Planning Major Detailing Weekend! Advice?

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dss

New member
Hey all!



Situation - 8month old Black Acura CL-S...last of around 8 coats total of Zaino (z5/z2 mixes) around November '02

Problem - Millions of swirls even though I use the proper equip...maybe something to do with my mom's snow broom detailing?...



Plan:



Saturday - Nice weather ~80F - Brand New Griots Garage Sheepskin Mitt :)



1. Dawn Wash (to get all the crap off -in my mind-, even though Sal Zaino just told me today that dawn won't get zaino off and also is less powerful than dawn! very odd..but the man is the man!)



(Not sure whether to dry in between steps?



2. Clay Bar (Zaino bar w/ Z7-Water spray solution)



(Not sure whether to WASH Z7 in between steps?)



3. Buff millions of swirls out with Craftsmen 10" Random Orbital and 3M Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Colors



(First time using this..any tips? procedures? Should I use the "Terry Bonnets" supplied with my buffer? Safe?)



4. Wash Z7 (to get off any buff residue)



5. Dry (water blade and absorber chamois)



6. Apply 3 coats of ZFX-activated Z5 and Z6 spray @ end



FOLLOWING DAY - SUNDAY



7. Z7 Wash/Dry



8. Appy 3 coats of ZFX-activated Z2 and Z6 spray @ end



9. Sleep and hope it does not rain anytime soon!



What do you think? Most important advice is needed on Buffer/3M use!



Thanks!
 
You are right as I have the same concern about the buffer you got.......it may not have enough speed(RPM) and torque to fully break down the SMR to work it properly........and the 10" surface area is not helping either.



If you cannot break down the SMR you will end up with haze all over the car.



I don't own a PC but I think the speed/power of the PC is the reason why it is worth every penny for the people who owns it.

You may want to practice your Sears buffer on another car before you start on your Acura.

Just my 2cents.



Other than the buffer your routine looks solid.
 
By break down, do you mean for the SMR to be removed by towel? Is that haze problem have a solution if it happens?



Have u used SMR w/ the Craftsmen buffer?
 
First, welcome to Autopia :wavey



I think your plan is fine. A few comments:



1. The buffer will work OK; I used one identical to it for many years. When using polishes like SMR the key is to work in the product fully. That means you keep buffing a section until there is almost no product to wipe off. The biggest n00b mistake is when they stop buffing far to early and never receive the benefits of the polish. Don't use too much product and don't polish large section - a quarter sized dollop and a 12"x12" section is fine for starters. This is not something easily explained via the intraweb; you have to learn as you go. Just concentrate on a small section and you'll be OK. Try to polish the whole hood at once and you'll be in over your head ASAP.



2. If you garage or cover your car I see no reason for another Z7 wash on Sunday. Its a waste of time. You have Z6 so just wipe down the car and go to work.



3. After claying, wipe down the car and go right to polishing. Skip the wash. Again, a waste of time. Plus, the car needs to be 100% dry for the polishing step to work correctly so another wash will just add an hour or so to your detail job; pointless.



4. Don't forget to do everything else like clean and polish the wheels, wash out the wheelwells, clean the doorjambs, etc. Detailing is not just about slappin on a few coats of Zaino and calling it a summer. Ya gotta do everything.



5. Since you're a n00b I'm sure you do not have the Autopia Guide to Detailing. You need it. Go to www.autopia-carcare.com and at least download the first 8 chapters. They're free. But I think you should get the whole guide and read it completely. You'll learn stuff you never thought of. Worth every penny.



Good luck and post some pics when you're done.
 
You need the heat+friction to work the SMR's abrasive compound so that it gradually diminishes its size.......by the time you have worked it enough it would have diminishes itself into some minute residue that you can just wipe off with a towel.

IF you have not worked the abrasive long enough you will have haze.



It is really hard to tell what will happen until you try it out.......So find a friend's car or some other car to practice it on

:rolleyes:
 
Plan seems fine

Same remarks as Bretfraz

One extra remark:you plan 3 coats on saturday and again 3 on sunday,

well,

it is my experience you get better result if you wait a week between a session of 3 coats: the Zaino can realy fully cure and harden.

My experience : ymmv



Christiaan
 
Thanks guys for the tips! Last question I have is what pad to use w/ the buffer with the SMR? Should I buy another type other than the included terry ones? Will the terry add a million more swirls?
 
I tried the buffer last weekend w/ the SMR and had no luck!



I understood about the hazing and at one point I was able to buffer until a tiny bit of residue was left, but I noticed almost no difference in the amount of swirls. I only noticed that my Zaino had been removed and that the buffer may have left new swirls. This sucks, I spent $50 for crap! After quiting and claying my car, 3 coats of Z5 Zaino made the car look so damn good! Some of the swirls were kinda filled in and the smoothness returned.



I'm still stuck with a bottle of SMR and a $40 buffer that I can't seem to use!
 
Take back the buffer. Problem solved. :)



SMR is fine but it is a bit tough tough to breakdown. Try using a terry towel folded into 8ths and give it a go by hand first. Work in a small area - say 2x2. Try a couple of applications. It should rid the area of the minor swirls.



Sounds like you may have some serious swirls going on if the SMR can't touch it. Move up to the 3M Perfect III - Machine Glaze and see how the works. The deminishing absravives and generally speaking, the product is much much better than the Perfect II or Finesse It II line.



If you can get yourself some Meguiars DACP, that may help as well.



Don't give, as Scottwax has proved time and time again, it's probably 90% technique and 10% product performance. Keep plugging away at it and you'll start getting the hang of it. :xyxthumbs
 
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