Compound and Polish recommendations

K

kenshotx

New member
Joined
Nov 16, 2019
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
Looking for advice on a compound and polish to prep a 5 y/o Accord in
good shape paint wise, prior to a coating. I’ve used search and read a ton or articles, but could use some advice.
I haven’t compounded before, only polish and sealed.

Thinking I should stay in with same manufacturer if I plan on doing both. Same with the pads. Or I could be wrong.......
 
kenshotx said:
Looking for advice on a compound and polish to prep a 5 y/o Accord in
good shape paint wise, prior to a coating. I’ve used search and read a ton or articles, but could use some advice.
I haven’t compounded before, only polish and sealed.

Thinking I should stay in with same manufacturer if I plan on doing both. Same with the pads. Or I could be wrong.......
Click to expand...

Hi , being that you haven’t compounded before I would recommend the Griots Boss system, I just used it yesterday in Mike’s class and liked how easy it was to use. It’s a system so there is not much guesswork, the polishes,compounds are very user friendly and have great work time. We used the orange correcting cream with orange correcting pad on this vehicle, I’ve also heard great things of the fast correcting cream. The Rupes system is good too though. Go with the least aggressive approach, and do a test spot with it ,especially if your saying it’s in good shape and remember to do a prep wipe prior to coating
eb7e3ea0fbd8a770c8f7653d64df4f70.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
Given that most Honda’s have soft paint, I would seriously consider not using a compound/polish but instead using a good all in one such as Blackfires One Step with either a orange or white pad.

I have a Black Acura TLX and that combo has worked amazingly for me, it knocked out the marring I did last year and nailed the other imperfections!

Jay


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
@Jayfro How do you like your TLX ? I had a TL for 15 years and loved it. Just gave my 4 Runner to my daughter and am seriously looking at the TLX instead of the overly
popular ES350 here in Dallas.
 
Since Honda paints usually is on the softer side you often don't need to be useing a heavy cut compound and heavy cut pad. Then it's also much about the results you tries to achieve. Carpro Reflect or Carpro Essence is 2 great choices for the finishing polish step and you can combo it with their Gloss Pad. You may get away with the cutting step to use Reflect and a compounding pad. Or something like the Carpro ClearCut on a polishing pad. And then finishing polish it. Sonax Cut and Finish with Sonax Perfect Finish is a medium cut polish and finishing polish that you have a great cut from a with a heavier cutting pad too like Reflect. Rupes Yellow Foam Pad is awesome to use on softer paints and if you have a 8mm free spinning DA polisher you may want to get the Rupes Yellow Foam Pad for the Mille that's thinner than the original one. Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Foam Pads are pretty good too. Also Buff and Shine Uro-Fiber 50/50 pads for cutting step with a medium cut polish or polish is also an option to go with on compounding step a softer paint.
Meguiars M110/M210 is designed to be used on the softer paints as well if you like the non-diminishing abrasive technology. The Maroon Light cutting pad is a little hidden gem that many skip and goes with the mf cutting pads instead. But for cutting on softer paints do the test spots thoroughly and inspect them closely with great lights. And see where your least aggressive combo gets. It's in the finishing polish step you get the extra gloss from. So don't chase a lot of the deeper defects on the paint and just improve them to be less noticeble.

Which polisher do you have?
And what coating are you going to be useing? Carpro Essence is a finishing and primer polish for the Carpro coatings that you get an awesome finish from it. Most coatings has their own primer polish and can be a good step as they usually has very fine abrasives in them and gets the prep work for the coating a little easier to do.

/ Tony
 
kenshotx said:
Looking for advice on a compound and polish to prep a 5 y/o Accord in
good shape paint wise, prior to a coating. I’ve used search and read a ton or articles, but could use some advice.
I haven’t compounded before, only polish and sealed.

Thinking I should stay in with same manufacturer if I plan on doing both. Same with the pads. Or I could be wrong.......
Click to expand...

A couple questions come to mind.

Are you working by hand or machine? If by machine then which one?

How familiar are you with the the prep and application of a coating?

What products do you have on hand?

Jayfro said:
Given that most Honda’s have soft paint, I would seriously consider not using a compound/polish but instead using a good all in one such as Blackfires One Step with either a orange or white pad.

I have a Black Acura TLX and that combo has worked amazingly for me, it knocked out the marring I did last year and nailed the other imperfections!

Jay


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
Click to expand...

He wants to use a coating so Blackfire One Step would not be an option.
 
Detailchick said:
eb7e3ea0fbd8a770c8f7653d64df4f70.jpg
Click to expand...

Who painted the stripes on that Camaro? And better yet, who is the customer that accepted such a mismatch?

"Attention to Detail" folks. Is it such a lost concept?

For the compound/polish recommendation... I'm a Meguiar's 105/205 guy.
 
kenshotx said:
@Jayfro How do you like your TLX ? I had a TL for 15 years and loved it. Just gave my 4 Runner to my daughter and am seriously looking at the TLX instead of the overly
popular ES350 here in Dallas.
Click to expand...

I love my TLX, it’s a 2015, V6 with the Tech Package. I picked it up about year ago. The only down side is that it’s black...beautiful when clean but when it’s not, well it doesn’t stay dirty for very long!

Jay


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
Second on the griots. Used Correcting cream on a Boss orange pad and Car Pros essence to polish for coating. Cam out great.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
kenshotx said:
@Jayfro How do you like your TLX ? I had a TL for 15 years and loved it. Just gave my 4 Runner to my daughter and am seriously looking at the TLX instead of the overly
popular ES350 here in Dallas.
Click to expand...

Wife has a 16 TLX SH-AWD with the tech package and it’s been an amazing car. I personally don’t love the push button gear selector but you get used to it.

My only complaint is the quality of the backup camera. Newer one may be better. Overall it’s been a fantastic car. We are fans of Honda’s though.
 
I have a Porter-Cable orbital. CQuartz seems DIY friendly. I'm open to suggestions hence this post....
 
@The Guz Portable Cable machine.
This will be my first prep for a coating.
I have no compound or polish on hand, only - Jescar Power Lock Plus & 845.
Will need to purchase everything for - Decon, Iron-x, Clay mitt (dropped too many bars to buy another) polish and coating.
 
kenshotx said:
@The Guz Portable Cable machine.
This will be my first prep for a coating.
I have no compound or polish on hand, only - Jescar Power Lock Plus & 845.
Will need to purchase everything for - Decon, Iron-x, Clay mitt (dropped too many bars to buy another) polish and coating.
Click to expand...

I’ll be interested to see how this goes.

I recently added:

Blackfire clay mitt
Mckees iron remover
Jescar
845
BOSS fast correcting cream
Meguires #2 fine cut polish


All of this for the boys accord that doesn’t seem to clean up like I had hoped with Blackfire one step.
 
kenshotx said:
@The Guz Portable Cable machine.
This will be my first prep for a coating.
I have no compound or polish on hand, only - Jescar Power Lock Plus & 845.
Will need to purchase everything for - Decon, Iron-x, Clay mitt (dropped too many bars to buy another) polish and coating.
Click to expand...

Which coating have you chosen or which are you considering?

I am going to recommend the following. Just be aware that you will receive many recommendations for products.

Both user friendly.

Compound: SONAX CutMax Cutting Compound 250 ml.

Polish: SONAX EX 04-06 250 ml.
 
The Guz said:
Which coating have you chosen or which are you considering?

I am going to recommend the following. Just be aware that you will receive many recommendations for products.

Both user friendly.

Compound: SONAX CutMax Cutting Compound 250 ml.

Polish: SONAX EX 04-06 250 ml.
Click to expand...

I will say this to the OP:

As Mike (The Guz) said, you will get a hundred opinions.

But if you want the best outcome, listen to Mike's advice.

He has hundreds of real-world posts about products, techniques, preps, and coatings. I read them all, and Mike knows as much as anyone on here about the processes.
 
@The Guz I am open to your suggestions for the coating that is weekend warrior friendly, associated pads, and anything other words of advice you'd like to share.

I am starting with my daily driver the Accord, with the ultimate goal of doing the same for my wife's BLACK '19 Outback in the next few months . Just looking at thing the wrong way leaves marring.

I appreciate everyone feedback...
 
These are some options for you to choose from

Prep spray: CarPro Eraser Intense Oil & Polish Cleanser 1 Liter Refill

Coating option::

Coating lite: You get the benefit of a coating without the long term protection.

CarPro CQuartz Lite - 150mL Kit

Review - CarPro Cquartz Lite

Full coating options:

Cquartz UK 3.0 - If you are looking for durability and ease of use this would be it. The 50 ml bottle should be good for both vehicles.

CarPro Cquartz UK Edition 50 ml. Reload Kit

The daily with CQUK 3.0 + Gliss V1

This is optional but you can top CQUK 3.0 with Gliss to add slickness among other qualities

https://www.autogeek.net/carpro-gliss-v3.html

Second option for a coating is Adams UV Ceramic Coating. I can not post a link to another manufacturer not sold by Autogeek. It is user friendly with the UV light aspect making it easy for a first timer. Available in 50ml's which should be good for both vehicles. It is slick on its own without the need for a topper.

https://www.autopia.org/forums/deta...iew-adams-uv-ceramic-paint-spray-coating.html

Third option would be Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light topped with Exo V4. Both user friendly. Exo does take a little more due diligence to wipe off than CSL.

https://www.autogeek.net/gtechniq-exo-csl-kit.html

Pads:

These are popular https://www.autogeek.net/lc-12-pack-flat-5.html

Meguiar's pads are also nice. The burgundy foam pad is one of the best foam cutting pads. https://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-da-foam-discs.html

The sonax yellow pad is a nice polishing pad https://www.autogeek.net/sonax-yellow-da-pad.html

Get yourself a 5 inch backing plate if you don't already have one.

How many pads do I need to buff out my car?

How to Monitor Pad Rotation? Mark Your Buffing Pads

Update to mention towels. The Rag Company Edgeless 300 work very well to remove coatings. IGL also has some nice towels for coating removal.

https://www.autogeek.net/igl-coating-removal-towels.html
 
If your paint is in pretty good shape, you might not need a compound... you could probably get away with a polish.

I have to throw Optimum Hyper Polish into the discussion. I used it yesterday to finally polish a door that had some body shop machine marks on it and the rear deck behind the trunk, and this stuff always amazes me. I used a semi aggressive MF pad, and it worked beautifully. The HP really plays to the pad... can be more or less aggressive. And literally zero dust. Given that Carpro is a coating friendly co, I assume it’s good before applying ceramic as well, but you would need a prep agent.

Anyway my .02.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
Alrighty here's how things turned out - pretty good.

Washed, Iron'x'd - surprised how little 'purple appeared on a 7-year-old car that spends 80% of its life on Texas highways, clayed, not issues.
I used a Lake Country Orange light cutting pads (4) with the Cut Max. I would say I got 75-80% of the swirls and etching out. I even went over some of the areas a number or times. The pad polish combo wasn't going to get the deeper scratches and clear coat damage. I think a pad with more cut would have brought the finish closer to what I was looking for. However, I also wanted to start with the least aggressive method and work up from there. Then used the EX 4-6 as the final polish with the LC White pads (2). Applied the first Memzerna sealant coat. I'll do the second tomorrow.
 
I did mine last week when we had a little sun,I used Menzerna 3n1 and think it looks pretty good,as soon as I get some time I will give a bath and put Powerlock plus on it.

The car is way less then perfect with 150 k+ on it and the fact I live on a dirt rd.

I don't think you can use 3n1 before a coating though because it has fillers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top