Cut polish or not on my S2000?

D

dale 3

New member
I've visited a few detailers and their ideas are kind of mixed. Some said you should never cut polish today's car becoz the water base paint is very sensitive. And it is not recommend on car with clearcoat. ex my s2000.. But at least two detailers say the only way to go is to CUT polish.



Since I am a inexperience to detailing, what would you guys suggest me to do?





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Thats some rotary marks definetly. Wax wont fix that, it might help temporarily hide them, but they will come back. IMO, the only solution is to polish them out with something abrasive.
 
WOW:eek: Those are the worst buffer induced swirls i have ever seen.



The only way to remove them is to buff them out using a fine compound, than a fine glaze/swirlmark remover.You will need a rotary polisher or a good random orbit polisher, like the Porter Cable 7424 to polish out the swirls.



Wax will only cover up the swirls, not remove them.
 
They are bad but nothing that can't be fixed with a little polish.



If you have a rotary, go with a soft pad and some 3M Swirl Remover, the stuff works really well with a rotary.



If you have a Porter Cable, use a yellow pad (firm pad) and 3M Perfect It-II rubbing compound. The Porter Cable doesn't work that well so I try to use a stronger product/pad combo.



You can get those marks out :xyxthumbs
 
1st, the car was new and delivery that way. (I accept the car becoz it was in indoor and i couldnt see any of these).





"fine compound,3M Swirl Remover, and 3M Perfect It-II rubbing compound" I am really a rookie.. does these mean "cut polish" ?
 
I would not interchange the terms cut polish and compounding. To me, these are different animals. I think of cut polish as the old "sand in a bottle" whereas some of the modern compounds are a lot better to use(though still quite dangerous!!) In that sense, I would not cut polish the car. I would us a cutting/leveling pad with some DACP or FI-II to get rid of the marks!!!



I would ask to see examples of the detailers work and a thorough explanation that is satisfactory to you before I would let someone near that nice car!!
 
No no, I do not think that it dangerous!! I think that with the right detailer the marks will be removed quite easily!!:up



I only suggested that you check out some of their work in order to ease your mind!!:)
 
Fixing them isnt the dangerous part....But not knowing how to is....Take these recommendations for what there worth, gold....Its a shame you didnt see those b4....shame on the dealer for even selling it to you like that....Is it new ?

If you dont have an orbital (PC), you can buy some time, and reduce the appearance, even by hand....Dawn wash...3M SMR, (this takes the edge bite off the swirl)top to bottom on side panels, front to back on horizontals, 3M IHG, same process (this help hide the swirl with fillers)...Then your going to need to seal with your choice of many sealants/carnaubas...I would go with a polymer for durability, and give it a couple, few coats (layers).....

Some you will see talked about on here are Platinum, Blackfire (my fav), Klasse....After the Polymer, go with a couple carnauba coats for additional longevity.....Your really going to need to protect the swirls from becoming exposed again.....
 
Where do you live, if your near Boston, MA then I'll take care of them with you, we'll get that car looking awesome.



Fixing swirls are not dangerous, if your using a Rotary at VERY high speeds with a VERY hard brush and a VERY abrasive product then you need to know what your doing. If you use common sense (don't take this the wrong way) and use what most people use on this web site to correct a blemish like that then you will be 100% safe.



Your all set.



A polish is a weaker product deisgned to maintain semi new cars and remove small defects like minor water spots and small swirls.



A compound is basically a polish on steriods, alot stronger. It's used to remove serious defects but because it is so strong, SOME times it can leave swirls marks behind. To correct this you just need to pass over the surface with a mild polish.



Let me know if this helped or if your looking for more info. Thats a great car and the sooner it's fixed the better it will be.
 
Too bad i live in the west coast :(..

I took it to a well known detailer for estmation today,, he said it will cost about USD200, is this reasonable?
 
kfcho said:
Too bad i live in the west coast :(..

I took it to a well known detailer for estmation today,, he said it will cost about USD200, is this reasonable?
Click to expand...



Is that a full detail job?? including interior??



where did you end up taking it to? I thought the dealership is paying for the cost. Hope you will get it back perfect.
 
kfcho said:
Too bad i live in the west coast :(..

I took it to a well known detailer for estmation today,, he said it will cost about USD200, is this reasonable?
Click to expand...



Isn't the dealership picking up the tab? If so, go wherever you saw the best work done regardless of cost. I hope the best quality work you can find is also among the the most expensive. That way, the dealership will feel more pain monetarily and will hopefully learn to never do that again to anyone else's car.:angry
 
BTW, is this in Vancouver? If you don't mind me asking, which Honda dealership did this? Then I'll know who to avoid if I ever get another Honda.
 
I bought my car from Autoexpert in Burnaby.

I am taking it to Vancouver Auto Spa and the price of USD200/CAN300 is for exterior work ONLY. I guess this is the highest price i can get. I've been to Rod and softouch in North Vancouver, they charge CAN150 and 165.



Is CAN300 ok? too cheap or expensive?
 
The dealer is paying for it so I tried my best to locate the best detailer.



I have been to softouch.. they would wash,clay,wax,polish.. just regular stuff.



At Rod's exotic auto spa, Rod doesnt even bother take a look on my car, he's going to do the same thing as above.



David at vancouver auto spa said they will kind of "cut polish" and redo the entire thing... (I am going to ask what exactly he will do)



I feel comfortable at VAS becoz they are in business since 1989 and they guarantee the work.



Does anyone recommend Not to go to VAS?
 
If the dealer is not paying for it, I'd buy a PC and do it myself.



And I'd never trust anyone again.



My sympathy to you. I don't know how I'd handle such a blow. It's supposed to be a fun car, not something to cause you stress.



It'll all pass, you'll have the most fun this summer with it.
 
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