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Since the weather finally turned nice for a weekend I took the opportunity to try out Ultimate Compound and SwirlX as a combo on our PT Cruiser. The last time I actually polished it I used the 83/80 combo and that took out the majority of the swirls. I posted my before and afters back in the fall, so I didn't take any before shots this time, except for the engine.
My goal in this was not to remove swirls since there aren't many, but rather to try and see how glossy, relflective and shiny I could make my silver paint. I know that really no matter how hard I try it won't be as reflective as darker paint, but I really like how glossy silver paint can look, and it can definitely be reflective. The majority of products used were Meguiar's, but not all.
Process:
Engine
Super Degreaser 4:1
APC+ 4:1
Hyper Dressing 1:1
Mother's Cleaner Wax
Various Brushes
Wheels/Tires/Wheel Wells
Super Degreaser 4:1
WB 4:1
NXT Tire Cleaner
Black Magic Dressing
Hyper Dressing 1:1
Wash
2BM w/ Grit Guards
Super Soap
2 Sheepskin mitts
Versa Angle body brush
Windows cleaned with Invisible Glass and a window mop by Turtle Wax
Polish/Wax
Meg's Mild Clay with Last Touch 1:1
UC via Cyclo w/ green pads (similar to Megs yellow pad)
SwirlX via Cyclo w/ white finishing pads
Dodo Juice Need for Speed cleaner wax w/ white pads
3M Performance Finish on LC black finishing pads
2 coats of Detail King's Cherry Wax
After I took this pic I definitely wasn't happy about the swirls. So I took some M105 and cleaned it by hand using a terry cloth towel and quite a bit of pressure. Then I sprayed some water on the pipe and worked the remaining polish in some more. I followed this with Griot's Metal Polish. Not every scratch came out, but it's definitely acceptable for something under the hood!
I also cleaned the tips on my Borla exhaust. I used M105 and followed that with Griot's Metal Polish.
Overall I really like the UC/SwirlX combo. I can't comment on UC's cutting ability since no corrective work was being done, but I do like the way the combo finished out. I don't believe, based on personal taste, that's it's any better than 83/80, however UC is much easier to take off than 83. I also tried a few other new products and methods. This was the first time I remembered to do the flooding method for drying and I thought it worked great and saved time. It was also the first time I'd been able to try 3Ms Performance Finish. I really liked the way this stuff went on and wiped off with no wait time for hazing. It left the finish very, very slick. Of course I can't comment on it's durability after only a week. I had ordered from Griot's a pad holder for hand application and I really like this. It allows you to use pads like 2.0 pads by hand. Here are some pics...
I applied the Cherry Wax using this method and I really liked it. The two coats definitely added some more wetness to the paint. I know I was a little excessive in how many products I used, but I wanted to try out everything at once!
Overall I believe I accomplished my goal of maximum shine and reflectiveness, so I believe all the work and extra time were well worth it.
My goal in this was not to remove swirls since there aren't many, but rather to try and see how glossy, relflective and shiny I could make my silver paint. I know that really no matter how hard I try it won't be as reflective as darker paint, but I really like how glossy silver paint can look, and it can definitely be reflective. The majority of products used were Meguiar's, but not all.
Process:
Engine
Super Degreaser 4:1
APC+ 4:1
Hyper Dressing 1:1
Mother's Cleaner Wax
Various Brushes
Wheels/Tires/Wheel Wells
Super Degreaser 4:1
WB 4:1
NXT Tire Cleaner
Black Magic Dressing
Hyper Dressing 1:1
Wash
2BM w/ Grit Guards
Super Soap
2 Sheepskin mitts
Versa Angle body brush
Windows cleaned with Invisible Glass and a window mop by Turtle Wax
Polish/Wax
Meg's Mild Clay with Last Touch 1:1
UC via Cyclo w/ green pads (similar to Megs yellow pad)
SwirlX via Cyclo w/ white finishing pads
Dodo Juice Need for Speed cleaner wax w/ white pads
3M Performance Finish on LC black finishing pads
2 coats of Detail King's Cherry Wax
After I took this pic I definitely wasn't happy about the swirls. So I took some M105 and cleaned it by hand using a terry cloth towel and quite a bit of pressure. Then I sprayed some water on the pipe and worked the remaining polish in some more. I followed this with Griot's Metal Polish. Not every scratch came out, but it's definitely acceptable for something under the hood!
I also cleaned the tips on my Borla exhaust. I used M105 and followed that with Griot's Metal Polish.
Overall I really like the UC/SwirlX combo. I can't comment on UC's cutting ability since no corrective work was being done, but I do like the way the combo finished out. I don't believe, based on personal taste, that's it's any better than 83/80, however UC is much easier to take off than 83. I also tried a few other new products and methods. This was the first time I remembered to do the flooding method for drying and I thought it worked great and saved time. It was also the first time I'd been able to try 3Ms Performance Finish. I really liked the way this stuff went on and wiped off with no wait time for hazing. It left the finish very, very slick. Of course I can't comment on it's durability after only a week. I had ordered from Griot's a pad holder for hand application and I really like this. It allows you to use pads like 2.0 pads by hand. Here are some pics...
I applied the Cherry Wax using this method and I really liked it. The two coats definitely added some more wetness to the paint. I know I was a little excessive in how many products I used, but I wanted to try out everything at once!
Overall I believe I accomplished my goal of maximum shine and reflectiveness, so I believe all the work and extra time were well worth it.
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