Am i using ultimate compound right?

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

appreciate it, im also having trouble seeing anything noticeable from UC by hand, apart from getting out small wetsanding marks and one or two stubborn things stuck to the paint i cant seem to get out even light scratches or blemishes with it.
Dual action polisher looks like the way to go, all i have to do now is a little research. i dont need any extreme cut, i got a cut&polish done by a (sort of) professional about 4 months ago, plus im not the first owner of the car so i dont know how many times the paint has been cut into.
Im not looking to spend over $120 for a polisher, will be happy to stretch the budget slightly if it means getting a much better product.

[davey g-force]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

You'll be hard pressed to find a DA in Australia for under $120.

The closest I could find was this kit on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-710W-Dual-Action-Machine-Car-Polisher-Buffer-Sander-/301007804279?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4615769777

It's 8mm orbit is on par with machines such as the Meg's G110, PC, GG6 etc. So is the 2,500 - 6,800 opm (I'm assuming they mean opm, not rpm).

It comes with a selection of foam pads too. I've never heard of the brand of machine or pads though.

You may be able to find a second hand DA on ebay or Gumtree. Failing that, have you considered the Meguiars DA Power System? It attaches to a corded drill and is the next best thing to a DA and I'm quite sure it's less than $100 from Meguiars Australia.

Do a search on here for DA Power System and see what you think...

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

yeah ive seen that one on ebay, i didnt go for it since i dont know the brand + probably wont need all the pads it comes with.
id rather buy one better DA and a couple of nice meguiar's pads

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

edit: best one i can find on ebay for the DA Power System is $120, would rather go for that other DA polisher on ebay with all the pads included since its not much price difference

[davey g-force]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

The DAPS is $99 brand new from Meguiars Australia (The Car Care Store). See link below:

https://thecarcarestore.com.au/item_cat_list.php?code=G3500INT

If you're in Sydney, you can pick it up and save on shipping.

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

Tempting, but im in Melbourne

[davey g-force]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

So you might need to pay an extra few dollars for shipping then..

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

Ok, so i ended up getting the polisher from supercheap auto, it was actually 170mm the one they had there. got it a little cheaper cos the box was damaged.
Another forum said its a good choice polisher and cheap for a DA.

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/180mm-Multifunction-Polisher.aspx?pid=344537#Cross

also picked up this 200mm pad


went to 4 shops, nowhere had a tad smaller pad.

ive set it to speeds 2-3, was able to get some stubborn blemishes out i couldnt with UC by hand before, the spots ive used it in are looking beautiful and reflection is just fantastic.
Fairly happy, except ive got swirls on the bonnet/boot top i cant get out. Do i need a different pad, or set it to a higher speed?
Im also still unable to remove even light scratches in the paintwork. I believe the pad ive purchased is a polishing pad, but you guys will surely know.
Thanx!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

If you're running this tool at speed 2-3 while trying to remove defects, you are going to struggle a bit regardless of the pad and liquid used. The low speed settings are intended for polishing and waxing and higher settings are recommended for defect removal. Don't be afraid to run this at speed 5 and use a bit of pressure. From the looks of things, this is a dual action orbital (similar in motion to our G110v2, Porter Cable 7424XP, etc) and not a forced rotation dual action like the Flex 3401. That means it's overall a safer tool in novice hands than the Flex so the odds of you running into any trouble, of any kind, is slim to none. Run it at speed 5 and use moderate downward pressure, keeping the pad flat against the paint, and move it slowly across the surface covering an area no larger than about 2' x 2' with overlapping passes. Move the buffer side to side, then up and down in this area, then repeat both directions. Wipe off the residue and inspect your progress; if you removed the vast majority of the defects then you've made excellent progress and you may simply need to do three passes as described above instead of two. Or you may need repeat the full process once more, or twice more. The paint will tell you after you do that test spot.

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

great words michael!
i guess i was afraid to put it at a higher speed being unsure if i was even using the right pad or polisher.
while on speeds 2-3, i was actually avoiding pressing down and used very light pressure.
Will try it on speeds 4-5 with moderate pressure and see how we go.

Was going to give it a shot on one of my parent's cars first but they'll both need a very good wash + clay bar beforehand.

[davey g-force]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

If you find you're struggling with that tool to remove defects, another option would be to get smaller pads. The pads you have are 180mm (7 inch) and 200mm (8 inch) correct?

That polisher will probably struggle with pads that big. General rule of thumb is the smaller the pad, the more correction you can achieve. The trade-off being you can't work as big of an area at once, so it will be a bit slower. The biggest pads I would use are the 6.5" Meguiars pads. I'd even get a few 4" pads (although you'll need a 3" backing plate for those).

Just a tip with the pressure - you want to use as much pressure as you can whilst still keeping the pad rotating. Get a marker and mark a line on the backing plate so it's easier to tell if it's rotating or not. Apply downward pressure until the pad stops rotating, then back off just a little. That's about where you want to be in terms of pressure for defect removal.

[Jess159]

Re: Am i using ultimate compound right?

thanx, the pad was originally 200mm, but ive cut it down to size for the polisher.
im going to buy a white waffle pad (light cut) soon for it too.

[Eldorado2k]

I know it's a bit late for this thread but..
If anyone else is having the same issue as described in OP.
1. Use microfiber applicator pads instead of foam applicators.
2. If you're not getting the desired results with fast back & forth or circular motions, try slower Distinctive straight line strokes with moderate pressure then finish off with a few straght line stokes in the opposite direction [horizontal then vertical] to finish off your hand applied buffing cycle.

I've done test spots by hand on friends cars with UC and have darn near left those spots completely swirl free. It's not "easy".. But with the right amount of passion it's not exactly hard either..

However, if you've got the guts to attempt that same burst of passion on the whole car... You better be ready for your arm to be sore even before you go to sleep that night! Lol.