PC7336 paranoia

B

Bl4444

New member
I know it's been oft-repeated here that it would take some work to damage a car with a PC, but as someone who's just getting started with one, and learning by using it on my only car... How much work would it take to damage the paint or the CC?



I have the 7336 and the Propel Pads Sampler kit , and I cracked the stuff out this past weekend. I didn't have much time to work with it, because by the time some bad weather had passed through, and I'd washed my car and treated my convt. top, it was getting too dark to work.



In any case... I first did a pass with SSR1 and the green pad, it spruced the paint up a bit, but didn't do anything to knock out swirls. So, I stepped it up to the yellow pad and SSR2, and it took the majority of swirls off... The only thing left were tiny little "micro" swirls that I have to struggle to see. (left by the PC I'm guessing)



In any case, I was a little paranoid about stepping up to the yellow pad... and I'm really afraid of the orange pad.



My paint (2000 Sebring Convt.) seems to be in decent condition, the only real trouble spot is that the front bumper has bug etchings or something alll over it. They pass the 5' test more or less, but I see them and they drive me crazy.



I've ordered some SSR2.5 and I plan to try to see if I can at least knock 'em down a little with the PC, so I guess the ultimate point here is how aggressive can I get with the pad/polish combos before I risk getting into a trouble spot?



How much of a step up are the various pads vs. polishes. I'm trying to go with the least aggressive combo necessary to do the job, but which should I step up first, pad or polish? or should I step up both? Is it just overly cautious to go:



1.) SSR1/green pad

2.) SSR2/green pad

3.) SSR1/yellow pad

2.) SSR2/green pad



etc... etc...



I wanna get the most out of the PC, but I don't want to damage my paint, but I don't want to unnecessarily paranoid, but I don't wanna get overly confident, but I don't wanna be afraid to try getting more aggressive, but I don't wanna be foolishly taking chances with my paint....etc. etc.
 
I think you are pretty safe with the PC, I would just be aware that you are going to run into trouble over time if you polish too much. I wouldn't do it more than 3 times a year, at least with the more agressive pads and polishes.



I use the same pads and polishes that you do, and here is my routine.



For major defects, yellow pad and SSR2.5. For minor defects, green pad and SSR2. For final polishing green pad and SSR1. Sometimes it will take quite a few passes to get the job done.



The best thing is to try to avoid the swirls in the first place. A good wash technique is one of the most beneficial things you can add.



Hope this helps.
 
Yes, thank you... That helps a lot. I was afraid that by stepping up by product and pad both that I was going to be getting too aggressive. It will make it a lot easier to proceed feeling comfortable about "pairing" product-pad combos w/o worrying that I should be going incrementally through each possible combination.



I appreciate the advice on "over"-polishing too. I'll definitely heed it... and I've overhauled my entire wash "technique" (or lack thereof) since really getting into the information on this site, and committing myself to making my car look its best and keeping it that way.



I've invested in some good sheepskin mitts, adopted the 2 bucket system, picked up MF towels and mitts and quality products... I honestly cringe now when I think of how often I've run the length of my car with one of those scrub brushes at the coin-op car washes.



I know that as quite a "noob" myself, I don't have much to offer others in the way of advice or help at this point... (which often makes me feel like a leech here) but I can't tell you how much I truly appreciate you folks on here who are kind enough to guide us newer guys through the weeds of the learning process.
 
Bl4444,



Just be careful, because this place is addictive.



It's scary how much money you can spend on this detailing habity.
 
bjackson8 said:
Bl4444,



Just be careful, because this place is addictive.



It's scary how much money you can spend on this detailing habity.
Click to expand...





That's why you have to turn it into a part time business. Part time could mean one car a month. lol. Then you can justify the cost of the hobby... sort of.
 
No kidding on the money... I've already sunk way more into it than I ought to.



But, I am enjoying seeing my car improving bit by bit... although it's kind of a double-edged sword. My car probably already looks 10x better than it did even a month ago, but in a way I find myself less happy with it. Go figure...



I was pretty content with the condition of my paint and just didn't pay it a whole lot of scrutiny and I thought it looked pretty good. Now, I pay way more attention to it, and while I do know it looks tons better than it did, I find myself going "if only I could get rid of..." "I just need to fix..."



Which brings me to my latest question(s)... I spent all day washing and claying and polishing... The claying (my first time) was remarkable. I had no idea what a difference it could make.



By the time I got to polishing, the sun was dropping and I only had time to tackle my hood, and had to do most of that under work lights. When the sun was well and gone, the temperature dropped considerably. It's around 50' tops. Would the fact that it's cold hamper the polishing process and diminish the quality of the results?



The most aggressive I got was SSR2 on my Propel yellow pad (followed up with SSR1 on the Green and Natty's Blue on the grey finishing,) but I wasn't nearly as pleased with the results as I was when I used the same combo on my RF fender the other day. It looks pretty good, much better than before, but it doesn't seem to have the same luster and clarity that it had on my fender.



Also, I've still got some "across the board" marring on the hood, so I think may need to step up to something with more bite. Will 2.5 on the Yellow be significantly more aggressive, or should I go ahead and try the orange cutting pad? If so, how much more cautious/delicate do I need to be with that combo? (Can you tell how afraid I am of the orange pad?)



Finally, how long can my unwaxed panels go w/o a sealant... They're fine to sit tonight, right? and do I need to rewash before cracking into the polishing again?



(I sound like the biggest idiot on the planet right now, don't I?)
 
gtbaka said:
That's why you have to turn it into a part time business. Part time could mean one car a month. lol. Then you can justify the cost of the hobby... sort of.
Click to expand...



And if you can't justify it, at least you can deduct it as a business expense :bigups
 
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