DA in Amateur hands

[buddyh42]

How risky is the DA to use in unexperienced Amateur hands, I have not bought it yet but dont want to be buying it and using it then finding out that i have done too much damge to the paint that i will end up needing a respray. Was thinking on using UC or SwirlX.
The car has never been looked after apart from washing at local car wash and it is a 1999 so not really got a good shine and I am hoping to get it so people will go WOW like a lot of your cars, ( think it might be hard though as i see most of the cars on here are dark colored where as mine is light grey/silver) .

[imranhakro]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

DA is easy and safe to use, just learn the basics on Meguiar's channel on youtube.
Then get ur hands on practical, but start with finishing pad and 1st learn to apply wax with DA. There is nothing to be afraid of. your this thread reminds me my early days of detailing, where i was also much afraid to use DA and concerned like you, but once i used it, and got my hands on experience then i was happy and relax

So i suggest u too, to start with wax application with DA through finishing pad, and slowly learn ur way to aggressive pads and products. (Its like going reverse of 5 step paint care cycle - first get used to of wax application, then learn applying polish, then get ur hands on swirl removing, and the advanced stage is compounding )

Tip: Keep the PAD flat at all times while using DA, or else the DA will wobble, which is bad.

Happy detailing

[NZ ECO1]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

Hi Buddyh42,
It's as safe as houses. Honestly, you really can't do any damage to your paint with one of these. If you are a little nervous maybe start with something a little less aggressive than UC or SwirlX. M80 is easy to use, good for practicing your technique and doesn't have too much cut but will still make a nice improvement to tired paint. Once your confidence has improved try more aggressive products like UC if you think the paint needs it. Stick with the yellow soft buff pads and you can't go wrong.

[buddyh42]

Hi there thanks for ypur answers and adviceI will take it all and put it into practice.
One thing though, M80 i dont think we get that in the UK either that or it is called something else will need to check.
Thanks again

[FX4619]

Applying polish is easy too because normally its applied with the finishing pad and it's wiped off while still wet. The key is learning how to do defect removal with a polishing pad and compound. By learning I mean removing defects with the right technique, not ruining your paint job. With a little technique and common sense it's almost impossible to damage your paints finish with a DA.

[h_bomm]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

What is DA haze, what causes it and how do you get rid of it?

[Murr1525]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

SwirlX, Ult. Polish, #9 Swirl Remover are all on the mild side of things, and would be good to use the first time.

Haze would be cause by using too strong of a product or pad, so that fine swirls are left behind (or sometimes knowing you may leave it behind to fix other problems). It just needs cleaned up with a milder combo.

[wifpd4]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

Removing swirls is sometimes a multiple step process of using an aggressive product and aggressive pad, following that with a moderately aggressive product and pad, then using a nearly non-aggressive product and pad. Gradually those swirls are made smaller and smaller till they are gone. One of the products used will leave behind those very fine swirls that are better described as a haze or a "graying" of the clear coat. The product has taken larger defects and made them smaller more "micro" and you may hear "marring" or "micro-marring" or "haze" terminology used to describe this intermediary step in the process. So Ultimate Compound may leave a haze that Ultimate Polish may remove. It can be part of the process of clarification of the clear coat. The paint may appear dull. For example, black may appear dull or gray...hazed.

[h_bomm]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

awesome! thanks guys, you always give good answers and your wealth of knowledge is appreciated by guys like me

[Michael Stoops]

Re: DA in Amateur hands

The three greatest risks of damage to your paint when using a DA are:

1. Dropping the tool on your car
2. Working on an old car (30+ years) with original single stage lacquer that has thinned with age
3. Actually believing that is completely impossible to damage your paint with a DA

That last one requires some further discussion. It is common to read on detailing forums that it is impossible to damage your paint with a DA, and we're here to tell you that anything is possible. It is extremely rare, and usually happens when someone does something fairly extreme in the buffing process such as running the tool at maximum speed, applying a lot of pressure in a small area for an extended period of time, and using a very aggressive compound and pad. The short way to describe that: a lack of common sense. Sure, there are times when you need to get a bit more aggressive, like when you're trying to remove a deep etch mark from a bird dropping. But that doesn't mean you stop thinking about what's going on between the tool, pad, liquid, and your paint. We always say that of all the tools you have available to you when working on your paint - buffers, pads, chemicals, towels, applicators, your hands, eyes, brain - don't let your brain be the first tool you stop using.

Compare this to a rotary buffer, though, and you get an even better sense for just how safe a DA is to use. Consider this: in the vast majority of cases, using a DA incorrectly simply results in diminished returns; you just don't get rid of all the defects you wanted to remove. But use a rotary wrong, and you've either got a mess of buffer swirls to clean up, or with a moment of inattention you burn through an edge, damage a piece of trim, a headlight or tail light lens, etc.

We teach proper use of the DA in our Saturday Classes, and while we've seen many people start out with very poor technique, we've never once seen anyone do any damage in one of these classes. Read through D/A Buffing 101 - An Introduction to the G110v2 and similar tools and you'll get a good idea for just how easy it is to use this tool.