Help with Black Porsche

P

PedroNole

New member
I have a black '95 Porsche Cabriolet. Beautiful car until you put the halogen on it.... I have always been a fanatic about clean cars but was never into "real" paint detailing until I bought the Porsche and put the halogen on it. Swirl marks, lots of spider scratches, some deep scratches, etc.



I have tried several things with the most recent being the following process followed today:



Take a look at these products and order of use and let me know your thoughts.



Started with 3m Finesse-It II

Then used Meguiar's Swirl Remover 2.0

Then used Meguiar's Glaze/Polisher

Then 3m wax



All products put on with an orbital machine (different applicators for different products). When I put the halogen bulb on it, I still see some grey in the black paint reflection and a few swirl marks.



How perfect can I really get my black car?:nixweiss



Thanks
 
Welcome to Autopia. You might want to check out the learn! icon at the top right of the page. Lots of good articles and introductory material to machine buffing and swirl removal. Don't forget about the search engine too, two very useful tools to help find your answer.
 
you can get it as clean as you want. I suggest on purchasing a pc and learning about which products you would like to use. From there tackle the job yourself and you will notice there will be a big improvement in the paint finish.

take some time in the click n brag section and learn from there, i guess seeing what people use will influence you on what you'd like to purchase. good luck
 
Jay-



No offense but did you read my post?



I do have a PC and am in the process of learning about the products I want to use. I haven't had satisfactory results yet with them which is why I am asking for advice regarding products/process.
 
Here's what I've tried on black, and it stands up under the florescent lights.



1) Wash

2) Clay Bar (skip if not needed)

3) Re-Wash (skip if you don't have to clay bar)

4) For the swirls I use 2 products: Menzerna Power Compound and Menzerna Intensive Polish. Start with the Intensive polish first, which should remove most swirls & webbing. You might have to go over it 2 or more times (take your time on this step). For the stubborn scratches & swirls I go to the power compound (but ONLY if I have too). I've been able to remove swirls with the PC using both products, but the rotory is really superior on this step. I've never had to go above 1500 RPM on the rotory.

5) Apply Menzerna Final Polish or Final Polish II with a white polishing pad. Again, I think the rotory really outperforms the PC on this step, but either will work.



A few tips on steps 4,5. -If you use the PC it WILL take longer, and you'll like have to go over it 3 or more times. Work the menzerna power compound and intenvive polish until it breaks down (almost chalks up with the PC). If you spray some QD or water on the surface, you'll rejouvenate the polish vs. adding more to the pad. When using a rotory, clean out the pad after each panel.



6) On black, I really like the wolfgang paint sealer for this step. I've never tried poorboys EX-P, or 4* UPP, or menzerna FMJ, but have heard very good things about these products too.

7) Optional step - apply a carnuba topper.



During upkeep, I skip steps 2,3,4, and switch between Menzerna Final Polish/II, and Klass AIO. Some folks may also skip the polish step #5 during upkeep, but on black I think it helps.



This process & product combo works for me. I hope it helps.
 
PedroNole said:
Jay-



No offense but did you read my post?



I do have a PC and am in the process of learning about the products I want to use. I haven't had satisfactory results yet with them which is why I am asking for advice regarding products/process.
Click to expand...



I guess it was the orbital machine thing, cause everyone else calls it a PC. any how ;)

just go this route

menzerna IP/edge green or megs yellow@6

menzerna FP/edge blue or megs yellow@4

Aio/edge blue or megs beige@3-4

SG/edge blue or megs beige@3-4

top w/any carnuba wax .ie natys, p12, s100, souveran by hand

this should take care of most spiderwebs but if the IP doesnt take care of some of those scratches you could probably go to something like SSR2.5
 
Here's a 3 step polishing combo that I've tried on unforgiving dark colors.

All these products can be substituted with there equivalent.



#83 with cutting or power pad(aggressive,where needed)

#80 with polishing pad

SSR1 with polishing or finish pad.



Whatever LSP.
 
Black Porsche...Ah yes another Menzerna candidate!



Menzerna IP with a cutting pad if the swirls are bad, then switch to a polish pad. You may have to do this several times, depending on the swirls. If REALLY bad, use Menzerna Power Gloss.



Menzerna FP with a polish pad, slow down the PC to 4 or 3. You may want to use Menzerna Micro-Polish (FP-II) as it's called. Works longer b4 drying. If you have a problem removing it, re-wet the polish.



Final polish with FP and a finish pad. Or Menzerna Glaze.



Follow with a good sealant and top with wax. Since it's black, Souveran paste so far has the nod as best for black finishes!



Menzerna can be a bit troublesome until you get to know how to use it with a PC as it was designed for rotary use. That said, you MAY want to go the 1Z route. More forgiving and still within the German Engineering way of polishes. :D



#1 thing with black Porsche paint: Take Your Time! If you do, it will look like a mirror!



Regards,

Deanski
 
I did a customer's 911 that had a lot of swirls:



1. Wash and dry

2. DACP with 8006 pad. The one thing I learned on Autopia was not to rush this process. Work a panel at a time and check your work continuously. I had to go over a couple of *really* swirl areas twice.

3. NXT with 9006 pad. Easy to apply...wait 15-20 minutes to haze, buff out with mf.



You might consider replacing NXT with Color X on a black car. I haven't tried it yet, but understand that it gives excellent results.
 

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To echo some of the others suggestions….try the Menzerna or 1Z polishes or DACP in the Mequiar’s line. The Meguiar's Swirl Remover 2.0 and Glaze/Polisher really don’t offer much in the way of getting ride of swirl marks. I have always thought the Swirl Remover 2.0 was really a misleading name because it is so mild.



Without knowing your experience with the PC, the other thing is it just takes time and practice to master the PC and to get better at removing the swirls. I remember the first time I used the PC I was expecting miracles from reading all the post here. Didn’t happen. Over time I have gotten much better with it. You also must decide what level of perfection you are looking for.



Depending on how much you drive the car and the amount of time you want to dedicate to detailing, you may want to consider living with some of the imperfections. A frequently driven black car will drive you crazy and consume large amounts of time to maintain perfection. Also no matter how good a perfectly polished black Porsche looks, nothing compares to the musical sound of that air cooled flat six screaming behind you, as you blast down some twisty roads at speeds that “kills bugs fast� :D
 
Bill D said:
Any comments on using Menzerna with a Cyclo?
Click to expand...



Never tried it with the Cyclo. I'm sure a little "playing" you'll find the right speed and time. I can check with Menzerna's people.



Love the black on Porsche vehicles.. When polished carefully, it can be mirror-like and deep as snot! It takes time and effort to correct heavy damage. Always try least abrasive polishes and pads first and carefully work up.



Regards,

Deanski
 
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