Machine polishing questions

[jakeru]

I used a microfiber bonnet over a foam pad on a rotary when I was experimenting on an older car on my polishing technique, in preparation for the Porsche. It worked ok. I did need to periodically clean the microfiber bonnet, but I found I was able to get good correction by pressing down kind of hard. Maybe the microfiber has abrasive qualities that can polish paint all by itself? Sure seemed like that. (A "bonnet" by the way, means a shower-cap like thing with elastic edges, which covers over something.)

When initially trying foam pads, I found the firmer foam pads - I used a yellow, for example, would sort of disintegrate when used hard. That was when I was using Menzerna polish/compound, SF1500 it was called I think, which really heats up. Maybe I didn't use an aggressive enough compound for the amount of correction I was trying to do, so was trying to make up for it by pressing down harder. The pad was supposedly high-end, expensive. Didn't last, probably from my heavy use.

More recently, after going to a dual-action machine with softer foam pads (I got a load of overseas foam pads on eBay for cheap!), I'm getting good results, and more ease of doing it than ever, using a meguiars M100 compound. I really like that compound because:
A. It's aggressive - doesn't take forever. Can even do very impressive things with it just with a hand pad, in places where the machine doesn't fit!

B. It's not "diminishing", so there is more flexibility on how long it can be worked, and no minimum work time. So nice not having to always take forever with the stuff! (It still gets "spent" after a while of course, but I understand it's more a function of it picking up residue, which means cleaning or swapping the pads.) And can't forget:

C. It runs so cool! (Imparts very little heat into the paint, totally different than Menzerna).

I still haven't fully polished the Porsche, but I am very happy with the technique I've arrived at. Here are some pictures of a polished hardtop I did, which came out *outstanding*!
What's your favorite polish?

If there is enough interest in talking car detailing, it might make sense to ask the 986 forum admins to add a subforum on car detailing! What do you guys think? What with how many Porsche folks love to fuss over their cars, it seems like a natural fit here.

I got really turned off by autogeek forums after finding out they delete discussions about products they don't sell, and after having some of my contributions on things like eBay pads and harbor freight dial action polisher tips being deleted there. I won't be wasting any more of my time there. Suggest others take note of the autogeek forum censorship policies, and steer clear if you're looking for an unbiased information source.

Cheers

[Cunningr]

Nice job on that top, I have a hard top also but haven't had it on since I brought the car home.

When I bought my Boxster it had cat scratches in several areas, which I used as a negotiating point. Anyway, I wash then clayed the whole car then used Maguire's scratchX 2.0, followed by Maguire's Polish, finishing with Maguire's gold Wax. I did it all by hand, removed almost all the scratches and fine imperfections. Still could use a good full on pro job. Anyway, I think a detailing sub topic would add to the forum.

Detailing the car is one aspect I really enjoy, only time at home when I get left alone.

[Frodo]

STILL have not yet found the time to dive into this project yet.

Part of the holdup has been sorting through ALL THE STUFF on these auto detailing websites. My gosh, you can spend hours. Just trying to figure out which microfibers to buy and use can be mind-numbing

Anyway, sounds like you (Rick) used Griot's products. I've got a Porter Cable DA polisher (the 7424XP), so I was considering this:

CCS Spot Buffs 4 Inch Foam Pad Kit

The package includes some of the pads that I think would be useful to me. It's also got a 2.75" backing plate, combo'd with 4" pads, which is a greater disparity between backing plate and pad size (ie versus your 3" and 3.5"). You think that would be an issue? I wouldn't think so but I thought I'd ask.

I've also decided on maybe trying a couple of Poorboys products, specifically starting out with their World Professional Polish and finishing with the Poorboys EX (sealant with carnauba). I know the former has very little cutting power, but I broke out the halogen light and got to looking closely at my finish. I have to look REALLY HARD to even find any swirls, and the ones I do find are super light/superficial. (I find this amazing in a 16 year old car!) I'm just not sure I need anything as aggressive as the Meguiars D300. And the Poorboys polish description says that it's cutting power is "pad dependent." If that's the case, I'm thinking their polish on an orange pad might work very well for me. Maybe even on a black pad. (The other nice thing about Poorboys products is that they can be used in direct sunlight.)

Not sure I'd ever use it on my paint, but the kit also contains an adapter to allow these items to be used on a hand drill. Might come in handy elsewhere around the house or garage..

[boxxster]

That poorboys product is more of a cleaner wax and has virtually no abrasion. I would only use that on a newer car or a car that has recently been corrected. My go to one steps are menzerna 3 in 1 (basically menzerna 2500 mixed with their color lock wax) and hd speed. Both have a good amount of cut with a more aggressive pad (menzerna especially) and both finish down amazingly well with a more gentle pad. Meguiars ultimate polish and ultimate compound are both really good if you want a dedicated compound and polish. If I could only have one product though it would probably be menzerna 3 in 1. Its very, very versatile and super easy to use. If you need something that can be used in the sun I would recommend hd speed.

Here is a chart comparing all the different compounds and polishes:

https://www.autopia.org/forums/paint-correction-and-gloss-enhancement/187053-updated-2-2017-autopia-polish-comparison-chart.html

[Frodo]

Originally Posted by boxxster

That poorboys product is more of a cleaner wax and has virtually no abrasion.

Thanks for the link to the more updated Autopia polish chart. (I've been referring to the older one for a week now )

It’s interesting, in the older one the Poorboys Professional Polish was listed in the middle of the 3 columns that were collectively labeled “Final Polishes and Light Swirl Removers.” And in the listing it indicates the product (ie its correction capability) is “pad dependent.” That's why I figured it might be an okay choice to tackle my almost invisible, super light swirls. Throw an orange cutting pad on the PC, squirt on some PB Pro Polish and knock 'em out. In the updated table (the one I hadn’t seen until just now), they move the product 2 columns to the left, into the “Nonabrasive cleaners/glazes.” Do we infer that the product itself has been changed? I dunno, maybe so.

I speculate about that, because of the PB Pro Polish I had previously read online comments like:

“Yes, PP is a very versatile product and paired up with a finishing pad it’s a finishing polish and paired up with a cutting pad or wool pad it will do some serious correction!”

and

“I have done paint corrections on some seriously swirled finishes, from cut to finish using just Pro Polish. It works well in direct sun too. For removing hard water mineral deposits, nothing beats it…Pro Polish is by far the most versatile polish that I have ever used.”

But those (I came to realize) were older comments, made well before even the earlier Autopia comparison chart had come out.

I got to diggin' around in my car stuff cabinets in the garage and found about a half bottle of Menzerna Intensive Polish. Maybe I'll do a light Porter Cable
workout with that on the Box. Should more than take care of the light swirling I've seen. What's weird, though... With what you've said, about zero abrasives and all, would the PB Professional Polish even be a decent follow up to the Intensive Polish? On the one hand, the sales pitchers at Autogeek say of it, "This polish exfoliates impurities, clarifies your vehicle’s finish, brings out the maximum shine, minimizes scratches and swirls and dissolves water spots," and "If you want the optimum foundation for applying a wax, you’ll get it with Poorboy’s Professional Polish." On the other hand, with Intensive Polish, as a semi-aggressive polish/swirl remover, one would think a follow up finishing polish would be called for prior to sealant/wax. But if their so-called "optimum foundation" polish (ie PB Pro Polish) doesn't even have a speck of abrasive, can it even arguably fit that bill? This stuff's confusing...

Originally Posted by boxxster

My go to one steps are menzerna 3 in 1 (basically menzerna 2500 mixed with their color lock wax) and hd speed. Both have a good amount of cut with a more aggressive pad (menzerna especially) and both finish down amazingly well with a more gentle pad.

Those are interesting options. I'd never even heard of HD Speed. But there's a part of me that rebels at the thought of resorting to one-step products. I'm 62...my aching knees and bum shoulder say, "Go for it!" But my stubborn head and heart say no. Maybe instead of the PB Pro I'll pick up some of either the Menzerna SF-3500 or SF-3800 to follow the Intensive Polish.

Originally Posted by jakeru

If there is enough interest in talking car detailing, it might make sense to ask the 986 forum admins to add a subforum on car detailing! What do you guys think?

I'm onboard with that idea!

[boxxster]

It's hard to say with that poorboys product. I suspect that it fills quite a bit, so it might give the illusion of correction when its really not doing much. Maybe thats why it was moved where it is on the chart. I have their polish with sealant, which was also previously listed as being more aggressive, and I can confirm it fills quite a bit.

The appeal of one step products for me is that you can allow them to dry. If your paint is indeed in good shape and you aren't shooting for absolute perfection you can save yourself a ton of time by not having to wipe the product off right away. You can do a couple panels or even the whole car before wiping. Both of the products I listed are a good base for a sealant/wax. Most people (myself included) top off all in ones.

Depending on your color and how your paint reacts you may not even have to follow the intensive polish with a finishing polish. On hard paints, I've seen menzerna 400 finish down wax ready.

[Frodo]

Well, on the PB Pro Polish, the Autopia table seems to indicate no fillers. (The products with fillers are listed in purple.) But, in any case I've drifted away from that choice. Based on a test run on a small panel yesterday morning (using my available Menz Intensive Polish), I'm thinking I'm going to get a couple more Menzerna products---one a bit more aggressive and one a bit less aggressive than the IP.

Another question I've developed is pads. Leaning towards the Lake Country hydro-tech pads as they seem to be getting some good reviews by folks that have used them. (These versus the CCS pads on one hand and the flat pads on the other.) I find that I'm starting to spend more $$ than I had intended, so I was thinking I'd just drop down to the 5.5" pads (from the 6.5" that I'm used to) and not get the smaller adapter plate and small pads.

The issue I need to address is thickness: 1.25" versus 0.875" (ie 7/8"). I'm used to the former, but at the moment Autogeek is out of that in the 5.5" pads. I've read that some folks like the thinner ones. I've hesitated to go that way--I figured the thicker were a bit safer, distributing pressure more evenly and hugging the curves better as I moved around.

Has anyone used both and developed a preference?

Also read a couple people recommending Buff & Shine pads https://buffandshine.com/collections/dual-action-polisher-pads. They've got a pretty nice selection---anybody have any experience with them?

[P_Carfahrer]

Originally Posted by jakeru

If there is enough interest in talking car detailing, it might make sense to ask the 986 forum admins to add a subforum on car detailing! What do you guys think? What with how many Porsche folks love to fuss over their cars, it seems like a natural fit here.

I love geeking out about detailing and second the subforum idea.