Optimum Compound with PC not working too well..

P

panda-R

New member
maybe i'm expecting too much, but i was working on my cousins Nighthawk Black Acura Integra yesterday and wasn't having too much luck with water etching and heavy scratches. The swirlies on the other hand came out no problem.



Process was PC Speed 5-6 w/ LC Variable Contact 6inch Orange Pad and Optimum Compound.

Worked 1/4 of the hood at a time.



It also left behind "Orbital marks" maybe i was moving too slow on the paint... should I go over the panel again with same process but moving faster?



Is the PC just not strong enough to work out water etching? I have yellow pads but I don't really want to go that route yet!



Any tips? Thanks.
 
I have the same color/paint on my Accord and remember it being kinda soft. The OC is probably too aggressive and leaving some hazing. Is it removing the water spots at all? I had pretty good results in the past with OP.....but since I have moved to Menzerna products I haven't touched any of my Optimum stuff. I would try OP with a yellow pad and just know that you are going to have to do a finishing polish with a less aggressive pad/polish combo to remove the hazing.
 
mose said:
I would try OP with a yellow pad and just know that you are going to have to do a finishing polish with a less aggressive pad/polish combo to remove the hazing.
Click to expand...



I agree with what mose said except that if I remember correctly a yellow LC pad has more "cut" than the orange. If that's the case I wouldn't use yellow.



I would step down to a white pad with OC or OP. I'm thinking the orange pad may be creating the hazing and a softer pad needs to be used to remove it.
 
I have had great success with the LC Orange and OC on your NBP. If your leaving marks indicating the use of a PC, chances are you have quit before the abrasives have broke down entirely. Thats last pass should be a failry slow pass (movement wise) to insure the abrasives have rolled themselves out.
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
I have had great success with the LC Orange and OC on your NBP. If your leaving marks indicating the use of a PC, chances are you have quit before the abrasives have broke down entirely. Thats last pass should be a failry slow pass (movement wise) to insure the abrasives have rolled themselves out.
Click to expand...

Huh. So OC and an Orange Pad shouldn't be leaving any visual hazing at all? And the last pass should be the slowest?



I've got an RSX but with the same paint, NBP as well. I worked the OC in for at least 5 minutes. Mine took care of the swirls and water marks though. I followed it up with Menzerna FPII on a White Pad and it cleared up the hazing.
 
hmmm ok well what i did was work in the OC w/ Orange pad on about 3 or so until it's spread out to maybe 1/4 of the hood. After that i bumped the speed on the PC up to 5-6 and worked fairly slowly across hood first going left right, then up and down. I gave it a good 2-3min work in before i called it quits and removed the residue with a microfiber. When i got some light on it what was left was polishing marks left by the PC, deep scratches, and some etching (mostly pin hole etching).



Maybe i'm using too much product? After each section I'd apply some more OC, zig zag fasion across the pad not alot, but it was enough to cover 1/4 section of the hood.



Seriously I "thought" i was going too slow because at that rate there was no way I could do an entire car in <6 hours. We stopped working on the car after the hood and front fenders were done... going to attack it again next weekend and every weekend until we can get something nice!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top