Best Hand Application Polish?

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WickedLTZ

New member
Hey all,



I haven't been on the forum for very long but I have been looking at posts like 2 hours every day since I joined. Anyway, I have bought quite a few products already but

now all I am needing is good polish that provides great results by hand. I am not sure how far into this detailing thing I am going to get so I don't want to invest in the PC right now. I also realize that it will take longer doing it by hand, but I just want to go slow and steady anyway to get good practice, and then if I really like it I can get the PC.

So basically all I need is some recommendations on a good polish for light swirls/oxidation and then maybe a recommendation for heavier swirls and defects. Could you guys also recommend on a good hand application paint cleaner? And what kind of applicator should I use?



Thanks for all the help
 
My biggest regret in detailing is not buying a PC sooner. It simply takes the shine to another level and is very easy to use.



But to answer your original question, I have used Sonus SFX-2 by hand with good results
 
Locally Scratch X. If you are ordering it I get Menzerna IP. They key is repeated application until you get the results desired. For all of the time you are gonna invest it will be worth getting a PC.
 
Yeah, honestly if you intend to do the whole car then a PC is the only way to go. There is only so much you can do by hand as far as polishing, and your arm will thank you when you get the PC if you are going to work large areas. Also, the results you will get by hand don't compare to what the PC can do so don't let that be your benchmark. If you are going to be doing stuff by hand for now you may want to aim more for a glaze than a polish. It is easier to FILL/HIDE swirls by hand than it is to REMOVE them by hand.
 
Ok, then what is a good glaze that I could use until I work up the nerve to buy a PC? AIO? And can I use a wax over the glaze?
 
I am in a similar situation and I already got all my other stuff except for a cleaner/polisher. I was told to get #80 or 1Z PP. Now you guys make it sound like it's crazy to do the entire car by hand with #80.
 
Like others I regret not buying a PC sooner and sticking to hand polishing for years. I have found that it is near on impossible to remove the swirls by hand.



In the time I spent polishing by hand #80 with a terry towel to prevent uneven polishing and marring is possible. The same as Scratch X on a whole car, both are hard work though. Same is true for Megs #82 or #9.



If you want an old school type paint polish that cuts well by hand, Autoglym Paint renovater work well by hand.



Other products to consider that are easy to use, but wont really touch the swirls or marring much are the VM as mentioned, or Autoglym Super Resin. Other Chemical based cleaners such as Poorboys Polish with Carnuba or Klasse AIO work well by hand to. After that you are on to products to hide swirls by hand, Meguiars Hand Polish #81 or Show Car Glaze #7. Clearkotes Red Machine Glaze can be used by hand but is not as easy as VM. The Clearkote Yellow Cream Wax works well by hand (despite the name this is a glaze type product).
 
The only polishes I've used by hand are Vanilla Moose and P21S GEPC. They both worked well, and the fillers helped me out a little too. :)
 
If you're looking for a glaze to fill swirls, you don't have to go boutique or pro.



Mothers Sealer & Glaze and Megs Step 2 Polish are good glazes to get OTC.
 
I will look into the Vanilla Moose a little more. Can a wax be applied after it? I just have light marring on my vehicle, but even then I am not feeling up to the task of spending hours to actually remove them by hand. Until I get the PC I will just fill them in, which will make the car still look great.



Also, what type of applicator do you recommend for applying the filler?
 
I haven't used my VM yet, but Poorboy's Pro Polish is really nice for removing minor swirls by hand as well as cleaning. I haven't used AIO on any bad paint surfaces (only good ones), but it's great for getting wax/polish stains off of certain kinds of trim.
 
David has some great deals here.



http://www.autopia-carcare.com/garagesale.html



MPPC (#97) is a great paint cleaner, discontinued due to CCAB and EPA regulations, that is still available at Autopia. I prefer #80.



Also a good time to stock up on #34, #43 and #83.



Excellent prices and don't forget tu use your discount code(s).



Edited to correct typo. Wanted to type 40 not 43.
 
zimmerDN said:
I am in a similar situation and I already got all my other stuff except for a cleaner/polisher. I was told to get #80 or 1Z PP. Now you guys make it sound like it's crazy to do the entire car by hand with #80.
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Pretty much. Seriously, if you want good looking paint a PC doesn't cost all that much. $99 for a PC 7336 at Lowe's. Removing swirls by hand just ain't gonna happen in any effective way.
 
WickedLTZ said:
I will look into the Vanilla Moose a little more. Can a wax be applied after it?
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Yeah, topping VM is a good idea, it doesn't last all that long by itself. I usually apply VM with the PC, but a foam (hand) applicator or a MF will work fine too.
 
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