Polishing Fail, I feel like giving up before it even started.

I

itzJoker

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Well it's my first time polishing with a buffer and I've been so excited to try it for months on end now and now that I have the perfect time to do it, it's not turning out the way I imagined....

Well first off I have a 1996 Nissan 300zx -black. I heard Nissans have very soft clearcoat and can scratch easily.

I've washed/clayed and washed the car so everything is clean.
(pads are clean too and pretty much everything is new)

First off- new vers GG ROP w/ orange LC flat pad & PB SSR 2.5

Worked it in and did about 6 section passes at a slow pace using light pressure.
I felt like it was dry buffing since there was barely anything behind the buffer as I passed.
So I turned it off, cleaned the pad with terry cloth method and wiped off the section.

Added more product and did a couple more passes, wipe clean and all the swirls and scratches were gone, pulled out of garage and holy crap it was all hazy and bunches of micro-marring.

I figured this was normal-

Next- white LC pad & PB SSR 1.0

When I was done, did absolutely nothing, all the haziness and micro-marring is still there.

I did a couple more section passes trying different methods like using more pressure, lighter pressure, slower speed. Same results.

Frustrated, I try Meguiar's Ultimate Compound on new LC orange pad, same results.
Follow up with SwirlX on new white LC pad, same results.

I dont know what to do, I've repeated the steps and tried different methods and I've wasted over 4 hours on different sections of my hood to see if anything would work. I don't even want to drive anywhere with such a hazy hood now.

I've even tried PB SSR 1.0 on a new blue LC flat pad with fast and slow speed settings (6 & 4) with heavier/lighter pressure, nothing.

I'm out of ideas.

I don't know if I used enough or too much.

Before using each new pad I put an X or O pattern on the pad and spreaded the product on the surface. Then I added 4 small dots on the pad and then get to work. And each time I try to redo the section I add about 4 small dots again.

I'm working on about 15x15 square.

Sometimes I feel like I'm dry buffing but as soon as I let go off all pressure and just hold on the "ring" films come back but then I put little to no pressure on the head of the polisher it looks like it's dry buffing.

Someone please help me.
I've searched and read this topic
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/1702-help-1st-polish-pc.html

No help. I've watched all the videos, read tutorials and following everything. I don't know what I'm doing wrong or not doing..

btw I thought I burned through my paint or something at first I almost had a heart attack

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I had a similar instance the first time i used HD Uno. I followed up with Menz 203 on a white pad and it took everything off.

Just something to try...
 


itzJoker said:
I've wasted over 4 hours
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I disagree.

There are guys on here, and other detailing forums who have vested thousands of hours perfecting their craft. I'm sure you're a little disappointed, but you'll soon get over it.

Without being there to watch you work, I cannot advise at this time, as it seems you explored a lot of avenues. There are a very large amount of variables when it comes to polishing paint, so I'm sure you will eventually figure out a way to tweek your technique to achieve showcar results.





 
I don't know what combination or least aggressive combination to try.

All I have is PB SSR 2.5, 1.0, Meg UC, Meg SwirlX.

I believe I got rid of most of the deeper scratches when I was using SSR 2.5 w/ orange or Meg UC w/ orange. Looks like it from the pictures.

Now it's just the micro-marring correct?

For my paint to mar like that when using PB SSR 1.0 w/ blue pad, I'm assuming it's very unsually soft.

Hopefully IF I do another family member's car, it won't be like this. We all have black cars...lol. But mine's is the only Nissan.


07 z-oh-6 said:
Wipe that frown off your face.
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hahah that made me laugh, I didn't even notice that!
 
itzJoker said:
I don't know what combination or least aggressive combination to try.

All I have is PB SSR 2.5, 1.0, Meg UC, Meg SwirlX.

I believe I got rid of most of the deeper scratches when I was using SSR 2.5 w/ orange or Meg UC w/ orange. Looks like it from the pictures.

Now it's just the micro-marring correct?

For my paint to mar like that when using PB SSR 1.0 w/ blue pad, I'm assuming it's very unsually soft.

Hopefully IF I do another family member's car, it won't be like this. We all have black cars...lol. But mine's is the only Nissan.
Click to expand...
That's what it looks like to me. In my experience, micro-marring on soft paint is very hard to get rid off.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
That's what it looks like to me. In my experience, micro-marring on soft paint is very hard to get rid off.
Click to expand...

Ugh, I think I'm better off doing it by hand like I did last year lol.
 

I've never tried the PB SSR line, so I can't say for sure. I'm guessing that the PB SSR 1.0 may be a little to abrassive on your paint, that is you have very soft paint.

Try Menzerna PO 85 Rd. The 85 RD will polish micro marring to a very smooth finish.





 
itzJoker said:
Ugh, I think I'm better off doing it by hand like I did last year lol.
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In the grand scheme of things, there's no way you would be better off doing it by hand. Look at the positive side, you were able to remove the swirls and scratches, now all you have to do is figure out how to get rid of the marring, or at least minimize it. You'll figure it out, just like I have faith I will too. :dblthumb2:
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
In the grand scheme of things, there's no way you would be better off doing it by hand. Look at the positive side, you were able to remove the swirls and scratches, now all you have to do is figure out how to get rid of the marring, or at least minimize it. You'll figure it out, just like I have faith I will too. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I just got some encouragement from that.

Fly bye said:
I've never tried the PB SSR line, so I can't say for sure. I'm guessing that the PB SSR 1.0 may be a little to abrassive on your paint, that is you have very soft paint.

Try Menzerna PO 85 Rd. The 85 RD will polish micro marring to a very smooth finish.
Click to expand...
I'll give that a try, but I don't have time to order anything now because there's a Nissan show going this coming Friday and Saturday and products probably won't get here in time.

Plus, I tried SwirlX too and I guess that was too abrasive lol.

Though, PB SSR are diminishing abrasives, shouldn't that get rid of the micro-marring as they diminish?
 
itzJoker said:
Thanks man, I just got some encouragement from that.


I'll give that a try, but I don't have time to order anything now because there's a Nissan show going this coming Friday and Saturday and products probably won't get here in time.

Plus, I tried SwirlX too and I guess that was too abrasive lol.

Though, PB SSR are diminishing abrasives, shouldn't that get rid of the micro-marring as they diminish?
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According to the polish range chart on AGO, SSR 1.0 is along the same lines as 85rd.

Autogeek Swirl Removers & Compounds Comparison Chart
 
Fly bye said:
Good point.


Yes. Try working the SSR 1.0 longer with a polishing pad, and then with a finishing pad. I would suspect that you are not working the product long enough.
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I need color terminology lol. I did work it long, did about 6 section passes each time to the same results. SSR 1.0 w/ white, SSR 1.0 w/ blue

I'll try to work it longer, but I don't want to overwork it. But I've worked it until it was pretty clear.

Would it start dry buffing if I work it too long?
 
itzJoker said:
I need color terminology lol. I did work it long, did about 6 section passes each time to the same results. SSR 1.0 w/ white, SSR 1.0 w/ blue

I'll try to work it longer, but I don't want to overwork it. But I've worked it until it was pretty clear.

Would it start dry buffing if I work it too long?
Click to expand...
Do the finger swipe test. In order not to dry buff, swipe your finger across the polish, it shouldn't be completely dry when you do this.
 
Anyone have any other suggestions I should try with currently what I have?
 
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