prepping the surface...

[thanh523]

i've tried searching, but nobody really had a definitive answer on what to do about this. i was wondering if anybody could give me some advice.

a couple of months ago, i had detailed my roommates car by hand. i washed, clayed, AIO, KSG, then topped with S100. there is still beading, so i know some form of protection is still there because it didn't bead at all before i had detailed. and from reading, i know that KSG is pretty durable. but there are still swirls in the paint and it annoys the hell out of me to see that.

well, fast forward to today, i have OC, OP and Edge pads and other stuff on the way. what i need to do is strip everything off and prep the surface so that i can machine polish the surface.

can anyone tell me what i can do to strip everything off so that i can correct the paint? would claying be more beneficial? if it helps, for clay, i have the blue Clay Magic. also it's going to be done on a black Mercedes C430.

i tried to bold the important parts so that you don't have to read all everything. just the relevant stuff.

 

[supercharged]

i've tried searching, but nobody really had a definitive answer on what to do about this. i was wondering if anybody could give me some advice.

a couple of months ago, i had detailed my roommates car by hand. i washed, clayed, AIO, KSG, then topped with S100. there is still beading, so i know some form of protection is still there because it didn't bead at all before i had detailed. and from reading, i know that KSG is pretty durable. but there are still swirls in the paint and it annoys the hell out of me to see that.

well, fast forward to today, i have OC, OP and Edge pads and other stuff on the way. what i need to do is strip everything off and prep the surface so that i can machine polish the surface.

can anyone tell me what i can do to strip everything off so that i can correct the paint? would claying be more beneficial? if it helps, for clay, i have the blue Clay Magic. also it's going to be done on a black Mercedes C430.

i tried to bold the important parts so that you don't have to read all everything. just the relevant stuff.

Just go ahead and start polishing the paint. Polishing will strip off your previous coats of wax/sealant. Very simple and easy.

 

[TOGWT]

Car wash concentrate-
Detailer’s clay-
Machine polish abrasion choice is dependant upon condition of paint surface
Machine polish 1-
Machine polish 2-
Machine polish 3-
Chemical cleaner-
Polymer sealant
Last step product (LSP)

 

[thanh523]

i wouldn't have a problem with the KSG gumming up the pads, would i?

also, would i just be able to do a dawn wash? i plan on dressing all of the trim and everything, so i don't think i'd do too much harm. would this be easier?

thanks in advance

 

[Al-53]

Dawn will not touch KSG..as said...just polish away..it will not clog the pad,,it is not like the coating is a 1.2 thick..it is microns thin....the chemical cleaner in polishes will cut it right down..abrasives will remove it in short time....

Just do as TOGWT said...wash ..clay and polish....

AL

 

[ScottB]

I would wash the car then consider if you are going to polish. (and yes you will, to remove swirls). So no need to strip, as the polish will abrade the surface. Start with a medium grade polish and pad ... work it, and see if it removes the swirls. Move more abrasive only as needed.

When all looks good, you might wanna final polish with a super light pad and polish. Remember that you can now skip AIO but if using FSG you want to wipe the car down with alcohol/water to make sure no fillers are present from polish that might not allow KSG to adhere properly and offer that long term protection.

 

[Kimchi311]

It seems like the more I wash/detail, the more the swirls appear. I am using Poorboy's EX-P and Natty's Paste Wax on my car and my friend's car. I wash using a deep pile chenille mit and dry with a WW guzzler. I use microfiber pads to apply the PB and sealant. I don't make circles when I wash and I rinse often.

I don't have a PC so everything is done by hand. Is it not possible to hide the swirl marks by hand? Both of our cars look great after a day of working on them but under certain lighting at certain angles, it almost looks like a big cob web on the cars. My buddy's car is blue, almost black, so its a little more noticeable on his car. So my question is am I doing something wrong? Or do I need to get a PC? If only the wife would get me one for christmas...

 

[thanh523]

thanks killrwheels for the input. but i do have a question. what's FSG? is it some kind of glaze?

 

[YankeeFan]

Like to hear the responses.....

It seems like the more I wash/detail, the more the swirls appear. I am using Poorboy's EX-P and Natty's Paste Wax on my car and my friend's car. I wash using a deep pile chenille mit and dry with a WW guzzler. I use microfiber pads to apply the PB and sealant. I don't make circles when I wash and I rinse often.

I don't have a PC so everything is done by hand. Is it not possible to hide the swirl marks by hand? Both of our cars look great after a day of working on them but under certain lighting at certain angles, it almost looks like a big cob web on the cars. My buddy's car is blue, almost black, so its a little more noticeable on his car. So my question is am I doing something wrong? Or do I need to get a PC? If only the wife would get me one for christmas...

to your question as I have the same problem. I had a problem with marks from claying my front bumper and everyone told me I need to use a PC. Still deciding what to do as I'm not sure how much use I would get out of a machine that costs $119 + accessories. I can't see myself using it 5-6 times a year, but that is why I'm looking into it. Good Luck!!

Howard

 

[ScottB]

thanks killrwheels for the input. but i do have a question. what's FSG? is it some kind of glaze?

mistyping ... should be KSG --- Klasse Sealant (silver bottle)

 

[abrcrombe]

It seems like the more I wash/detail, the more the swirls appear. I am using Poorboy's EX-P and Natty's Paste Wax on my car and my friend's car. I wash using a deep pile chenille mit and dry with a WW guzzler. I use microfiber pads to apply the PB and sealant. I don't make circles when I wash and I rinse often.

I don't have a PC so everything is done by hand. Is it not possible to hide the swirl marks by hand? Both of our cars look great after a day of working on them but under certain lighting at certain angles, it almost looks like a big cob web on the cars. My buddy's car is blue, almost black, so its a little more noticeable on his car. So my question is am I doing something wrong? Or do I need to get a PC? If only the wife would get me one for christmas...

In all honesty, it is VERY difficult to prevent swirls from occuring. It is inevitable that swirls will occur with weekly washing. The trick is to know how to wash properly to minimize swirls. This is why we have to polish, and your best bet to remove swirls is to get a PC. Definitely a worthy investment. If you don't want to spend the money right now, a heavy glaze may fill up the swirls a little, but not a lot. Glazes that hide well are RMG, Meg's #7, and I think XMT glaze hides well too.

 

[thanh523]

mistyping ... should be KSG --- Klasse Sealant (silver bottle)

ok, for a second, i thought that there was another kind of sealant that i had to go buy to add to my collection. hahaha

 

[ScottB]

ok, for a second, i thought that there was another kind of sealant that i had to go buy to add to my collection. hahaha

Actually there is, I could name a dozen that works well in tandem with AIO and others, but this could get quite expensive.

 

[thanh523]

Actually there is, I could name a dozen that works well in tandem with AIO and others, but this could get quite expensive.

let's just keep it to what i have for now. once i start learning the in's and out's then we'll start talking about others.:cheers: hahaha

 

[ltoman]

i wouldn't have a problem with the KSG gumming up the pads, would i?

also, would i just be able to do a dawn wash? i plan on dressing all of the trim and everything, so i don't think i'd do too much harm. would this be easier?

thanks in advance

What is this thing you guys have with Dawn? That is what my mom used to think cars were washed with to take care of them prior to waxing in the 80's; this isn't the 80's. Why cheap out one step on such a fancy car? I hear Dawn talk all over this forum.
Well, whatever works for you guys -to each his own.:grouphug:
NO DAWN ever, for my vette or other cars - older or not!

 

[thanh523]

What is this thing you guys have with Dawn? That is what my mom used to think cars were washed with to take care of them prior to waxing in the 80's; this isn't the 80's. Why cheap out one step on such a fancy car? I hear Dawn talk all over this forum.
Well, whatever works for you guys -to each his own.:grouphug:
NO DAWN ever, for my vette or other cars - older or not!

i'm not cheaping out. i was just wondering if there was a way for me to strip off the KSG before i started polishing of it was even necessary to strip it off.

 

[ScottB]

Dawn is a highly alkaline dishwashing liquid, designed to remove oil from dishes rather easily. That said, its highly alkaline design does not lend well to rubber surrounds and natural materials, it can dry them out.

One vendor use to offer a Dawn wash prior to using his sealant, why ?? Because 1 wash will likely not hurt, and second it would remove most/all of the previous carnauabas that all were using. Dawn does not remove synthetic sealants. It is something most of us have now shyed away from, and use alcohol/water as a stripper if needed. Remember if you are going to paint clean or polish, then you are going to remove all old product anyways.

Keep Dawn in the kitchen !!!

 

[tonyspop]

Dawn is a highly alkaline dishwashing liquid, designed to remove oil from dishes rather easily. That said, its highly alkaline design does not lend well to rubber surrounds and natural materials, it can dry them out.

One vendor use to offer a Dawn wash prior to using his sealant, why ?? Because 1 wash will likely not hurt, and second it would remove most/all of the previous carnauabas that all were using. Dawn does not remove synthetic sealants. It is something most of us have now shyed away from, and use alcohol/water as a stripper if needed. Remember if you are going to paint clean or polish, then you are going to remove all old product anyways.

Keep Dawn in the kitchen !!!

Speaking of kitchen products has anyone ever used bon-ami cleanser on their windows?I wonder if claying your windows has the same effect??