Rookie's first take at polishing G35

[fishnugget]

Well its glad to hear I wasn't the only one using more m105 than m205. If only m105 worked the same as m205

 

[TLMitchell]

When you owned your black car did you do a spray and wipe or just leave it alone and wait for the next car wash? Reason I ask is because the last thing I want is to add swirls.

My last black DD was GM and didn't suffer overly soft clear. A run of the mill QD and decently soft MF worked fine. I wasn't as knowledgeable nor detail-oriented then though so it may have looked like crap and I didn't notice.

Now, you want to talk about soft CC... I've been beating my brains trying to figure out how to finish and maintain Harley's Vivid Black. Just wiping off polish residue with my plushest MF leaves marks. :doh: Even IF I got the finish I was looking for wiping off dust with a high lubricity QD left marks. I finally discovered using a finishing polish like 85RD with LC orange gave the best results, believe it or not! And wiping off polish residue required a liberal spray of QD and wiping with only the softest of Waffle Weaves! In order to remove road dust I use ONR at higher-than-QD strength with the WWs. So I get done and finish with FK425 and I leave marks. I generally remove those by hand and since the metal tank is the only part of the paint that's problematic I'm the only one who sees them.

I'm thinking the next bike will be rattle-can bedliner black. End of problem. :surrender:

TL

 

[fishnugget]

My last black DD was GM and didn't suffer overly soft clear. A run of the mill QD and decently soft MF worked fine. I wasn't as knowledgeable nor detail-oriented then though so it may have looked like crap and I didn't notice.

Now, you want to talk about soft CC... I've been beating my brains trying to figure out how to finish and maintain Harley's Vivid Black. Just wiping off polish residue with my plushest MF leaves marks. :doh: Even IF I got the finish I was looking for wiping off dust with a high lubricity QD left marks. I finally discovered using a finishing polish like 85RD with LC orange gave the best results, believe it or not! And wiping off polish residue required a liberal spray of QD and wiping with only the softest of Waffle Weaves! In order to remove road dust I use ONR at higher-than-QD strength with the WWs. So I get done and finish with FK425 and I leave marks. I generally remove those by hand and since the metal tank is the only part of the paint that's problematic I'm the only one who sees them.

I'm thinking the next bike will be rattle-can bedliner black. End of problem. :surrender:

TL

Its funny how anal we become from all that attention to detail but its hard to let go from having worked so hard on our cars/bikes. I never would have imagined wiping with an MF would leave such bad marring/scratches on soft paint.

I have been hearing good things about 85RD and would have purchased it but many said the m105/205 combo would be enough. Luckily, TypeR was kind enough to send a sample my way.

I too find that my blue waffle weave similar to Detailimage are much softer than the plush microfiber and even the green guzzler WW's, just something I noticed. I used those also for polishing when I ran out of MF's.

 

[TLMitchell]

Its funny how anal we become from all that attention to detail but its hard to let go from having worked so hard on our cars/bikes. I never would have imagined wiping with an MF would leave such bad marring/scratches on soft paint.

I have been hearing good things about 85RD and would have purchased it but many said the m105/205 combo would be enough. Luckily, TypeR was kind enough to send a sample my way.

I too find that my blue waffle weave similar to Detailimage are much softer than the plush microfiber and even the green guzzler WW's, just something I noticed. I used those also for polishing when I ran out of MF's.

The tried and true doesn't always work in all situations, sometimes you have to think outside the box.

Nick Chapman had a post on MOL last year about tearing his hair out trying to get 205 to finish without marring on a super-soft black Colorado. He tried every combo of polish and pad in his arsenal with no luck. This is a very experienced and talented detailer! Finally he tried the only pad he hadn't used yet and got incredible results using 205 with a yellow LC.. a pad that's aggressive and usually leaves marring that you need to polish out with a finer combo. That post got me experimenting on my soft clear and eventually finding a recipe that worked.

Other highly respected detailers have been using red LC and 105 to finish... a soft pad and an aggressive compound. Who woulda thunk it?

Just goes to show there's more than one way to skin a detail job and sometimes you're the test pilot.

TL

 

[Metajames]

I have very soft black paint, this thread has me rethinking my finishing techniques... I also find it very hard to maintain this car 100% scratch free.

 

[Chriswashwax]

The rotary is faster but mistakes are murder. The da is much safer. Try the yellow pad, if that does not work, than u r not detaillling, it is bodywork. Tip for black car, wax every week.

 

[fishnugget]

The tried and true doesn't always work in all situations, sometimes you have to think outside the box.

Nick Chapman had a post on MOL last year about tearing his hair out trying to get 205 to finish without marring on a super-soft black Colorado. He tried every combo of polish and pad in his arsenal with no luck. This is a very experienced and talented detailer! Finally he tried the only pad he hadn't used yet and got incredible results using 205 with a yellow LC.. a pad that's aggressive and usually leaves marring that you need to polish out with a finer combo. That post got me experimenting on my soft clear and eventually finding a recipe that worked.

Other highly respected detailers have been using red LC and 105 to finish... a soft pad and an aggressive compound. Who woulda thunk it?

Just goes to show there's more than one way to skin a detail job and sometimes you're the test pilot.

TL

Wow, thanks TL thats very helpful information. Maybe next time I will be more open to experimenting with pads and polishes. I did want to try m205 with orange but never got to it. M205 with yellow to finish , I would have never thought of that.

I have very soft black paint, this thread has me rethinking my finishing techniques... I also find it very hard to maintain this car 100% scratch free.

I hear ya James, I got hazing or buffing trails with m205 and red pad. It wasnt until I used the gray pad that the results improved significantly.

The rotary is faster but mistakes are murder. The da is much safer. Try the yellow pad, if that does not work, than u r not detaillling, it is bodywork. Tip for black car, wax every week.

Thanks Chris, I am also looking at the FLEX, so many decisions... I have read up on them and still cant decide. I like the FLEX because its forgiving and smaller/lighter.

I did try the yellow but I think it caked up with 105 really fast and instead of switching to a new one, I would just clean them "on the fly" and keep using it. Then I found out if I used a new yellow pad the scratches were instantly gone, newb mistake, I know. Those 4" pads cake up real fast. Also, why should I wax every week? I thought the sealant was good for 4-6 months? Do you mean add a spray wax after drying? Thanks again.

 

[Chriswashwax]

oh by the way, great job with the infinity. Looks awesome. But you know what they saw, owners of black cars are detaillers' best friends!

 

[Chriswashwax]

sorry say, not saw

 

[fishnugget]

Thought I would post an update because I have some questions...

So I finally washed my car after driving it for about a week after polishing and waxing. Anyhow, I used a sheepskin mitt, CG citrus wash, 2B method, and DI water for a spot free rinse.

The next day I notice that car had very fine swirls

My questions to the pros is how did I introduced these swirls? I did use the two bucket method and used DI water to avoid those WW microfibers for drying. I can only suspect that the swirls probably came from washing with the sheepskin? Feed back please

My theory is maybe the dust got really stuck on the paint and then when I introduced the sheep skin mitt it scratched? So much for that soap barrier for lubrication. Did I not use enough soap? I followed the directions of dilution for the CG wash soap. Thanks.

 

[Chriswashwax]

I think with a black car, what is suprememly important is to wax your car everytime you wash it. That way, the swirls will only swirl the wax, not the clear... And don't forget everytime you wash, you wax (like my name). Ever since I have been doing that, I have have no problem... That is the only way. Or else, you will be doin g swirl removers every 2 months. That is why I say black cars are detaillers' best friends.
I recommend Meguier's gold liquid wax or better yet, that optimum car wax (which can be soooo addictive). You can pinnacle it every once in a while... It is the only sure way. My Hyundai Sonata has 50000km (30000 miles) and it looks new. I clay it every season with a cleaning wax after, then wax it twice. then I wax my car every week.
Remember, when you wax every week, it does not have to be perfect. I t shouldn't take you more than half an hour (I am serious) and less than 20 min with the optimum (which really works). Good luck with your black car...

 

[fishnugget]

Thanks Chriswashwax,

I'm still a little confused...How is it that adding another layer of wax will prevent the swirls? Does the wax "fill in" the swirls or add another layer to the cc to prevent swirls. I know this is a stupid question but can a layer of wax show swirls or is this impossible? My car had BFWD sealant.

 

[Chriswashwax]

It will prevent swirls in that there will be so many layers of wax on your clear that fine dust will not be able to "scratch" the clear, it will instead be scrapping the coats of wax. Hence, you apply your weekly wax after your weekly wash, the wax will make any swirling in you previous layers of wax magically disappear! And that dude, is the only way to keep a black car extra black and swirl free. It isn't a scientific way to do it, but it sure is effective.

 

[fishnugget]

Damn, that is more work. So its probably not the sheepskin mitt? Sux.

I guess I will do it if means swirl free. So those existing swirls will be covered up with the application of a new layer of wax, makes sense, thanks.

 

[Chriswashwax]

Remember, for this to work, the car at the initial must be swirl free. Waxing once a week MAINTAINS a swirl free shine, it does not producea swirl free shine. Happy detailling!

 

[fishnugget]

Thanks Chris :xyxthumbs:

 

[indianaryan]

I really question waxing over a previous layer of wax each week unless the car has sat in the garage all week and the dust that has settled on the surface has been removed with a QD. Otherwise, you're trying to wax on a surface that isn't clean, and you could possibly create scratches by doing that.

Just my 2 cents.

Do you have pictures of these swirl marks you're talking about? Just because you have just waxed the car doesn't mean the swirl marks aren't in the clear coat. I'm a bit of a noob myself, but I don't think you can actually create swirl marks in the wax itself. It would either be dust or you're seeing imperfections in the clear coat. A layer of wax isn't like adding a layer of clear coat to your car. Correct me if I'm wrong. Again, I'm still learning too.

 

[fishnugget]

Hey Indianaryan,

Chris meant to wax my car each time I wash it. He says that should increase my chances of preventing swirls. I think my problem came from not loosening the dirt on the car enough. I am going to give it a thorough rinse the next time I wash it and possibly invest in a pressure washer.

I believe that the less you touch your car the less swirls your going to have, especially on soft black paint like infiniti.

 

[05xrunner]

nice..i just started using my RODI unit from my old reef tank as well as a rinse water after its washed so it wont spot.

 

[indianaryan]

Hey Indianaryan,

Chris meant to wax my car each time I wash it. He says that should increase my chances of preventing swirls. I think my problem came from not loosening the dirt on the car enough. I am going to give it a thorough rinse the next time I wash it and possibly invest in a pressure washer.

I believe that the less you touch your car the less swirls your going to have, especially on soft black paint like infiniti.

Ah ok I missed the part about washing too, duh. Still, I would look into "layering" your wax. There's not necessarily a benefit in doing so other than making sure you covered every spot. Some waxes are different than others in this regard.