PC Speed for removing polish?

[sWISHbrade]

Hi guys,



I have just acquired a PC and am thrilled with it!



May I ask how many members here use the PC for the removal of polishes and waxes? And what would be the recommended speed used?



How about the pad used? Is it really as easy as slappin' a MF bonnet on a wool pad:think2



Thanks guys!

 

[justin30513]

I now use my softest finishing pad at at #5 setting to remove waxes. Same principal as a shoe shine boy generating heat with speed to amp up the finish. Works awesome.



But yes, you can just place a bonnet over a stiffer pad to remove wax. Saves your arms too.



You really need to try my process out. Blew my mind with the results.

 

[Accumulator]

I've found polish-removal-by-PC to be problematic. When I do it, I use plush MF bonnets. BUT (big "but" IMO) many polishes should be removed while still a little wet, and that's tricky to do by machine even when you have a pair of them (one to apply, one to remove). Polishes like 1Z and some others can dry, so then you only have to worry about having enough bonnets (and I don't mean just six or eight of 'em ).



FWIW, I do 1Z polish removal by machine when I'm doing rentals/service loaners so it's not like I dislike/disapprove of the approach. But I have a *lot* of bonnets on hand so I can go through 'em as needed.



Removal of LSPs by machine goes a lot better and I probably do that way 98% of the time.

Yesterday I removed a coat of #16 from the A8 using one set of suede-style MF bonnets on the Cyclo, with a CBT follow-up by hand. Worked great but remember that I put my LSPs on *very* thin; most people will need a lot more bonnets.



In both cases, I use speed 4-4.5 (or maybe 5) for removal by machine when using the PC. The Cyclo is single speed but fortunately that speed works fine too.



I use cutting pads under my bonnets as I prefer the firmness and believe that the coarser pad grips the bonnets more securely. I've had come bonnet/pad combos (e.g., Griot's polishing pads and Griot's bonnets) that simply didn't work because the bonnet slipped around on the pad to much- the pad moved but the bonnet didn't.



FWIW, I've experimented with removal-by-foam and I don't care for it. IMO the pads (used by themselves) tend to load up more and aren't quite as gentle an approach. That's not a slam at justin30513's post just a case of different personal preferences.

 

[sWISHbrade]

I now use my softest finishing pad at at #5 setting to remove waxes. Same principal as a shoe shine boy generating heat with speed to amp up the finish. Works awesome.



But yes, you can just place a bonnet over a stiffer pad to remove wax. Saves your arms too.



You really need to try my process out. Blew my mind with the results.

Roger that! Will definitely try it out! Do you think the Meg's beige pad is soft enough?

 

[sWISHbrade]

I've found polish-removal-by-PC to be problematic. When I do it, I use plush MF bonnets. BUT (big "but" IMO) many polishes should be removed while still a little wet, and that's tricky to do by machine even when you have a pair of them (one to apply, one to remove). Polishes like 1Z and some others can dry, so then you only have to worry about having enough bonnets (and I don't mean just six or eight of 'em ).



FWIW, I do 1Z polish removal by machine when I'm doing rentals/service loaners so it's not like I dislike/disapprove of the approach. But I have a *lot* of bonnets on hand so I can go through 'em as needed.



Removal of LSPs by machine goes a lot better and I probably do that way 98% of the time.

Yesterday I removed a coat of #16 from the A8 using one set of suede-style MF bonnets on the Cyclo, with a CBT follow-up by hand. Worked great but remember that I put my LSPs on *very* thin; most people will need a lot more bonnets.



In both cases, I use speed 4-4.5 (or maybe 5) for removal by machine when using the PC. The Cyclo is single speed but fortunately that speed works fine too.



I use cutting pads under my bonnets as I prefer the firmness and believe that the coarser pad grips the bonnets more securely. I've had come bonnet/pad combos (e.g., Griot's polishing pads and Griot's bonnets) that simply didn't work because the bonnet slipped around on the pad to much- the pad moved but the bonnet didn't.



FWIW, I've experimented with removal-by-foam and I don't care for it. IMO the pads (used by themselves) tend to load up more and aren't quite as gentle an approach. That's not a slam at justin30513's post just a case of different personal preferences.

Thanks for the great reply Accumlator! I have a couple of Meg's MF bonnets which IMO are a tad too big. I will try 'em out but I'm afraid if it works, I'd then have to rush out and buy a dozen more! Haha.



Maybe if we pat or spur the pads after a certain number of panels, that would get rid of the loading up problem?



I share your worry about pads not gentle enough an approach but will still try it out. I've felt the LC black pads vs the Meg's beige pads side-by-side and the black pads are definitely finer and softer. Unfortunately I dont have any, and to get them means I would have to ship 'em from the states to Singapore where I live. See how lucky you guys are! haha.



Guess I will have to try both methods and see which I prefer. I will update again once I have some useful information to post.



Thanks again guys!

 

[Accumulator]

! I have a couple of Meg's MF bonnets which IMO are a tad too big. I will try 'em out but I'm afraid if it works, I'd then have to rush out and buy a dozen more! Haha.



Maybe if we pat or spur the pads after a certain number of panels, that would get rid of the loading up problem?

Note that you can try fitting the bonnets over different brands/types of pads. IIRC I use my Meg's bonnets over their 7006 pad, but it might fit better/worse over other 6-6.5" pads.



I dunno about spurring the pads. I wouldn't want dried polish in/on it getting rubbed into the paint, and dried wax residue won't spur off/out the way wet polish will. I'd just get out another one. Easy for me to say, what with my over-abundance of pads