Greetings,

I've used swirl with the orbital with fantistic results, but in the next week or two I'll be detailing my sister's car, which is black. I want to give Amigo a go as a final step before wax (epic).

What is the best way to apply Amigo? By hand or with an orbital? How do you apply it with a machine, is it similar to a polish (swirl) in that a thin bead around the pad and you work it in, or is the point just to cover the paint and wipe it off?

Thanks for any tips. I'll post some pics of the process, it's a '97 Civic, and it's a mess...should provide good before and afters.

Mosman

 

I use a soft foam pad (the same density one as the wax app pad) and apply by hand in tight areas, use RO on larger areas.

Eitherway I've netted EXCELLENT results.

 

It depends on a few things... what need to be done, what kind of paint and what you feel like doing.

First know that Amigo is very forgiving so whichever application style you choose, you'll get great results and can't really mess anything up!

For basic pre-wax light paint cleansing and mild filling/concealing of imperfections:

• Amigo can be applied by hand, using any soft applicator such as a microfiber covered sponge (i.e. Skinny App or similar) or even a small piece of microfiber cloth. For this basic approach, you don't need to work it in and can just spread it on and remove. -OR-
• Amigo can be applied by machine polisher using a soft black finishing pad. For this basic approach, you don't need to work it in and can just spread it on (at moderate speed, such as 4-5 on the PC) and remove.

For moderate paint cleansing and filling/concealing of imperfections:

• Amigo can be applied by hand, using any soft applicator such as a microfiber covered sponge (i.e. Skinny App or similar) or even a small piece of microfiber cloth. In order to get the increased cleansing power, as well as the filling ability, work Amigo into the paint as you apply it- moving in up and down or side to side motions. The more you work it, the more it will do. -OR-
• Amigo can be applied by machine polisher using a white polishing pad. Again, in order to get considerably increased cleansing power, as well as better filling ability, work Amigo into the paint, moving the polisher slowly and steadily around (at moderate speed, such as 4-5 on the PC).

For aggressive paint cleansing and filling/concealing of imperfections:
(note that as you move up this ladder, the increases in filling/concealing ability will start to plateau; the paint cleansing and polishing will continue to increase though)

• Amigo can be applied by machine polisher using an orange pad. NOTE: Please be aware of your paint's softness at this level, as Amigo's previously "inactive" (inactive in the abrasive sense but not in the cleansing sense) abrasive particles are now being put to work. That said, Amigo and the orange pad is still a relatively non-aggressive polishing approach (i.e. less aggressive than Swirl and the orange pad). This is only a concern on super-soft paints such as BMW, Ferrari, and non-factory re-painted areas etc. Again, the more you work Amigo, the more you'll get out of it. At this level, Amigo will actually do some light abrading as well as it's usual work of deep cleansing and filling/concealing. I would still run the polisher at a moderate speed of 4-5, but it can vary depending on your paint and your technique.

In your particular case of black '97 Civic that you've described as "a mess," I would work it in well with at least the white pad, if not the orange pad. Work each section as long as you can (start with 2 minutes per section and see what that gets you).

Of course, it also depends on how much time you want to spend on this. If you use Amigo with the white pad and move rather quickly, you'll still see some very decent results with very little time. The more time you spend with Amigo, the more it will give you. I'd do a nice sized test spot on the hood to figure out how much it will take to get how far with the improvement.

Most of all, have fun! (and yes, please do post pictures... I think this will be a fun before/after project!)

-Heather

PS- I'm writing this before my coffee so I hope it makes sense!

 

That made perfect sense, and was far more information than I was expecting (especially before a cup of coffee!) Thanks!

I should have elaborated a bit. My plan is to wash, then clay the car and hit it with a PC (well, I have a dewalt) with swirl and a white or orange pad depending on what is required to get most of the swirls out. Hopefully all I will need the Amigo for is mostly the gloss/depth enhancement on the black, and maybe some slight concealing.

Sounds like a hand application should work fine, most likely with little or no "working in" to the paint. I'll see how it goes and adjust accordingly.

The car has only been buffed once in it's life that I know of, probably rarely waxed, and has been parked outside, neglected, for 4 months after her new car arrived. It needs a little attention... Then I'll have to give her a lesson on how to treat the new Mercedes.

Thanks again for the input!

 

You're very welcome. But your civic will not turn into a MINI regardless of how many apps you do with Amigo...

 

Heather (or anyone else), if working in by hand, do I alternate up & down, then side-to-side, or just keep in 1 direction? Also, for moderate, do I need to remove, and if so, what are the steps? Thx

 

i use in circular motion on mine by hand.

also yes, you will need to remove the haze before going to your wax/sealant.