Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

[Black 35TH]

I'm taking a full day to do this to make sure I do it right.

-car history
The car is a Black 99 Mustang that I purchased about 3 months ago. It had been garaged kept with only 68,000 miles. The paint/clear-coat looked great for the year but to the touch felt dry like it'd never been waxed.

Upon delivery I clay-bar'd it then put a coat of Deep Crystal Polish and then followed up with a coat of Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax. My results were the black paint looking faded with almost black/purplish swirls everywhere so I then followed up with another coat of DC Carnauba Wax and that problem went away but now there are holograms and light scratch swirls everywhere. I purchased UC and tried it on a small area and the stuff works amazing.

I'm going to do this by hand following the technique as described in the Meguiars how-to video with foam pads/taping sections off etc.

My main concern is temperature. I live in an apartment complex with no garage and I'm going to be doing this in 30 degree weather. Will this be a problem?

What should I follow up with? The DC Polish and DC Wax? Or, just the DC wax?

Thank you for your time.

[Murr1525]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

Sounds like using the polish after the UC may be a good idea, and then wax.

You shouldnt really need to tape much off working by hand, thats more for dramatic affect in the videos.

If you already did your test spots, and all is good, then you should be pretty good to go. Got all your swirls out on the test spots?

[Black 35TH]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

Yes it got the swirls out and also some deeper scratches in my test area. I still can't believe how well it worked.

My real main concern is applying it in the cold temperature.

[Murr1525]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

Ehh... its not like the product wont work, but it may gum up a little more. Dont try to over do it... if you only get so much done, then dont rush the rest. And if it is too much trouble, then just have to call it quits till a warmer day.

Try to get out in the sun as well, that will help.

[Black 35TH]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

Ehh... its not like the product wont work, but it may gum up a little more. Dont try to over do it... if you only get so much done, then dont rush the rest. And if it is too much trouble, then just have to call it quits till a warmer day.

Try to get out in the sun as well, that will help.

Cool. Thanks my friend.

[dreamps]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

i thought that UC shouldn't be applied in the sun? so i can apply UC to my truck in the sun? thanks

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

30 degree weather may pose some fairly serious issues for you - the product may become gummy, it may be very difficult to remove, and it may not give you the work time you want and need. We don't recommend using any of our products in temps below about 55F or so, though many have gotten decent results when temperatures drop a bit below that. But in the 30s? We really don't recommend working when it's that cold. Obviously availability of a heated garage can change all that.

As for applying in the sun - it isn't so much working in direct sunlight that's bad, but working on a surface that has gotten hot due to exposure to direct sunlight. A black car sitting in the sun on an 85 degree summer day can reach surface temps in excess of 170 degrees. Ouch. Literally. But on a day in the 40s or 50s a little radiant heat might actually help you out a bit. A day in the 30s, however, really changes things. As said, we don't really recommend it.

[dreamps]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

Thanks Michael that helps

[Black 35TH]

Re: Want to make sure I apply Ultimate Compound correctly...

YES. Dittos! Thank you.