First time with my PC

W

Waxxy

New member
Hey everyone..I had some time today (since its a Holiday - King Kamehameha Day here in Hawaii) to finally use my PC for the first time. I think I did something wrong, as things did not go as planned. Here goes..

First, I washed the car thoroughly. Then I got out my PC and started with Meg's #83 with a yellow pad since the paint surface had some mild oxidation. Is it just me, or is the DACP really, really difficult to buff out with a microfiber cloth after the application with the PC?

Well, I finally managed to get all of the #83 off (I had to use some water in a spray bottle to help with the job), I figured that I should top off the #83 with Meg's Swirl Free Polish. The application with the PC was easy enough (using a white pad).. but after I buffed out the wax, the surface didn't feel smooth at all.. it kinda felt "tacky".

Feeling like a failure, not knowing what to do.. I removed the wax and started all over again with my stash of Klasse AIO and SG. I had no problems with the Klasse, and the paint surface was nice, slick and smooth. After a day of this - I knew that I had to summarize my day and share this with all of you at DC to help me figure out what I did wrong.

I know for sure that I learned one thing today.. make sure that the pad on the PC are already ON the car (with the wax on the pads) prior to starting the PC up. My first power-on with the PC was more like "how to splatter meg's all over mari". It was pretty funny, but I'll never do that again.. one lesson learned.

Any words of wisdom from the wise?

-feeling like a failure-
-mari
 
I have finally almost used up my first bottle of DACP. I am hit or miss with using it right though. Somewhere around 60/40. When i get it right, it wipes off pretty easy, when its wrong, i used a QD.

Some things that might make it hard to use is, heat and humidity, too much product, using QD in a frustrating attempt to keep it from drying out too soon, not working it long enough, sometimes due to it drying out to fast.

When done perfect though, it leaves an incredible finish.
 
DACP is probably not the product you should start out with on a PC. It can be a bit finicky if applied to heavy and/or not worked properly (takes a while to work DACP properly with a PC). If Meguiar's is your product line of choice, I would recommend #80 Speed Glaze. It's not quite as aggressive as DACP, but it works well, and is much more forgiving than DACP.

I would also suggest the following reading...

http://www.detailcity.com/showthread.php?t=5077

http://www.detailcity.com/showthread.php?t=8461

http://www.detailcity.com/showthread.php?t=12282
 
Thanks Boss & Jeff! I guess I have to wait to use the 83 until I get more practice with the PC. Thanks Boss for the tip on the #80... is the #81 comparable in ease of use? I have the 81, but not the 80...

Thanks again!
 
Feeling like a failure is just that... a feeling. It is neither right nor wrong.

you made a choice. so you could feel like you tried. another choice. you could feel like you learned something.

without trying and making mistakes where would you be...

I commend you for trying. Mistakes.. be damned!
 
Waxxy said:
Thanks Boss & Jeff! I guess I have to wait to use the 83 until I get more practice with the PC. Thanks Boss for the tip on the #80... is the #81 comparable in ease of use? I have the 81, but not the 80...

Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Waxxy,

No, the #81 is a glaze (no cleaning/abrasiveness). You would use #81 to help fill swirls and add gloss/wetness right before your LSP. The #80 is abrasive. (around a 4 - DACP is around 6)
 
Boss - Thanks for always helping me with my questions. You are always so quick with responses, and so helpful! Somewhere in the back of my mind, I kind of knew you would be one of the firsts to answer my questions!

Cwcad - Thank you for the words of encouragement! I really needed that.

My body actually aches a little from re-doing the car a couple of times yesterday. At least I'm working off the calories while detailing the car, instead of being a couch potato (but sometimes a couch potato is fun).

Thanks again!

-mari
 
Waxxy said:
Boss - Thanks for always helping me with my questions. You are always so quick with responses, and so helpful! Somewhere in the back of my mind, I kind of knew you would be one of the firsts to answer my questions!
-mari
Click to expand...
No problem... glad to help! Better go rest up on the "couch"! :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top