Serious Polishing Help

[Mr. Clean WA]

Hey everyone, I need some serious help. I just got a used car, black of course (black Legacy, white STI - makes for a cool garage).

But - the paint is less than perfect. It needs serious polishing, maybe cutting in places. Should I pay to have it done or try myself? I've got the older Porter cable DA polisher and I'm pretty well versed in the standard exterior car care (I use Klasse, then sometimes NXT, topped off with Pinnacle) however I don't know if I should buy all the products I need to do this once or have it done locally (Olympia/Auburn, WA area).

Thoughts?


Thanks!


Mike

 

[IID]

These (2) may help you with the deeper scratches using your existing PC:

Surbuf R Series 5.5 Inch Buffing Pads 2 Pack, surbuf pads, microfingers pads, polishing pads



Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound, polishing compound, ultra cut compound, paint compound, car polish

Then you will want to follow up with these (2) after using the Meg's #105:

Lake Country Hydro-Tech 5 1/2 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pads , hydrotech foam pads for water-based polishes, lake country foam pads, buffing pads
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-205-polish-8oz.html

http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-205-polish-8oz.html

These are just one option,there should be other replies from our forum members.
These products are relatively in-expensive.You mentioned that "your well versed in the standard exterior care",you should do fine.Just take your time and do a test section first with each combo.If your satisfied with your result's,do the targeted vehicle and move to the next combo and repeat.

 

[dougaross]

Start with least aggressive. So maybe orange with 205 and see if that is satisfactory. then orange with 105, then yellow with 105, finally surbuf with 105

 

[Dubbin1]

Start with least aggressive. So maybe orange with 205 and see if that is satisfactory. then orange with 105, then yellow with 105, finally surbuf with 105

Yellow would come before orange I'm not sure I would go that far though. I'm willing to bet the orange with M105 then white with M205 would be a good place to start.

 

[rwright]

Surbuf pads on Subaru paint are not needed. In my experience it is a very soft paint. Unless the paint is down to metal, I can tell you from first hand experience that M105 on a Cyan Hydro Tech pad will fix any heavy issues. I would perform 3 test spots - M105/Cyan HT Pad, Menzerna PO203 (Power Finish)/Cyan HT pad, M105/Tangerine HT pad.

 

[ScottB]

perhaps some 5.5 inch pads, a 5 inch backing plate and Mernzerna polishes are in order.

 

[IID]

With whatever product you go with,5.5" pads will work best with your PC.That's what I originally recommended (5.5" pads).

 

[Irish]

Surbuf pads on Subaru paint are not needed. In my experience it is a very soft paint. Unless the paint is down to metal, I can tell you from first hand experience that M105 on a Cyan Hydro Tech pad will fix any heavy issues. I would perform 3 test spots - M105/Cyan HT Pad, Menzerna PO203 (Power Finish)/Cyan HT pad, M105/Tangerine HT pad.

I agree with this 100%.

I've done 3 Subarus and they've all been very, very easy to work with.

 

[Mr. Clean WA]

Thanks everyone! VERY helpful! I've currently got 6.5 pads, will it make that much of a difference?

So -
Would it be then in this order
Orange pad and 105
Red pad and 205
hand Klasse
Blue cross cut Cobra with Pinnace Sovereign

???

These would go in the cart...
lake country 5 inch backing plate, 5 inch backin plate, 5 inch hook and loop backing plate
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound, polishing compound, ultra cut compound, paint compound, car polish
Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish, final polish, car polish, M205, Meguires
One orange 5.5 pad
One red 5.5 pad

 

[Dubbin1]

You will need more then 1 of each pad. Do you not have any white pads?

Maybe look at getting the pads that wright mentioned, he knows what hes talking about

 

[dougaross]

Yellow would come before orange I'm not sure I would go that far though. I'm willing to bet the orange with M105 then white with M205 would be a good place to start.

yellow is more aggressive than orange. so going with least aggressive first, orange then yellow.

I wasn't suggesting an order of finishing. I was suggesting testing to find out how aggressive the starting point should be.

 

[Dubbin1]

yellow is more aggressive than orange. so going with least aggressive first, orange then yellow.

I wasn't suggesting an order of finishing. I was suggesting testing to find out how aggressive the starting point should be.

I understand now that you point it out. They way you stated it makes it sound like the order you would go. I'll take you off the idiot list

 

[Mr. Clean WA]

You will need more then 1 of each pad. Do you not have any white pads?

Maybe look at getting the pads that wright mentioned, he knows what hes talking about

More than one, check. No white pads though. The blue Cobras have worked very well.

I hear ya there, but that's multiple products to "test". There's got to be a better way.

 

[tuscarora dave]

What brand and color of pads do you have? Megs Ultimate Compound will take care of that Subaru paint with no problem.

 

[slickooz]

Yeah def get 5.5 inch pads. Huge improvement over 6.5 inch pads.

 

[Mr. Clean WA]

What brand and color of pads do you have? Megs Ultimate Compound will take care of that Subaru paint with no problem.

Cobra blue cross cut - I use this one for my Pinnacle Sovereign.
One orange HT pad that I used with Meguiars Scratch Fix.
One Meguiars beige pad that I use with NXT

I don't know that one product will get my paint good, it's pretty bad.

Yeah def get 5.5 inch pads. Huge improvement over 6.5 inch pads.

10-4! Thanks!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

But - the paint is less than perfect. It needs serious polishing, maybe cutting in places. Should I pay to have it done or try myself?

For the money you would spend to find a "qualified" professional to restore the paint you can invest that money into the the pads and product you need.

I've got the older Porter cable DA polisher and I'm pretty well versed in the standard exterior car care (I use Klasse, then sometimes NXT, topped off with Pinnacle) however I don't know if I should buy all the products I need to do this once or have it done locally (Olympia/Auburn, WA area).

Thoughts?

Heck if you think you're going to do more polishing work into the future you could upgrade to the new XP version and do the job faster and still not pay what a true professional is going to charge you to do the job right the first time.

Cobra blue cross cut - I use this one for my Pinnacle Sovereign.
One orange HT pad that I used with Meguiars Scratch Fix.
One Meguiars beige pad that I use with NXT

The blue Cobra Pad and the tan Meguiar's pad are both finishing pads, the Tangerine Hydro-Tech pad is a polishing pad.

As others have suggested, get some 5.5" pads, for cutting the Surbuf and/or the light orange 5.5" Flat or CCS pads all are pretty aggressive and with good technique will remove a majority of everything you want to remove.

Don't get caught up into trying to remove each and every defect as some will be too deep and you'll have to remove too much clear paint to totally remove them.

We call these RIDS

RIDS - The Definition of RIDS and the story behind the term...



Read through this, it is a guide for getting maximum efficiency out of a first generation DA Polisher

How to maximize the ability of the 1st Generation Porter Cable Dual Action Polishers


Then read this, if Joe can do it you can do it!

Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl!


Here's another related article...

"Taking your car's paint to it's maximum potential"

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

For reference,

5 1/2 inch and 6 inch Buffing Pads on Autogeek's Online Store


Lake Country

5.5" Flat Pads

The outer edge of the face of these pads is tapered so they are actually a little under 5" in diameter

Approximately 7/8" thick

5.5" CCS Pads

5.5" CCS Pad is right at 5.5" in diameter

Approximately 7/8" thick

5.5" Hydro-Tech Pads

5.5" Hydro-Tech pads are right at 5.5" in diameter

Approximately 1 1/4" thick

6" Kompressor Pads

The outer edge of the face of these pads is tapered so they are actually a little under 6" in diameter

Approximately 1 1/4" thick

6" Griot's Garage

6" Griot's Garage Pads are approximately 6 1/4" in diameter

Approximately 1" thick

6.5" Cobra Cross Groove Flex Pad

6.5" Cobra pads are tapered around the outer perimeter and measure approximately 6 1/4" in diameter

Approximately 1 1/4" thick

6.5" Meguiar's Pads

6.5" Meguiar's pads are slightly tapered around the outer perimeter and measure approximately 6 1/4" in diameter

Approximately 1 1/8" thick

5.5" Surbuf MicroFinger Pads
(For correction work only, must be followed with a foam pad for finishing)

Right on 5 1/2" in diameter

Approximately 3/4" thick

Products shown

Buffing Pads
5.5" Flat Pads
5.5" CCS Pads
5.5" Hydro-Tech Pads
6" Kompressor Pads
6" Griot's Garage
6.5" Cobra Cross Groove Flex Pad
6.5" Meguiar's Pads
5.5" Surbuf MicroFinger Pads


Master Link to all buffing pads

Matching Backing Plates - Pictures and Links


Dual Action Polishers
Porter Cable 7424XP
Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher
Meguiar's G110v2



How To Video Resources
How To Remove Swirls, Scratches and Water Spots using a PC 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2 or Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher

Using a DA Polisher - Part 1
[video=youtube_share;zUHRnHsSXZU]- How to remove swirls, scratches and...[/video]

Using a DA Polisher - Part 2
[video=youtube_share;fxwlWijdIxM]- How to remove swirls, scratches and...[/video]

Using a DA Polisher - Part 3
[video=youtube_share;9objUFdpsG4]- How to remove swirls, scratches and...[/video]​

Most Important...

Here's how to do a "Section Pass" when trying to remove swirls, scratches and other below surface paint defects.

How to do a Section Pass
[video=youtube_share;Q70g83mnTn4] - How to do a "Section Pass" with a...[/video]


Visit Autogeek's YouTube Channel for more YouTube Videos​

How To Articles

The Definitive How-To Article for Removing Swirls, Scratches and Water Spots Using a Porter Cable 7424XP, G110v2 or Griot's Garage Polisher
Tips for working in warm/hot weather or direct sunlight
Proof You Can Do It! - Joe The Detailer - Black Porsche Turned into Black Pearl!
The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story...
How much product do I use with my DA Polisher? -

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

5 Inch Backing Plates for DA Polishers - Pictures and Links

To give you and idea of our current backing plates on the Autogeek.net store, here are some pictures for reference...


5.5: Backing Plates

Products shown

Backing Plates
The Edge Products 5" HD Backing Plate
Lake Country 5" Backing Plate
Meguiar's DA Backing Plate
3M Hook-It 5 Inch Dual Action Backing Plate - 5775


Master Link to all backing plates


Dual Action Polishers
Porter Cable 7424XP
Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher
Meguiar's G110v2

 

[slickooz]

Get Meguair's 105 and 205. With Orange pads and white pads, and your set.