So i have tried a spot test of ultimate compound by hand on a black 2012 altima coupe. Didnt really see a difference in the paint. Used it as it was directed on a video i saw but only did one application of it. Is it fair to say that using a DA polisher would make my job easyr even thou am just a beginner.
Tried by hand and no difference
- Thread starter chachi94
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Kamakaz1961
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- Aug 23, 2013
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:iagree: I wet sanded and correct/polish my passenger side mirror this weekend. I tried correct/polish by hand and what a joke!! Waste of time. Fixed it fast with a DA. Go that route.
SYMAWD
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- Feb 10, 2013
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It's possible, but takes forever. Here is a small section I did. I used an orange foam hand applicator which has a decent cut to it.
Here is the before. The whole car is like this because it has been through many auto car washes.
Now, after 3 passes of Ultimate Compound, I'd say it's a pretty decent improvement. Obviously no where near perfect or the level that a machine could achieve, but I'd still say impressive.
Here is the before. The whole car is like this because it has been through many auto car washes.
Now, after 3 passes of Ultimate Compound, I'd say it's a pretty decent improvement. Obviously no where near perfect or the level that a machine could achieve, but I'd still say impressive.
Kamakaz1961
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- Aug 23, 2013
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This 12"x12" Test Spot was done by hand to convince the Customer that the paint could be salvaged. Took 15 minutes of aggressive, passionate polishing
Wow!! Looks great!! your arms were probably sore!!....LOL Again, beautiful work!
I would say, yes it can be done because that is the way I did it back in the 90's on my cars. It sucked and took too long, which is why I never got the results that pro detailers could get. I would just get too tired and had to break it up in sections over a couple of weeks. With me not knowing about sealants, using carnuba for protection was frustrating due to it diminishing within weeks. I switched to a cheap 10" random orbit buffer which helped speed things up but still not what I was looking for. I recently bought a Porter Cable DA and am kicking myself for not doing it sooner. I can now do my vehicles with multi-step correction in about 2 days with far better results than I ever achieved before.
It all depends on budget, available time and dedication. I still recommend getting a DA polisher and watching the videos available here to learn. It has improved my results 10 fold and renewed my interest in caring for my cars.
It all depends on budget, available time and dedication. I still recommend getting a DA polisher and watching the videos available here to learn. It has improved my results 10 fold and renewed my interest in caring for my cars.
kuji
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- May 28, 2013
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Reminds me of a phrase that Larry from Ammo NYC said, you can dig a hole with a spoon; you'll get there but it will take forever, or dig a hole with a backhoe, and you'll get there in no time.
Invest in a DA. Before I bought my PC I tried UC by hand and after about an hour of non stop rubbing on the paint my arm was too sore to go on, plus the results were less that impressive. Get yourself a DA and some good pads, put your UC to work, and save your arm lol.
FYI as far as I know they only show them using the Ultimate Compound on single stadge paints, not clearcoats. Using UC by hand on a single stage MAY work if you have time etc. Using it by hand on a clearcoat is like the spoon metaphore...meaning its next to impossible
Cheers
Phil
Invest in a DA. Before I bought my PC I tried UC by hand and after about an hour of non stop rubbing on the paint my arm was too sore to go on, plus the results were less that impressive. Get yourself a DA and some good pads, put your UC to work, and save your arm lol.
FYI as far as I know they only show them using the Ultimate Compound on single stadge paints, not clearcoats. Using UC by hand on a single stage MAY work if you have time etc. Using it by hand on a clearcoat is like the spoon metaphore...meaning its next to impossible
Cheers
Phil
Charleston
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- Apr 18, 2012
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Run to Harbor Freight and grab a DA and let loose!
BrianMcLeod
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- May 10, 2013
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Wow buddy! He's just starting out remember!? and you're already blasting him with a da?
Chichi, yes a da is safe for you. The way a da works is it moves in two different directions. Unlike a rotary. So if you put to much pressure on a da it will stop spinning so it won't burn the paint. A da is so safe I think a monkey could use it lol
allenk4
In time out
- Mar 12, 2013
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Im the MAN
Brian,
Once again, this is a good example of knowing your audience
The OP mentioned a DA in his initial post, "Is it fair to say that using a DA polisher would make my job easyr (sp) even thou I am just a beginner."
Based on his statement, I can safely understand that he know what the acronym stands for
Do you mean "too" much pressure? How much is too much? As you said, talking to a beginner
Wow buddy! He's just starting out remember!? and you're already blasting him with a da?
Chichi, yes a da is safe for you. The way a da works is it moves in two different directions. Unlike a rotary. So if you put to much pressure on a da it will stop spinning so it won't burn the paint. A da is so safe I think a monkey could use it lol
Brian,
Once again, this is a good example of knowing your audience
The OP mentioned a DA in his initial post, "Is it fair to say that using a DA polisher would make my job easyr (sp) even thou I am just a beginner."
Based on his statement, I can safely understand that he know what the acronym stands for
Do you mean "too" much pressure? How much is too much? As you said, talking to a beginner
BrianMcLeod
New member
- May 10, 2013
- 812
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Sorrrry I forget a o... Any body else see what I did there??? I knew my incorrect grammar would bug him
and if a the person wants to put full force on a da then they are just dumb. But to answer your question Probably when the DA quits spinning. like I said in the last post since you found out I'm young you act like I'm an idiot... Just trying to help somebody out Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
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I just posted the below in another thread about trying to work by hand but my same replies work for this thread too....
The fastest easiest way to remove scratches out of paint is by machine. The reason why is because clearcoat paints tend to be hard, at least harder than old school lacquers and enamel paints and thus because they are hard it's HARD for the average person to work the paint by hand to remove enough paint to level the surface and thus remove the scratches.
I taught hand polishing for Meguiar's at their Corporate office for 7 years and after a Saturday class of about 30 people would watch me demonstrate had hard and how FAST you had to move your hand over a section of paint about 8" square and then watch me remove the scratches using a simple dual action polisher everyone would want to buy a dual action polisher.
Besides being easier and faster to work by machine most people I meet don't have the skills to work by hand and if you don't use good technique and really high quality compounds and polishes then you'll put more scratches into the paint than you'll remove.
It takes more skill and muscle to polish out a modern clearcoated car by hand than it does to do so by machine.
I share the techniques for working by hand in this article... I think I'll update it but even if I update the article that won't change physics. It's always going to be hard to rub out a modern clearcoat finish by hand. Always.
How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand
But take heart... if you want to work by hand we can guide you through the process.
The fastest easiest way to remove scratches out of paint is by machine. The reason why is because clearcoat paints tend to be hard, at least harder than old school lacquers and enamel paints and thus because they are hard it's HARD for the average person to work the paint by hand to remove enough paint to level the surface and thus remove the scratches.
I taught hand polishing for Meguiar's at their Corporate office for 7 years and after a Saturday class of about 30 people would watch me demonstrate had hard and how FAST you had to move your hand over a section of paint about 8" square and then watch me remove the scratches using a simple dual action polisher everyone would want to buy a dual action polisher.
Besides being easier and faster to work by machine most people I meet don't have the skills to work by hand and if you don't use good technique and really high quality compounds and polishes then you'll put more scratches into the paint than you'll remove.
It takes more skill and muscle to polish out a modern clearcoated car by hand than it does to do so by machine.
I share the techniques for working by hand in this article... I think I'll update it but even if I update the article that won't change physics. It's always going to be hard to rub out a modern clearcoat finish by hand. Always.
How to use a hand applied abrasive polish or paint cleaner by hand
But take heart... if you want to work by hand we can guide you through the process.
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 7
Here's an article I wrote in 2009 that does a good job of explaining the difference between single stage and clearcoat paints. It's the hardness factor that makes these types of paints harder to work on by hand.
The practical differences between single stage paints and a clear coat paints
Just to note... if you do want to remove swirls and scratche by hand, not just clean the surface of the paint but actually remove swirls and scratches, you have to move your hand at light speed while pressing down firmly and only work a small section at a time.
In these pictures below I'm remove WET SANDING marks by hand and note my hand is a blur in the first picture. That's becaue I'm moving it fast and pressing hard.
:dblthumb2:
The practical differences between single stage paints and a clear coat paints
Just to note... if you do want to remove swirls and scratche by hand, not just clean the surface of the paint but actually remove swirls and scratches, you have to move your hand at light speed while pressing down firmly and only work a small section at a time.
In these pictures below I'm remove WET SANDING marks by hand and note my hand is a blur in the first picture. That's becaue I'm moving it fast and pressing hard.
:dblthumb2: