Just recently ive noticed in direct sunlight ,miniscule scratchs or at least look like scratchs . In overcast or shade lighting looks good . BTW BRG . MCS.
I have had the MCS for coming up 9 months and have carried out a regular body maintainance ,wash /wax/detail etc. . I used the Klasse twins with a ps21 topper applied about every 3 months and use sonus Detailer for carnuba after every weekly wash . The vehicle is not garaged at all and is my daily driver , so I think its time to get on top of the imperfections and at the year marker will be considering using a RO machine to buff out the paintwork ready to apply the klasse system or maybe bite the bullet and go for the Zaino method .

I have researched a little and have come up with 2 machines ,both by the same company Porta Cable they are the model 7424 or the 7336sp they both look more or less identical and run about the same $ amount ,but does anyone have any knowledge of the two mentioned and maybe could guide my decision on purchase . Also what could be causing these very fine circular looking scratchs ? ,that appear as I said in bright Sunlight if you look at a certain angle . Any help would be more than welcome .

Thanks .

 

Porter Cable makes a DA model. Autopia-Carcare.com carries a kit with the RO and pads. check out the site for more details.

Using cotton towels? You didn't post your procedure for application, drying, etc., so we can only speculate. :smile:

I'm using Klasse, but I have not see circular patterns of small scratches. I've only done the AIO and SG once before winter (I have a 05).

Now, with my other car (non-MINI), I take it to a full service car wash whose employees dry off the cars with terry cotton towels. They use a circular motion. the paint work has the patterning you've mentioned.

Got a pic of the pattern?

 

Absolutley NO terry towels touch the main paint work
I use Microfiber throughout purchased from Autopia so they should be A ok.
heres a pic but its hard to see ,because I just can`t get the right optical angle with the camera ,but then you may see something that i`m missing .



I never noticed the "DA" part when I looked before ,but will check it out again .
Thanks for the reply . .

 

I can't tell you the difference between the two Porter Cable DA Polishers but I love the one I bought from Autopia (with the Sonus foam bonnets). It took me 10-12 hours of compounding, polishing and buffing to restore the finish on my 8 year old Nissan Altima (daily driver), but I got out almost all of the scratches and most (if not all) of the swirl marks. It is a very forgiving machine and I had no problems (unless you count my grinding away some single stage black trim paint in about 3 seconds of compounding... bad paintwork... not the polisher's fault).

 

The 7424 and the 7336 are the same identical "machine" with different heads. The 7424 has a polishing head and the 7336 has the sanding disk. You can take either and interchange heads and use them for sanding or polishing.

They do both come stock with a 5" counterweight in the head (it simply screws in with a screwdriver but most polishing pads are 6" or bigger so the buffer runs smoother with a 6" counter weight. It is available as an option or some retailers already throw it in. (costs just a couple bucks)

One place that I get many of my tools is Coastal Tools Online. They have a kit set up already and it includes everything you need for the buffer itself at a really good price. This includes the velcro backing plate, counterweight, etc. They even toss in one bolt on pad.

I get my velcro pads at Autopia Car Care. The Buffer is available there too, but priced a bit higher.

 

Could some one please tell me what the "zaino" treatment is. I've read about people that were applying this when they received there cars. Also, I'm still looking for a good clear bra installer in the San Diego area. Thanks

 

Zaino is a wax. Or more specifically, a polymer sealant. I use it on a couple of my cars. Polymers last significantly longer (several month vs weeks) than typical carnauba waxes. Zaino in particular, can be layered by adding many coats to add to the effect of the look.

Zaino company has a shampoo, quick detailer and a quick-curing additive all designed to compliment their basic sealant.

Check out the website for Zaino.

 

Getting quite the education , thanks guys . Boy do I need it .

DA = Dual Action , and I was looking for the model # to include DA .:smile:

Well bit the bullet and ordered up the 7424 from Coastal Tool , thanks for the link Brad . interesting reading as it has the exsplaination of the differances betweeen models . Also worked out that the term
Hook and Loop = velcro

Now to get on over to Autopia for the pads etc.

Thanks to ALL for your help . No doubt there will be more questions . but at least this has got me going .

Oh a quicky . Are any of the Detailing Guru`s going to be attending the dragon this year . Maybe a Detailing Clinic . Oh ok just a thought

 

I wish I could do the Dragon...just no time in the schedule.

I will be having a Detailing Clinic in St. Louis May 7th for the Porsche/Mercedes clubs and May 14th for the BMW/Mini clubs. But anyone is welcome to attend either event if it fits your schedule better.

If you need specific info email me.

 

Ordered up the pads from Autopia . Hopefully I went and got the right ones .

I got the SFX 6" foam pads and bonnets because the 7424 comes with a 6" contour backing plate . This plate looks like its stiff so probably will get the flex plate as well being as I`m new to this . no doubt you guys will give me heads up to point me in the right direction in this matter..
The Mini exspearience rocks .

 

There will be at least two detailing gurus I can think of at the Dragon: Ryephile and OctaneGuy!



Clover

 

Thats good to know miss Clover :smile: . Lots of nice folks to meet .

 

Good choices!

 

Well thanks to Chris one of our SSM Panhandle Mini folks ,I can show y`all what swirl marks I`m meaning .He caught the light just right with this shot. notice around the sun on the top left .Do you think these would be too difficult to remove .

 

No, Piece of cake! These would be easy to remove.

But remove the bee first. Stingers may cause scratches.

 

Would the Klasse AIO take care of it ? or maybe something a little more aggresive? , bearing in mind I will be going at it with the new RO machine .

Its a nice piece of kit BTW . Just a tad intimidating though .
I could be wrong but by the input Mr Brad put forth I am Guessing that these would be classed as Light swirl marks.

 

Yea, these look pretty light to me. When doing any type of compounding you always start with the least abrasive method first and see if it works. So you could "try" Klasse and see what it does. But I don't put too much stock in it's swirl removing capabilities. If it helps, great.

But I would plan on using a dedicated swirl remover.