Went old school today...

Paul A.

Paul A.

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Had a 2008 Caddie Escalade today and the paint was trashed. After 2 test spots and not happy I busted out my rotary and some good ole twisted wool pads with Menzerna Hcc 400. Here's a 50/50 for you guys.

I forgot how smooth my rotary was...it's been a while since I got my Flex!

More pics tmrw...
 
Wow what a difference! Beautiful work. I was wondering if maybe Menzerna FG300 would do the trick. It is a heavier compound than FG400. I bought some just in case...so far so good with my Flex 3401 and Menzerna FG400

But beautiful work!
 
Yes, I need to get some 300. The 50/50 was just after a quick hit with wool and 400. I did try another test with another pretty aggressive compound (not sold by AG) and it didn't finish down as well. I refined the 400/wool with a LC Hybrid orange foam pad/HCC400 and it exploded with gloss!

I think GM hIt the '08 black Escalades with titanium infused diamond dust clear! Hardest paint I've encountered in a long time.

Thanks, Kamakaz, for the kind words.
 
I feel your pain, and can attest to the rotary saving my a** more than a few times.

Last week my partner and I detailed a white '08 F150 Sport. Hardest clear I have ever worked with. Experimented with various pad, polish, and polisher combos (including GG6, Flex 3401, HD Cut +, Ultimate Compound, M105, MF cutting pads, LC Hybrid Wool) and the only combo that gave the correction I was looking for (i.e. ~85-90%) was m105 on a Grey LC Force pad at 1800 - 2100 rpms w/the Makita, for around 5 passes with moderate to heavy pressure! I was also getting a surprisingly long working time w/the 105- go figure. This combo finished out nearly perfect w/only very light hologramming, if any. I was shocked. Followed up 2 passes of WG Uber AIO on an orange BnS Uro cell and it came perfect.

The only wool pads I have used are the Blue LC Hybrids and purple foamed wool, and I have not been all that impressed with their cutting ability using 3D AAT Compound or m100. Will have to try some different wool pads, possibly the black Tuf Bufs. What specific pad did you use?
 
I hear ya, Matty! I tried my new favorite cutting pad...blue hybrid foamed wool and the paint laughed
at me (no, seriously, i heard it snicker). That left faint holo's compared to my old school wool...holo city but that's fine...i can get rid of those.
 
Great turnaround! I love when I get to use my rotary!

I've had similar experiences with mid 2000s GM clear, specifically a TRASHED 2009 Cadillac CTS.

3401 and Orange LC hybrid and M100 for the test spot....yeah wasn't happening. Out comes the PE14, M100 and LC Electrified wool finishing pad (per Mike P's suggestion) and that took care of the damage while leaving only moderate holograms (again, the initial condition of the paint was BAD!). I ended up finishing down with the Flex XFE7 and B&S maroon low-pro pad and m205. I'm convinced twisted wool would have cut faster, but overall I'm happy with this combo on this particular vehicle.

Sometimes the rotary is the best "work smarter not harder" option.
 
Sorry Matty, I missed your question on which pad. I have about 15 wool pads I got years ago from a vendor other than AG so I don't want to ruffle any feathers of the rule police here.

Brandon, absolutely a smarter approach to go rotary and wool on this one! Thanks.
 
Wool pads and rotaries were born for situations like this, great job on the truck.
 
I was slinging the rotary a lot this past summer.

Mostly with the Meguiar's Wool cutting pad, and M100 compound. A sweet combination for sure.

I also did some cleaner wax applications with M66 on black Lake Country finishing pads. Didn't see much hologramming, but that could have been the wax in the formula covering them up.

I had the Makita 9237c. Needed some cash, so I sold it. Probably should have kept it though.
 
Dlc, I can finish out hologram free by finessing a fine polish and pad but no way around it with a wool pad and a compound on this one.

I'll never get rid of my Hitachi rotary but will replace it with a Flex PE if it ever dies.
 
Paul A. said:
Dlc, I can finish out hologram free by finessing a fine polish and pad but no way around it with a wool pad and a compound on this one.

I'll never get rid of my Hitachi rotary but will replace it with a Flex PE if it ever dies.
Click to expand...

At the shop, the owner liked chasing the rotary/wool with PF2500 on B&S Uro Fiber pads on his GG6. I liked PF2500 or M205 on green B&S foam, and my PC.

Once I started using the Rupes UHS on the Duetto/Mini, his work dried up.... But I was able to get the lot ready with the UHS. He would always finish with a spray sealant of some type.

I'm eyeing another Makita!
 
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