PC not cutting out all of the swirls on a Vette, PICS!!

6

604_Coast

New member
Wow is this ever frustrating!! I"m new to Porter Cable work, and I can't seem to get the swirls out of my father's '87 Corvette. The pictures show a sample of the front end with swirls, then the headlight cover which I went over twice with a 5.5" orange pad with Megs #83 DACP. As you can see (kind of, pics dont show all that great) it got some of it out, but definitely not enough!









I really thought that this combo would be enough to tackle them, but I guess not? So basically I'm trying to figure out what type of pad I need to try out, or what type of polish, or a combo of a pad/polish?



I don't think it has anything to do with my technique, I used the Excel detail site as a guideline, work in left to right on 2, up and down on 4, final pass on high speed.



Thoughts, comments, suggestions, insults, lets hear them!
 
Are you applying pressure? If you apply some pressure and still don't get results, try upgrading to a yellow pad or a stronger abrasive. Also, make sure you're working super slowly.
 
I am applying a good amount of pressure, I'll try one more pass really slowly and report back. I was thinking yellow cut pad also, we'll see.
 
From my experiences, vette clear is really hard, I had to use a rotary and even then it took me a few passes. Maybe try stepping up to the yellow pad.
 
I've also heard corvette clear is very hard- you might need 5 or 6 passes. If you can get a hold of some spots pads, they might help.
 
Went for the 3rd pass with the 5.5" orange pad and DACP. Very slowly this time, about a foot per 10 seconds. Got a bunch more marks out, still some stray marks, no real swirls though. Looks like a yellow pad is in order...?
 
I've worked on some heavily swirled vette paint, it ain't fun but it can be done. your going to need more than #83 to get the job done. Get some SSR 3 or OHC, SSR 3 will cut a little better. Use this with either a cutting pad or an orange cutting pad, you will have to see which cuts better. Change pads when they cake up so you get the maximum cutting from them. Use good pressure and move "very very" slow and check to see if the paint is getting too hot, if it is move a little faster with your PC. You will have to go over it a least twice maybe even three times with the compound to remove the swirls, Vette paint is very hard. At this point you should have the swirls out and be able to move on to a polish to bring up the shine. Once over with a polish like OP or SSR 1 should do it, if it's really hazy from compounding you may need to go over it once more with the polish. With dark paint somr RMG is nice or even 1Z MP. Top it and your done.
 
I almost forgot, use your PC on speed 6 for vette clear. I use speed six for everything unless I'm applying a glaze or lsp's.
 
Thanks DSVWGLI, I see you're in Vancouver...where do you pick up your detailing supplies? Is Downtown Autospa competitively priced with online vendors? I've been wondering where to go around the lower mainland for supplies.



If I can get the Optimum or Poorboys products around Van I'll grab a yellow pad and use one of those two polishes to see how it works on this tough clear.
 
604_Coast said:
Thanks DSVWGLI, I see you're in Vancouver...where do you pick up your detailing supplies? Is Downtown Autospa competitively priced with online vendors? I've been wondering where to go around the lower mainland for supplies.



If I can get the Optimum or Poorboys products around Van I'll grab a yellow pad and use one of those two polishes to see how it works on this tough clear.
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I live on Vancouver Island actually. I get my supplies from carcaresmart.com and eshine.com the only place I can find quality products in Canada. Good prices and selection. You can find everything you will need on those sites. Are you in the Vancouver area?
 
I'm just south of Whistler. I'll have a look at those sites. It must be late to have such bad reading comprehension I never noticed the "island" under Vancouver. Yiiikes!
 
I agree.. I now use speed 6 for ALL abrasives. Make sure you REALLY break down the DACP.. it's a funny compound... seems that on some cars a few quick passes breaks it down enough to remove it all, but it seems to be able to handle quiiiiite a few passes and break down even more if necessary. If that does not work... I really like the 3M Fine Cut > #80 Speed Glaze combo I had to use on my T/A... but my marring was beyond belief and so much worse than the pics you showed... so I'd experiment more w/ the DACP if I were you.
 
Thanks Drew, the swirls are alot worse than the pics show, like when in direct sunlight I cringe at how many swirls there are. But yea, I'm gonna pick up a yellow pad here, and if that doesnt work, I think I'm gonna try the Optimum Hyper Compound, lots of good words about it.
 
Trust me if you have moderate to heavy swirling on a Vette you will need the most abbrasive of polish with a PC. #83 will hardly do anything. OHC or SSR 3 with a cutting pad will still take you all day to clear things up, but it will get the job done. I find SSR 3 cuts a little quicker on Vette clear than OHC.
 
Yep you guys were right, #83 doesn't touch it no matter what pad!! I picked up a burgandy Megs cutting pad, didn't change the swirling one bit. My dad is trying to sell the car this weekend at some Vette shows so I abandoned any attempts and just waxed with S100. I need to get my hands on some OHC or SSR3...anyone have any thoughts as to which would be best or are they both pretty good products?
 
604_Coast said:
Yep you guys were right, #83 doesn't touch it no matter what pad!! I picked up a burgandy Megs cutting pad, didn't change the swirling one bit. My dad is trying to sell the car this weekend at some Vette shows so I abandoned any attempts and just waxed with S100. I need to get my hands on some OHC or SSR3...anyone have any thoughts as to which would be best or are they both pretty good products?
Click to expand...



As I have already mentioned they are both great products, I use them both a lot. As far as which one is the most aggressive that would be SSR3. I would recommend both polishes but if you only want the most aggressive then get SSR3. OHC gives you a longer work time with no dusting, SSR3 gives you quicker results with a little more hazing. So they both have their pluses.
 
How long, total, are you working each appliation. 83 takes about 2 minutes to fully breakdown a 2ftx2ft section.
 
TH0001 said:
How long, total, are you working each appliation. 83 takes about 2 minutes to fully breakdown a 2ftx2ft section.
Click to expand...



I was working about a foot per "ten one-thousands". I cant imagine going much slower, actually I was about to start a thread to get a general idea at what speed people make passes with the PC with compounds, polishes, etc.
 
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