Remove scratches

[tandoc]

Atfter reading lots of helpul threads in this forum, I invested ~$300 for a PC, pads, Meguiar's car wash, clay, M80, M38, scratch X, NTX wax.. However, I coud not remove scratches off the 94 Camry. Here is my steps:
1- Wash with grid guard: meg's car wash and shampoo
2- Clay: Meg's sufarce smooth kit
3- Polish:
- one pass with M83 with cutting pad
- scratch X with applicator pad
- M80 with finish pad
The scrathes would not go away and I know they're not deep since I could not feel them with my hands. Any advices will be appricated

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Remove scratches

This can be a bit tricky to answer without seeing your technique firsthand, because technique is everything when working with the G100/DA.

Double check the following when you take another crack at it:

1. For polishing, keep the machine speed set to 5
2. Apply enough downward pressure on the pad to almost stop the machine from spinning. The general rule of thumb is 15~20lbs of pressure, but that can be very difficult to judge, hence my recommendation. You do want the pad spinning though.
3. Work the product long enough to break down the diminishing abrasives. M80 has much longer play time than M83 but both will break down to basically a clear film. M83 does require frequent pad cleaning, much moreso than M80 does.
4. Move the machine slowly over the paint. And by slowly I mean s-l-o-w-l-y. There's a natural tendancy to try and "keep up" with the speed of the machine. Resist the urge. Shoot for something like 6" of linear travel per second.
5. Overlap your passes by 50% of the pad width and only work an area about 2' x 2'. Work from side to side, then up and down, then diagonally. Wipe off the excess polish and move on to the next section
6. Keep in mind that on dark colors you will often see hazing when using M83 and a cutting pad. This combo can eliminate swirls pretty quickly but it usually replaces them with it's own set of finer defects. These then need to be addressed with M80 and a polishing pad. This is why Meguiar's does not recommend the use of a cutting pad with the G100/DA

I had the exact issues you did when I first picked up my DA but once I got my technique down (thanks again to Mike Phillips and Meguiar's for that!!!) I'm getting really great and consistent results. I have every confidence that you will too.

[tandoc]

Re: Remove scratches

1. For polishing, keep the machine speed set to 5

I set at 3 1/2 and increased to 4 with no differences. I'll try 5

1. Move the machine slowly over the paint. And by slowly I mean s-l-o-w-l-y. There's a natural tendancy to try and "keep up" with the speed of the machine. Resist the urge. Shoot for something like 6" of linear travel per second.

I did move slow but did not apply any pressure

Thanks

[TrufflePig]

Re: Remove scratches

my question is this.

did you do a test spot to see what works and doesn't work? saves a lot of time.

why did you go from M83 to M80. M83 is more aggressive. were you seeing hazing marks.

try M80 first and see if that works. if it doesn't on your test spot, it most likely will not work on the rest of your car.

then move on to M83.

now it might take a couple passes. do one panel at a time and cut that panel into 12 x 12 sections. clean it up, do the panel, wipe it off and see how it looks under the light.

if they appear to be 90% gone or less take another pass at it. like i said it might take 2-3 passes.

now as Mike-In-Organe said if you see hazing, then do a pass of M80. M80 is less aggressive them M83.

take your time. work the product in. post some pics. and OVERLAP by 50% and apply about 12-15 pounds of pressure when trying to remove defects. when you're applying wax you DO NOT NEED THAT MUCH pressure.

cheers

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Remove scratches

OK tandoc, I gotcha now.....running the machine at a speed of 3~4 and not applying any pressure will result in nothing more than pushing product around - that's it - so it's no wonder you weren't getting the results you wanted. A low speed and little to no pressure is fine for applying wax, but not for polishing.

I agree completely with TrufflePig's comments, but before a test spot will really tell you anything meaningful you need to get your technique developed to the point where you're actually making some headway. Don't despair though, you'll get it sorted out, and once you do there'll be no turning back!!

[TrufflePig]

Re: Remove scratches

OK tandoc, I gotcha now.....running the machine at a speed of 3~4 and not applying any pressure will result in nothing more than pushing product around - that's it - so it's no wonder you weren't getting the results you wanted. A low speed and little to no pressure is fine for applying wax, but not for polishing.

I agree completely with TrufflePig's comments, but before a test spot will really tell you anything meaningful you need to get your technique developed to the point where you're actually making some headway. Don't despair though, you'll get it sorted out, and once you do there'll be no turning back!!

Yes. Technique is key. you DO NOT want to push around the product as you'll be merely just wasting your time.

perfect your technique. either on your car or on scrap panels. just please DO NOT DO TO MUCH DAMAGE if you choose your car. remember, this is NOT Meguiar's telling you to do this. just a detailer. if it were me, i'd get some scrap panels and then this way you can test out different things. i.e.

• amount of proper pressure
• see first hand results of what works and doesn't work
• micromarring on dark colours
• the proper arm speed

remember when you buff off with a MF you are not putting out a fire like some people think. slow movements to get that nice lasting shine. this is by hand.

if you buff off with the G-100 then you go move up to 5 speed and take it off with faster arm movement.

best of luck.

[tandoc]

Re: Remove scratches

Thanks for the tips. It was my practice car before moving on to the 07 Lexus. My mistake was to follow the pad application guide from Lake County " Set the speed to 3 /12 and let the polisher does the work". Anyway, I tried M80 first and then M83, and scratch X. I might have to increase the speed and put more pressure on the PC. What's wrong of using cutting pad first and follow up with the finish pad?

[dietoremain]

Re: Remove scratches

Ok you're usin the LC pads which are different than meg's pads. Are you using the orange pad(I believe this is slightly more agressive than the meg's polishing pad)? If so it could leave micro marring depending on the hardness of your paint so maybe follow it with a white polishing pad they have or is it yellow heck i dont know the colors haha. Then go on to applying your wax. good luck.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Remove scratches

What's wrong of using cutting pad first and follow up with the finish pad?

There's nothing really wrong with doing it that way, but if you can accomplish the task at hand with just M80 and a polishing pad why do the extra step? I believe at least part of the reason Meguiar's does not recommend the cutting pad with the DA is because, in the hands of an untrained operator, the potential for trading one problem (swirls) with another (hazing) could lead that untrained person to think there's a problem with Meguiar's products when in fact no such problem exists.

[imacarnut]

Re: Remove scratches

always start with the least aggressive product first, and evalute from there. why start with an aggressive product, when it may not be needed...