TSR, FG, and DGPS

Windows
Diamondite Perfect Vision (It's okay, but I have nothing to compare it to)

MF
Cobra Shamrock (ABSOLUTE CRAP) Can't believe I wasted $20 on these

My materials:

Here's The Black Beauty:

NASTY NASTY Wheel Well:

Same Wheel after 30 minutes of cleaning (per wheel)

Wheel Water

Pre Wash

Post Wash, Pre- Clay (Cloudy Cloudy)

Clay Time (I had clayed a few months before with Jorgen;s Cay Brick. It is a weird concept, it seemed to do an okay job, because there wans't much left for DP. Somebody who is experieced with clay should check it out)

If anyone wanted to know what Shamrock linting looks like. Horrible.

Swirls and Scratches

 

[jernal024]

On to the Correction!

Test Section (TSR Only)

Test Section(TSR, FG & DGPS)

Test Section (Left Over Scratches)

Weird spotting around the fenders

Really BAD scratches on the hood (before)

After CCS orange pad

After CCS Yellow pad

Money Shots

THANK YOU to all that helped answer my questions over the last 4 days. I really appreciate.

Now I can give my forearms, peck, back, and legs a rest.

Any questions and comments are appreciated

 

[snowking724]

great job, some of those def look a little too deep to remove

 

[A4 1.8tqm]

Great job! Now you will find yourself walking backwards through parking lots because you can't take your eye's off your car. And when your car is out of sight you'll probably inspect other cars for swirls. At least that's what happened to me after a similar, looong, first time polishing experience.

Before the pics a few realizations:
1. My Black 2006 Jetta TDI has hard clear coat!
2. TSR is not aggressive enough for a first time correction on my vehicle.
3. I will NEVER get all of the scratches out of my vehicle.
4. I am glad I spent the extra time on the TSR step because FG has no cutting power (very little).
5. The next time I do paint correction on a vehicle, my test spot will be a "problem" area instead. The reason being, my test area had very little scratching, so the technique that worked there was not applicable to 80% of the rest of the car.
6. If I ever want to do paint correction in an 8 to 12 hour period (instead of a 27 hour period), I need to find a new process.

Just remember that all the things you learned during this process may not apply when you polish a different car. TSR may easily cut through every defect on softer paint, maybe not. Learn and apply your knowledge, but don't just do what ended up working on one car, to another car.

Now if an old man comes to you in a parking lot and says "you car sure looks nice, what are you, one of those buffer guy's?" You can proudly say YES! :buffing: