Detailing Questions
Detailing Questions
I watched the PC DVD but had more questions;
1. If you plan to do more than 1 car back to back(specifically a white and black car), do you have to purchase 2 sets of pads? What's the cleaning procedure for the pads before I move onto the next vehicle?
2. I read OctaneGuy's notes on the detailing forums regarding the conversion. Since he mentioned that I should start with a more abrasive combination(orange and Swirl), should I then finish that with a less abrasive combination? So should it be something like Swirl, Finish, Amigo(3 steps each being less abrassive)? The video just shows one swirl removing pad/product stage and then to the wax. Or is it just Swirl, Amigo(most abrassive jumping to least abrassive), then move on to the waxes?
3. I cannot seem to find the chart that gave the abrasion levels for the Prima line and pad color. I remember there being a chart somewhere which showed the Prima product plus pad choice from most abrasive to least.
4. If you have a chip on the surface, should you fix it BEFORE the swirl removal and wax? Or can you just do it over the chip?
1. If you plan to do more than 1 car back to back(specifically a white and black car), do you have to purchase 2 sets of pads? What's the cleaning procedure for the pads before I move onto the next vehicle?
2. I read OctaneGuy's notes on the detailing forums regarding the conversion. Since he mentioned that I should start with a more abrasive combination(orange and Swirl), should I then finish that with a less abrasive combination? So should it be something like Swirl, Finish, Amigo(3 steps each being less abrassive)? The video just shows one swirl removing pad/product stage and then to the wax. Or is it just Swirl, Amigo(most abrassive jumping to least abrassive), then move on to the waxes?
3. I cannot seem to find the chart that gave the abrasion levels for the Prima line and pad color. I remember there being a chart somewhere which showed the Prima product plus pad choice from most abrasive to least.
4. If you have a chip on the surface, should you fix it BEFORE the swirl removal and wax? Or can you just do it over the chip?
1. you should get 2-3 sets, actually. the pad gets embeded with polish and efficiency drops. i tend to use 2-3 pads per car.
2. yes, swirl -> amigo should do the trick.
3. i donno.
4. i would do it after cause touchup takes considerable time (2wks) to fully cure. just use some alchol for the area you want to fix to remove the
wax.
2. yes, swirl -> amigo should do the trick.
3. i donno.
4. i would do it after cause touchup takes considerable time (2wks) to fully cure. just use some alchol for the area you want to fix to remove the
wax.
I only use one pad per polish regardless of how many cars I do. If you get build up on the pad turn the speed down to 1 and use a plastic putty blade to remove the build up. I have not found Swirl to build up. Cut does but is easily removed using the blade.
As long as your cars have a clear coat rather then a single stage, you should get zero color transfer so doing a black car and then a white car is not an issue.
Always try the least aggressive polish/pad combination first. Try a test spot and move up the scale if not effective. So if Swirl on a white pad does prove effective or efficient, move to Swirl on an orange pad, then you could actually mix Swirl & Cut 50/50 to add some aggressiveness. Straight Cut on a yellow pad is the most aggressive combo, but I've never gone that rough. I have used Cut on an orange but the truck was severely oxidized.
So for product it goes Finish > Swirl > Cut and pads it goes Black > White > Orange > Yellow least aggressive to most. You can combine products with pads to get a very good progression of tools to work with.
As for Amigo, I use this as a last step before wax to fill and clean.
I do chip repair before polishing & wax.
As long as your cars have a clear coat rather then a single stage, you should get zero color transfer so doing a black car and then a white car is not an issue.
Always try the least aggressive polish/pad combination first. Try a test spot and move up the scale if not effective. So if Swirl on a white pad does prove effective or efficient, move to Swirl on an orange pad, then you could actually mix Swirl & Cut 50/50 to add some aggressiveness. Straight Cut on a yellow pad is the most aggressive combo, but I've never gone that rough. I have used Cut on an orange but the truck was severely oxidized.
So for product it goes Finish > Swirl > Cut and pads it goes Black > White > Orange > Yellow least aggressive to most. You can combine products with pads to get a very good progression of tools to work with.
As for Amigo, I use this as a last step before wax to fill and clean.
I do chip repair before polishing & wax.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 184
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From: The Netherlands
Here's the combination chart you were looking for:
http://www.detailersparadise.com/pdf/PadToPolish.pdf
http://www.detailersparadise.com/pdf/PadToPolish.pdf
Vendor & Moderator :: MINI Camera and Video & c3 club forum
iTrader: (6)
The OP PM'ed me the same question and this was my response:
Originally Posted by OctaneGuy
Sorry for the delay---was sponsoring an event today and just got back.
1.) It's not necessary to purchase 2 sets of pads for different cars. To clean the pads, just wash them under a sink or or in a bucket of water. Swirl, Cut, and Finish wash out easily. You'll need a few drops of Dawn to wash out Amigo and Epic.
When the pad gets saturated--you can tell by pressing on the wet pad and if polish oozes out, it's saturated---don't keep polishing. The pad is less effective and tends to shorten it's life as well. It's time to clean it.
So wash the pad, and preferably spin dry it.
Though this currently says $49.95, I've seen this for as low as $19.95.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92623
This is the ultimate pad dryer--can dry pads in 30 seconds. Otherwise, you can get the pads relatively dry by using the PC. Hold your hand near the pad to keep it balanced--if it starts to flap--it will take off! So keep your hand near the pad to steady it.
Otherwise just air dry them. Some people like to use a strip of Velcro on a wall and let the pads drip dry vertically.
2.) In many cases, the finish looks great with the orange pad and Swirl. Many times, an extra pass of the white pad and Swirl will look even better. Just need to try it and experiment. You don't need to use every product.
Orange + Swirl
White + Swirl is usually enough.
3.) Check these PDF's
http://www.detailersparadise.com/_System/_CMS/?Page=FAQ
4.) If you're fixing a chip, you want to make sure no wax is there for the best bond. It's preferable to fix it, then polish and wax. Polishing the fix helps blend the touchup.
Richard
1.) It's not necessary to purchase 2 sets of pads for different cars. To clean the pads, just wash them under a sink or or in a bucket of water. Swirl, Cut, and Finish wash out easily. You'll need a few drops of Dawn to wash out Amigo and Epic.
When the pad gets saturated--you can tell by pressing on the wet pad and if polish oozes out, it's saturated---don't keep polishing. The pad is less effective and tends to shorten it's life as well. It's time to clean it.
So wash the pad, and preferably spin dry it.
Though this currently says $49.95, I've seen this for as low as $19.95.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92623
This is the ultimate pad dryer--can dry pads in 30 seconds. Otherwise, you can get the pads relatively dry by using the PC. Hold your hand near the pad to keep it balanced--if it starts to flap--it will take off! So keep your hand near the pad to steady it.
Otherwise just air dry them. Some people like to use a strip of Velcro on a wall and let the pads drip dry vertically.
2.) In many cases, the finish looks great with the orange pad and Swirl. Many times, an extra pass of the white pad and Swirl will look even better. Just need to try it and experiment. You don't need to use every product.
Orange + Swirl
White + Swirl is usually enough.
3.) Check these PDF's
http://www.detailersparadise.com/_System/_CMS/?Page=FAQ
4.) If you're fixing a chip, you want to make sure no wax is there for the best bond. It's preferable to fix it, then polish and wax. Polishing the fix helps blend the touchup.
Richard
Originally Posted by IzzyG
Heya Richard, got a few questions for you. Finished watching the DVD's but missed out on some parts.
1. If you plan to do more than 1 car back to back(specifically a white and black car), do you have to purchase 2 sets of pads? What's the cleaning procedure for the pads before I move onto the next vehicle?
2. I read your notes on the detailing forums regarding the conversion. Since you mentioned that I should start with a more abrasive combination(orange and Swirl), should I then finish that with a less abrasive combination? So should it be something like Swirl, Finish, Amigo, Epic, Banana Gloss? The video just shows one swirl removing pad/product stage and then to the wax. Or is it just Swirl, Amigo, then move on to the waxes?
3. I cannot seem to find the chart that gave the abrasion levels for the Prima line and pad color. I remember there being a chart somewhere which showed the Prima product plus pad choice from most abrasive to least.
4. If you have a chip on the surface, should you fix it BEFORE the swirl removal and wax? Or can you just do it over the chip?
Thanks in advance.
1. If you plan to do more than 1 car back to back(specifically a white and black car), do you have to purchase 2 sets of pads? What's the cleaning procedure for the pads before I move onto the next vehicle?
2. I read your notes on the detailing forums regarding the conversion. Since you mentioned that I should start with a more abrasive combination(orange and Swirl), should I then finish that with a less abrasive combination? So should it be something like Swirl, Finish, Amigo, Epic, Banana Gloss? The video just shows one swirl removing pad/product stage and then to the wax. Or is it just Swirl, Amigo, then move on to the waxes?
3. I cannot seem to find the chart that gave the abrasion levels for the Prima line and pad color. I remember there being a chart somewhere which showed the Prima product plus pad choice from most abrasive to least.
4. If you have a chip on the surface, should you fix it BEFORE the swirl removal and wax? Or can you just do it over the chip?
Thanks in advance.
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