NEED advice on Polish/machine/application

[mikeg6045]

Hello,



My first post here. I have been reading through the forum for a few weeks, but theres so much information that its probably been more confusing to me rather than helpful without getting involved and posting.



I recently purchased a 2010 volkswagen golf (gti version) in an extremely mettalic light gray color. The paint does an excellent job of always looking somewhat clean, other than showing dust in sunlight (which i'm pretty sure is more do to the wax applied).



I've ordered most of my detailing products online, and have been through a short process of figuring out what i like and what is junk in the short time ive had the car. so i got a small collection of stuff which is just jammed in a box in my closet that will probaby never get used (most stuff i bought over the counter).



right now for the interior i'm using all 1z products (i have the autobahn leather package in my car)



and for the exterior ive got 3 main different manufacturs product lines that ive settled on.



1- autoglym products

- shampoo

- AG claybar kit

- HD cleanse

- srp

- HD wax

- rapid detailer



2- p21s products

- shampoo

- paintwork cleanser

- p21s wax

- p21s 100% wax



3 - dodo juice

- supernatural shampoo

- sourpower wash/wax

- lime prime lite

- supernatural small sampler tub

- dodo doublewax kit

- red mist detailer spray



-and some mothers claybar kits



The one main step im missing is the most obvious, the POLISH, ive realised that pre-wax cleaners arent going to be effective anymore.



One major mistake I made was to use over the counter microfiber towels (basically mf towels that i should have been using to clean oil spills with)

. half of them went in the trashcan the other day, and the other half are in a cardboard box do dry my wheels. And I have some high qaulity microfiber towels here that just arrived from glistening perfection.



Because of the poor care I took with the microfiber towels, which i take half the blame for myself in the way i was using them, i have very small scrath marks (surface only) that can only be seen under high lighting when looking carefully at different angles (think gas station lighting at night). There completely undetectable in the daytime or even under normal lighting conditions during the night, which is why I continued the towels until recently. I also understand that I have to be more carefull about how much i use the towels on a dry surface regardless whether there high qaulity or not, so i'm not just blaming the product here.



so now i'm looking for the SOLUTION to this long post.



I'm doubting that a proper polish can be done by hand, even if the job needed is only light work. But i have zero expiereince with a machine. I keep reading here that its very difficult to screw the paint up with the new machines.



I'm willing to spend the money on whatever is going to be easiest for this task. I would like to find a product that is compatible with the current lineup of finish products i already have. I'm not willing to spend anymore money on wax's , but I am wiling to pay for whatever i will need for polish and equiptment.



I'm looking for suggestions from you guys who have the expiereince in what i'm describing. and if you think this task can be accomplished by hand , or with a machine. If i can do soemthing like this by hand let me know, but in the end i will probably need a machine at some point anyway, so please blast away with suggestions.



i would like to know which of these things I will need



-polish

-applicators / pads

-flex or PC polisher - (which is easier and more importantly safer to use for someone who has never ever used one)

-the application once i do choose what i need



I know i'm asking a lot here, but i'm willing to take the shortest of answers and will be appreciative if atleast one of my questions here gets answered and i can begin to steer myself in the correct direction.



thanks so much (in advance):help:



I would like to add the car is only 2 months old and was built in 12/09. not sure if that makes a difference in paint curing terms, but i doubt it. also, the paintwork is in absolutely perfect condition besides from what i explained.

 

[NismoMax80]

speaking from experience, you might want to break you questions up. It looks overwhelming to read which is why I figure my 1st huge posts didnt get many replies.



I can relate to a lil i read. I am almost finished doing a very involved spring detail on my black maxima. You have to get a machine (porter cable here) to best polish. Using different pads for different polishes is a huge factor missing by hand. I'm hurting from all i've done (just the sides today only 3 of my steps), but no where near as bad as when i did 1/4 of the work by hand.

I personally love Poorboy's polish. I am polishing 4 steps.

(which I'm sure is overkill)



Since I'm lazy i quick detailed it 1st (dodging bullets) my water sucks though i got a mr clean system to filter my water when i actually wash.



so i clayed then:





SSR3 compound with yellow and orange cut pads (depending on area)

SSR2 polish with white polish pad

SSR1 polish with green polish/finish pad

Polish with Sealant with black finish pad



Removed the compound with a blue cobra bonnet. the rest come off slick though I make the same mistake you mentioned, cheap MF towels to remove my polish.



My final step is Souvern paste wax by hand since it is like butter.







Then until winter I will keep it clean with Crystal Mist (the same wax as a detail spray)

reapply wax as needed.

IF it get really dirty (and i feel like it) quick wash, Polish and Sealant, re wax.

 

[howareb]

There are many good starter kits out there that are ideal. Your suggested choice for the machines are the PCXP or the G110v2. Just get one of the kits from one of the many on line vendors with some pads (mainly Orange, White, Green, and Black LC pads) (Surfbuff pads are also great when you need to be more aggressive than the orange). I personally like Menzerna polishes (Power Finish would suit the job you need to do well, just in one step) It has an easy learning curve. After that, you can finish up with 106FA on a black pad.



Megs 105 and 205 is also a nice combo, and although I was a big fan at first I just prefer Menzerna polishes when working on the German paints, especially AUDI.



Good luck

 

[mikeg6045]

nismomax,



i'll take your advice any break my question up, as soon as the products arrive for futher questions. Thank you, as i'm sure it will be a more effective way of getting answers.



howareb,



the menzerna product line caught my eye. Plus its readily available. I think i may go with your advice any buy the setup, hoping that theres very little room for screwup's using it. I would be horrifiyed if i messed my new paint up. Is there any how to video's on using these products along with the PC machine ?



thanks so much for the input guys.

 

[Dubbin1]

I you don't go with the Flex you may want to consider the Griot's Garage 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher over the PC or G110V2.



Also, the M105/205 is a proven combo that is very easy to get good results with. You can also substitute the M105 for Meq Ultimate Compound (less dust same results and cheaper). You can get 8oz bottles of 105/205 at AutoGeek for about $10. That should be more then enough to do you car.



Check out the videos on Autogeeks site that show how to use various products and machines.

 

[Accumulator]

Mike6045- Welcome to Autopia!



Some sorta random thoughts follow:



Factory paint is cured by the time you get the car.



For shampoo, you can save some money by buying Griot's Car Wash in gallons (or Optimum's shampoo). While it's still pricey, it's a lot cheaper than the small bottles of boutique shampoo, and I'm 100% convinced that Griot's is as good as it gets.



Polishers: I have both the Griot's and the Flex 3401 (and a scad of others). For hard clear like your VW's (and that on my Audis), I'd go with the Flex. Yeah, it's OK for a newbie. I'd hate for you to buy something that's not sufficiently capable and end up thinking you wasted your money (and time). IF you go with anything other than the Flex, I'd recommend you use 4" pads for correction instead of the larger ones that are often sold in the "kits". The larger pads create so much friction that those polishers can often be overwhelmed.



Get a lot more pads that you think you'll need, especially if you use the Meguiar's M105/M205 polishes.



Nothing at all wrong with Menzerna products if you don't want to go the Meguiar's M105/M205 route. Since you like 1Z stuff, I'll also mention that their High Gloss polish (pro line) is a good finishing polish.



Note that howareb and I can demonstrate how personal preferences factor it- he likes Menzerna on Audis, I prefer Meguiar's M105 for the serious correction step. Not right/wrong any more than Pepsi/Coke is.



Note that Wolfgang and Blackfire brand polishes are made by Menzerna.



Autoglym SRP is a *VERY* good "cleaner-wax type product. It can also hide minor flaws. You can top it with any wax and many (perhaps not all) sealants. Might be a good idea for use between the final polishing and the wax.



For quick detail sprays, I'd go with Griot's SpeedShine (for waxes) or FinishKare FK425 (for sealants and for wheels).

 

[mikeg6045]

thx for the welcome,



accumulator, i have read some good advice that you have given out to other members, and am glad you have posted.



my dad told me from dollar spent #1, to get the groits package, and he handed me the catalog. He also said there products are some of the best, but i didnt listen. I was buying stuff over the counter until i saw some german products while shopping vw/audi accessory websites. thats when the whole detail things started for me, which fortunatly i enjoy anways.



I still have not made any purchased for the polishing duty. the flex looks really nice, but i just though information about the PC looked more readily avialable once i looked on this website.



while on autogeek i was looking into the xmt line (pinnacle) of polish. There descriptions for light swirl removal #1 sounded like what i was looking to do.



the only polish stuff i have at my house is the 1z paintpolish (green bottle), but i would much rather correct the problem, the continually mask it. if i correct it, i can than atleast see if changing my cleaning/drying habits is actually making a difference.



if i could ask one thing, it would be to help limit my search, and which one or two polish packages on autogeek would best be for what i'm describing ? for either the flex or the pc? there also seems to be some good deals on the wolfgang stuff on there site, how is there polish kit for new or like new cars ?



from what i learned on this site alone, im gonna start with the most least aggressive chemical/pad either way.



I'm not sure if i relayed the point earlier , but i have no problem at all spending about 400 dollars on getting what i need, correctly, the first time.



again, thanks for everyones input.



thanks for the reply dubbin1. but it would be nice to see a reason for your suggestion of not going with the flex. It leaves a lot to be desired to just say it the way you did. lmk.

 

[Dubbin1]

thanks for the reply dubbin1. but it would be nice to see a reason for your suggestion of not going with the flex. It leaves a lot to be desired to just say it the way you did. lmk.

I'm not in any way trying to talk you out of the Flex, I love mine. All I was doing was giving you a better (IMO) option over the PC since you also mentioned the PC.

 

[Accumulator]

..my dad told me from dollar spent #1, to get the groits package, and he handed me the catalog. He also said there products are some of the best, but i didnt listen..

Heh heh, my late father was a big fan of Griot's Garage too!

I still have not made any purchased for the polishing duty. the flex looks really nice, but i just though information about the PC looked more readily avialable once i looked on this website.

There's more info about he PC as they're more common than the Flex.

while on autogeek i was looking into the xmt line (pinnacle) of polish. There descriptions for light swirl removal #1 sounded like what i was looking to do.

Sorry, not familiar with the Pinnacle XMT line :nixweiss

the only polish stuff i have at my house is the 1z paintpolish (green bottle), but i would much rather correct the problem, the continually mask it. if i correct it, i can than atleast see if changing my cleaning/drying habits is actually making a difference.

The 1Z PP (good product, BTW) does do some abrasive correction, but it's kinda gentle for use on hard clear. Yeah, it does some concealing too, in part from the wax it leaves behind.



That the 1Z PP doesn't correct the problem is a clue into how hard your clear really is. 1Z PP is a medium-strength product (abrasion-wise).

if i could ask one thing, it would be to help limit my search, and which one or two polish packages on autogeek would best be for what i'm describing ? for either the flex or the pc? there also seems to be some good deals on the wolfgang stuff on there site, how is there polish kit for new or like new cars ?

I'm not familiar with the Autogeek kits, but I'd get the Flex with some 6-6.5" pads. Meguiar's, Menzerna, or Wolfgang (made by Menzerna) polishes should all work well.

from what i learned on this site alone, im gonna start with the most least aggressive chemical/pad either way.

OK, but you'll quickly find that you need a fairly aggressive combo.

I'm not sure if i relayed the point earlier , but i have no problem at all spending about 400 dollars on getting what i need, correctly, the first time.

Then my vote is still for the Flex 3401. The Griot's 6" RO polisher is another good unit, and it can take different sizes of backing plates/pads, but I think the Flex is the way to go.