UPDATE 2009 Highlander Optimum Polish II and OC 2.0

[primo spaghetti]

So today was my first day trying out some OPT products, and I have to be honest, it has taken me quite a bit of time to dial them in for some reason. Anyhow, I’m only 30% done, but ill post my progress and maybe some comments can help me when I get back at it tomorrow.

My goal is as much correction as possible (on paint that isn’t too bad) to Opti Coat as an LSP.

Here goes. Ill list the products used with the images.

Prior to CG CWG

After CG CWG (I found it to have some good cleaning abilities, but too much gloss left behind IMO for stripping LSP which is nattys liquid blue and WGDGPS).

CG CWG didn’t really touch the KAIO on the windows.

Next was decontamination with the Ultima Elastrofoam block...did leave some light marring, but really cleaned the paint nice.

Some marring on the painted plastic bumper shroud...

So now with the polishing...I used Optimum Polish II and I started with an Optimum MF polishing pad. I liked the pad, but I didn’t seem to get the correction I was looking for, for some reason...I used the PC at speed 5, and it finished nice, but still had some slight correction needed...so I swapped out the mf for a LC HT Tangerine and the Polish II, and finished with LC HT Crimson and polish II.

Here is a shot of the area behind the rear window...I don’t know if you will see the swirls in this (camera isn’t the greatest) but the first one shows the swirls, the second shows the correction with the LC HT Tangerine and finish polish II.

Here are a couple reflection shots...i have to admit the gloss is awesome, but the depoth and clarity is not totally there IMO...

Thanks for looking. If you see any glaring issues please let me know. I hope to finish the rest of the two step polish (Polish II with LC tangerine followed by LC Crimson) tomorrow night and ready for OC. I did get a slight bit of dusting (which I think was the pad honestly), so ill need a quick rinse down before I OC. problem is I don’t have any ONR...

DAY 2

Well I finished off all the paint today...but I had twice as much work as I expected. I found out that when wiping the polishing oils away with a cobra MF (grey and pink), that I scratched the entire surface again, and had to go back once again for a full polish. this time I tried a damp MF, and found that it worked better, but for the life of me, this freaking paint still scratched a bit...I have no idea what I did wrong, but I don’t remember this trouble the last time I detailed this car, but it was with DAT products...I don’t think that is the difference, but at this point, I’m freaking lost...

Anyhow, here are the remainder of the pics...

These are after polish, but prior to OC...IMO the shine is amazing, but I wish I could have gotten a deeper more reflective/mirror like depth to the paint. Again, I’m not sure if this was because of the polish II or if I really shoulda hit it with some compound...but I miss the clarity in the reflection on this paint...

Here are some after the OC was applied...I did not do any of the tires/wheels/undercarraige beacuasei did not want to take any chance of contaminating the paint...Ill address all the other stuff in a couple of weeks...

 

[Vegas Transplant]

Good work Primo rops:

Excellent photography and narative.

So now with the polishing...I used Optimum Polish II and I started with an Optimum MF polishing pad. I liked the pad, but I didn’t seem to get the correction I was looking for, for some reason...I used the PC at speed 5, and it finished nice, but still had some slight correction needed...so I swapped out the mf for a LC HT Tangerine and the Polish II, and finished with LC HT Crimson and polish II.

I find it necessary to mist lightly with ONR when priming a new OMF pad while using PolishII.
The consensus is to apply more pressure if not getting cut needed with the polishing pad.


Here are a couple reflection shots...i have to admit the gloss is awesome, but the depoth and clarity is not totally there IMO...

Is it possible that you have become accustomed to viewing the paint after LSP, or am I over thinking this? Isn't that the job of the LSP?


I did get a slight bit of dusting (which I think was the pad honestly), so ill need a quick rinse down before I OC. problem is I don’t have any ONR...

I too get slight dusting with PolishII (old version), unless I mist the pad with ONR@QD. Dry-buffing perhaps?
Water dampened MF would work as well after PolishII.

These are after polish, but prior to OC...IMO the shine is amazing, but I wish I could have gotten a deeper more reflective/mirror like depth to the paint. Again, I’m not sure if this was because of the polish II or if I really shoulda hit it with some compound...but I miss the clarity in the reflection on this paint...


My goal is as much correction as possible (on paint that isn’t too bad) to Opti Coat as an LSP.

Why would you compound paint that you refer to as, ..."isn't too bad"?
Don't sell yourself short on this stressfull detail...it'll only get easier with the next. :dblthumb2:

Again, kudos for the job well done! :cheers:

 

[detailguy71]

Nice work!

 

[Bunky]

Nice write up on your efforts? It looks very glossy.

What dilution did you use the CG CWG to try the stripping?

It would be interesting to know why you were seeing marring when swiping off the polish. Did you try another type of microfiber towel?

 

[Speed-Dude]

Looks amazing! I'm actually looking to getting my highlander like that around spring time. Just wondering: what did you do for the mud guards mine have become extremely faded and m40 really only lasts for a week (not a permanent solution). Did you do something like black wow?

 

[primo spaghetti]

Thanks for taking the time to look guys...and i appreciate the feedback and comments.

Good work Primo rops:

Excellent photography and narative.

Thanks man...


I too get slight dusting with PolishII (old version), unless I mist the pad with ONR@QD. Dry-buffing perhaps?
im going to grab some ONR before i tackle my black truck next week..thanks for the tip.

Water dampened MF would work as well after PolishII.

i eneded up trying this and still found some slight scratching...


Why would you compound paint that you refer to as, ..."isn't too bad"?
Don't sell yourself short on this stressfull detail...it'll only get easier with the next. :dblthumb2:

Again, kudos for the job well done! :cheers:

Thanks man...the paint really wasnt that bad, but as you can see in some of the straight on shots (me with the camera and with the polsiher) the reflection is there, just not clarity IMO...i can always get the glass/mirror like reflection up close on this vehicle, and now that it is "permanently" coated im stressing about it..haha

Nice write up on your efforts? It looks very glossy.

What dilution did you use the CG CWG to try the stripping?

It would be interesting to know why you were seeing marring when swiping off the polish. Did you try another type of microfiber towel?

Thanks Bunky. I used the CG CWG at one ounce per gallon for stripping..but i only had a bucket (no foam cannon). i tried to let the soap dwell a while on the paint too.

I basically have four types of MF towels. The Cobra suprme 530s, cobra deluxe 600 jr, two versions of cookie monsters (not a fan at all), and a package of cheap short nap costco brands for general purpose cleaning..they dont touch my paint. i tried all of them except the costco ones and all marred. then i finally tried the 600 jr dampened and it worked better, but not perfect.

Looks amazing! I'm actually looking to getting my highlander like that around spring time. Just wondering: what did you do for the mud guards mine have become extremely faded and m40 really only lasts for a week (not a permanent solution). Did you do something like black wow?

I only cleaned then up with the CG CWG and coated with the OC 2.0. I have tried black wow and dont really like it. its kinda greasy and no matter what i always get running. I also compared it side by side on a front bumper trim with chemical guys new life trim restorer and the CG product looked nicer, was less greasy, and lasted long after the black wow went away. another tip i heard was try KAIO on COL 845 on black trim WOWO. i tried the KAIO on my Ram textured trim, but it eventually turned white again.

 

[vet]

Nice!