Thanks to Mike

[Monk]

Can't find the thread where I posted, but I wasn't getting near the results I was expecting and suspected DA technique--Thanks for setting me straight Mike--I focused on a smaller area and didn't use as much product, and the light scratching is pretty much gone in the areas I worked--really have to look hard--get down, catch the flourescent light just right and squint, moving head up and down (white car--that helps). Second area went faster than the first--so now I am rollin'.

OTOH, I am finding it easier to use Speed Detailer to remove the polish after eash pass--think I might be working it a bit too long/dry?

[Michael Stoops]

I had the exact same problem you did with technique, and Mike set me right also. What a difference, and what a joy, when you figure out where you need to correct your technique and things start working out like you want them to.

This place is just awesome!

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Mike-in-Orange
I had the exact same problem you did with technique, and Mike set me right also. What a difference, and what a joy, when you figure out where you need to correct your technique and things start working out like you want them to.

This place is just awesome!

Along with the advice Mike offered you I would like to add the comment "Practice, practice, practice". Mike and anyone here can offer up great advice to get you started but there are other factors you will have to figure out for yourself.

I have found that the amount of product, hand speed etc. all tend tend to vary depending on wind, tempurature and humidity. Mike has a great thread in here offering tips of working with the weather. There are ideal conditions that good sound generic advice works well in then there are weather conditions where you may end up deviating a bit from the norm. This knowledge comes from practice. You pretty much have to play with a product a few times to become familiar with the basic characteristics of working with it then you'll start noticing you can slightly alter things depending on the weather conditions. Sometimes you pick up on this after this first area you hit for the day. If it's windy you may need to work a smaller area and do it a little quicker than you normally would.

I tend to do alot of nighttime work on my truck and find I love polishing at night. I guess the damp night air makes working the product easier. Sometimes while polishing during the day, when I go to wipe off the product, there are a few very dry spots that I have to hit with a little more passion. At night, I don't get these and my if I want to work the product with an extra pass, There isn't much doubt as to whether or not I am going to risk dry buffing.

One other benefit of working at night is lighting. I find I can work faster at night because I don't keep stopping while working to admire my work. I jusr hit an area for how ever many passes I need, make sure I break to break the polish down, wipe it off, glance at it to make sure I got it all and move on. During the day it seems I spend more time admiring the work as opposed to doing it.

Quite often when I am working I try to keep the midset that I am not after the end result so much but I am after learning whatever I can while getting there.

[Monk]

On this same issue of technique--I find that I am really working to remove the 83/80 unless I use SD or QD. Would this suggest that I am working the product too long. Seems like I only get a few passes back and forth on a 16X16 area before it dries. Maybe now I am not using ENOUGH product?

[Michael Stoops]

Jeff Smith, you make excellent points. While properly detailing a vehicle really isn't terribly difficult once you understand the process and get your techinique down, like anything else worth doing in life it isn't learned in a single session. All the different variables can make it a challenge, but the rewards are more than worth the effort for the truly Car Crazy among us!!

Monk (by the way, my wife and I just love that TV show!!) it may well be that you're working the product too long, or not using quite enough product. #83 does seem to have a greater tendancy toward dusting than #80 does, and either of them can be a bugger to remove if allowed to dry. I have found that #80 can be worked for a very long time if enough product is used (not too much, of course) and that it wipes off quite easily as long as it you get to it soon enough. #83 is similar, but your window of opportunity is smaller.

On a 16x16 area you should be able to work #80 especially for a good long time. I suspect you may be using to little of it.