2 pannels in with the da - am I doing it right?

[Austin-182]

After wanting to have a go at machine polishing for probably almost 10 years now, today is the day i finally attempt it.

I bought the machine a few months ago and have been collecting the pads etc ready to do it.

Before anyone worries about going straight at it without practice, im using my £200 dci as the test car.

Its working, because swirls have vanished and i can see a sparkle in the paint but what im wondering is if im applying too much compound?

The pad has gone quite flat after just 2 pannels, sometimes when finishing a panel the compount is starting to go powder like, if that makes sence Here’s some pictures...

Im using the menzerna 400 with the orange hex logic pad. I also have a medium white pad and a black finishing pad. After i have done the car with the menzerna 400 and the orange pad, i planned on going back over with the poorboys ssr and the white pad.
What are your thoughts?

P.s, before opening the da box, i prepped the car by washing, de-greased, iron x fallout stuff and a full clay bar, then re washed and dried with a brand new auto finesse towel.

 

[stonejedi]

looks like your achieving some nice correction there, your prep sounds bang on...just make sure that you take your time and check over your work/correction frequently.....SJ.

 

[BaileyWolves]

Looks good mate ? your doing a good job

 

[Sunglasses_Ron]

FG400 is pretty harsh. Have you considered trying a lighter cut compound as that may achieve the same result?

When I started out I was advised to start with the least harsh pad and polish combination.

Having said that, Renault paint is like concrete and FG 400 is a good starting point for it in my limited experience.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Got some IPA to wipe down after ? Gets rid of any remaining polish on the paint.

 

[Krarl]

Looks good so far, as above. 25% rubbing alcohol and 75% distilled water between each pass to remove the greasy film the compound will leave behind. The colour looks amazing on your dCi though!! Can't wait to give my Monaco a few passes!

 

[Austin-182]

FG400 is pretty harsh. Have you considered trying a lighter cut compound as that may achieve the same result?

When I started out I was advised to start with the least harsh pad and polish combination.

Having said that, Renault paint is like concrete and FG 400 is a good starting point for it in my limited experience.

Thanks Ron, too late now its done ha!

I have gone back over the whole car again with the white pad and the SSR-2 and it was a different feel to the orange pad and the 400.

In at the deep end then, but I agree with the paint thickness as there wasnt any point where I felt concerned i was going to cause any damage.

It isnt perfect but it is so much better than it was. Probably the first time its been done and its a 15 year old car.

I found the SSR-2 very slick! Feels almost greasy but the paintwork is so smooth now to touch.

Still on finishing up now with the last couple of pannels and plan on applying a layer of wax to sea it all in after.

 

[Austin-182]

Got some IPA to wipe down after ? Gets rid of any remaining polish on the paint.

No mate i dont, its the only thing i dont have. Will it matter that I havnt done that? Not that im bothered on this but i will make sure I have some for when I do the 182.

 

[Austin-182]

Looks good so far, as above. 25% rubbing alcohol and 75% distilled water between each pass to remove the greasy film the compound will leave behind. The colour looks amazing on your dCi though!! Can't wait to give my Monaco a few passes!

It really is a nice colour mate. Sometimes looks a matt purple but then when the sun hits it the blue flake comes out.

 

[Austin-182]

 

[brisa4984]

That’s awesome

 

[hipwell]

Makes me wants to buy a DA to have a go on my Monaco, but 200 is a lot to spent to use something once lol

 

[Austin-182]

Makes me wants to buy a DA to have a go on my Monaco, but 200 is a lot to spent to use something once lol

I got the machine brand new for £65 and the pads and compound were £50 so not as much as £200. Worth it either way though and you can always use it on any car you get.

 

[sburrell93]

Re the powder issue, are you using any water on the pad? The tiniest of sprays goes a long way to stopping it going all powdery. It's a fine balance between that and ending up with watery polish on the panel though. You can get proper stuff for spraying on the pad but I've never had an issue just using water.

Also the pad going flat is because it ends up saturated with compound. You can usually bring it back by giving it a bit of a brush over. A toothbrush is usually good for it and it'll remove the polish sitting on the top of the pad and bring it back a bit. Will get to a point where it needs properly washed out though so always advisable to have a couple of pads if you plan on doing a whole car.

 

[stonejedi]

Makes me wants to buy a DA to have a go on my Monaco, but 200 is a lot to spent to use something once lol

£200 for a decent polishing machine ain’t bad and you will be surprised how useful they are for bringing your car up to a concours level,I just invested in a new rupes Mk3[emoji1417]....

Their is 5 cars in my household and I have been detailing for over 19 years now so it’s a very worthwhile investment I understand members who just use one bucket and a squirt of washing up liquid all this extra cost on bright work can be alien to them...Lol. To the OP your cars paint work looks very much improved[emoji1417].SJ.


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[Austin-182]

Had a go on the BG today.

Question i have is when polishing, do you keep going with the machine until paint is clear of polish or do you stop when there is still a haze and them buff it off with a microfibre?

I have left a haze and wiped away with a microfibre everytime so far.

Some pictures below but not great lighting.

I have only done half the car with just one pass using the orange pad and menzerna so hopefully it will look even better when finished going over again.

 

[Austin-182]

Also what rpm do people suggest?

Im not sure how it works, obviously i know the higher the speed the faster the pad goes but it there a standard speed you should stick at? I have been sticking to 4k for the above pictures.

 

[Krarl]

The faster your machine is spinning the slower your arm movements are. The slower your machine, the faster your passes should be

That's what I've always stuck to and never left a hologram or trail yet.

 

[R3k1355]

Looks like the car was last polished with a brick

 

[JamesBryan]

Speed 5 on most DA's is good enough.

Those swirls you've just removed look to be from a poor wash or dry technique, so watch out for that and don't ruin your hard work after polishing.

 

[stonejedi]

Its just wash marring,the picture just makes them look worst then they are as the sun has got it lit properly, as above bad wash technique or drying.SJ.

 

[Austin-182]

Yea, its got really bad. Its been at a point for a long time now where it needed a da so i have thought it was pointless to even bother polishing by hand. It looked like it had no protection on it at all the way the water was lying on it. Will be sorted once i have finished with the da. The interior is still immaculate.

I think some of those swirls were from the clay bar too. The da took them straight out though.

Its going to need some welding doing at some poin as theres rust bubbles on the rear arch lip and the sill when opening the door has some big rust bubbles. Not sure what would be needed but i assume a full new rear quatre maybe? Until we get a new house with a double garage so i can store it, i wont get any work done.

 

[davo172]

View attachment 1412662


Looks like the car was last polished with a brick

Professional hand car wash finest work right there!

 

[Austin-182]

Professional hand car wash finest work right there!

Not once has it ever gone through a hand car was mate! Never ever!

 

[Darren S]

BG is an absolute pig of a colour to get right and back up to looking good. But when you do - its SO worth it.

Good job there!