need help/recommendations on acid rain etchings

[antennahead]

Detailed today with the PC. I have been doing a lot of reading and study prior to this. I followed standard recommendations from this and other sites concerning, speeds, times, etc.. Polish on the pad, then spread on auto prior to turn on. Good pressure at 3 to 4 speed, then 5 to 6 to finish. Worked it long and hard until breakdown, let the PC do it's thing. End result; no swirls or scratches, high gloss, and a deep finish with Meguires liquid tech wax sealer after the second step with XMT #1. ONLY ONE PROBLEM the acid rain etchings in the roof and hood were barely effected. I am sure I did everything properly. I even repeated a two foot section 4 times nice and slow thinking it would eventually polish out. I used an orange light cut pad with Pinnacle XMT # 3 prior to XMT #1/white pad.

I need suggestions please! Help! These etchings are driving me nuts LOL Should I go to a yellow cut pad and something stronger than the XMT 3? I am not ready to declare defeat and a rotary polisher just yet. These buggers are obviously fairly deep, but I don't think they are below the clearcoat. The clearcoat must be harder than I thought also. Any other cleaner recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[ltoman]

Detailed today with the PC. I have been doing a lot of reading and study prior to this. I followed standard recommendations from this and other sites concerning, speeds, times, etc.. Polish on the pad, then spread on auto prior to turn on. Good pressure at 3 to 4 speed, then 5 to 6 to finish. Worked it long and hard until breakdown, let the PC do it's thing. End result; no swirls or scratches, high gloss, and a deep finish with Meguires liquid tech wax sealer after the second step with XMT #1. ONLY ONE PROBLEM the acid rain etchings in the roof and hood were barely effected. I am sure I did everything properly. I even repeated a two foot section 4 times nice and slow thinking it would eventually polish out. I used an orange light cut pad with Pinnacle XMT # 3 prior to XMT #1/white pad.

I need suggestions please! Help! These etchings are driving me nuts LOL Should I go to a yellow cut pad and something stronger than the XMT 3? I am not ready to declare defeat and a rotary polisher just yet. These buggers are obviously fairly deep, but I don't think they are below the clearcoat. The clearcoat must be harder than I thought also. Any other cleaner recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!

Did you try vinegar and water? See my reply under your other post, John!

 

[wytstang]

Detailed today with the PC. I have been doing a lot of reading and study prior to this. I followed standard recommendations from this and other sites concerning, speeds, times, etc.. Polish on the pad, then spread on auto prior to turn on. Good pressure at 3 to 4 speed, then 5 to 6 to finish. Worked it long and hard until breakdown, let the PC do it's thing. End result; no swirls or scratches, high gloss, and a deep finish with Meguires liquid tech wax sealer after the second step with XMT #1. ONLY ONE PROBLEM the acid rain etchings in the roof and hood were barely effected. I am sure I did everything properly. I even repeated a two foot section 4 times nice and slow thinking it would eventually polish out. I used an orange light cut pad with Pinnacle XMT # 3 prior to XMT #1/white pad.

I need suggestions please! Help! These etchings are driving me nuts LOL Should I go to a yellow cut pad and something stronger than the XMT 3? I am not ready to declare defeat and a rotary polisher just yet. These buggers are obviously fairly deep, but I don't think they are below the clearcoat. The clearcoat must be harder than I thought also. Any other cleaner recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!

You did good starting with the lightest cut pad, now that you know that wasn't enough it's time to step up to a pad with more cut. Stay with the XMT 3 before trying more aggressive products, remember some products need more heat then a pc can provide which can just add more swirls cause it can't break them down. Recap: more pad same product.....

 

[antennahead]

You did good starting with the lightest cut pad, now that you know that wasn't enough it's time to step up to a pad with more cut. Stay with the XMT 3 before trying more aggressive products, remember some products need more heat then a pc can provide which can just add more swirls cause it can't break them down. Recap: more pad same product.....

Thanks, yellow cut pad, or possibly a Lake Country foamed wool pad with XMT 3?

 

[Surfer]

Acird rain is bad, some acid rain etching can eat/etch through the clearcoat. Hope yours is removable, I don't have any waterspots on my truck except for like 1 or 2 waterspots that are etched, nothing will budge them. Oh well, can't see mine unless I look at a certain angle.

 

[ScottB]

vinegar only works on very recent spots ... once the clearcoat is etched you will be lucky to remove with a heavy paint polish and more than likely some wetsanding will be needed.

 

[TonyC6]

vinegar only works on very recent spots ... once the clearcoat is etched you will be lucky to remove with a heavy paint polish and more than likely some wetsanding will be needed.

:iagree: I had some really nasty ones on my black C5 and after lots of hours with PC and even the rotary, I finally did the wet sanding, first with 2500 and then the 3000 grit on the 3M pad system on a hi-speed DA. Then back to the yellow pad, hi-cut,,,,,then orange pad with Menzerna Power Gloss, and on up through the white pad with IP and FPII. It was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.

Shine on!

 

[ScottB]

This is why it is so important to properly protect a car, and get away from manufacturers durability claims. Its nice if it protects for 4-6 months, but just what protection is offered. Acid rain, and bird doo-doo, as well as egg can scar almost immediately.

 

[Strokin04]

When I was stationed in Biloxi, MS I was real busy and not able to keep up on my old truck like I should of and end result was the worst acid rain etching I have ever seen. I was only able to correct problem after I wet sanded and was never able to remove all water spots from my windows. Mike...

 

[antennahead]

OK, since the orange pad and xmt 3 didn't work, gonna order a yellow cut pad, a wool foam pad, and Meguires #4 heavy cut cleaner. Question is, what is the proper order of more abrasive.
1. orange pad and the #4?
2. yellow pad and the xmt 3?

I know yellow pad and # 4, then wool foam pad and #4 will be the most agressive. What would you do next?

John