Polishing tommorow -- Need help determing what NOT to polish.

[Accumulator]

I commonly run into my generation lexus,.. or the next gen. They are very similar.. from 90-2000.



Most of them are relatively 'clean' as in no mud caked on them,.. -- But I never see any looking like this does..

There you go, yours almost certainly looks *MUCH* better than others.

But I don't see my color, ever. I rarely see it on other cars,.. so it is hard for me to tell how much 'bling' it can have...

Ah...(noting I have numerous silver vehicles)..it can look better than it does. Heh heh, how's that for an answer IME they can almost *always* look better until you get to the "no way, it doesn't get better than this" point, which you'll know when/*if* you see it.

Which is why I'm interested in these 'after wax' products that add to the car. But no one is telling me , yeah you should use X or Y.. it will add to the look...

If a little tweaking of the LSP, or a leaves-stuff-behind QD doesn't do it then you really just need to tweak the prep. IMO that's it 99% of the time, more extreme prep work.

Accumulator - -Do you do this for a profession or a hobby?

Hobby...though to be honest I think of it more as a chore. I know, it's supposed to be fun...that's why I often call myself the Autopian Heretic

 

[Neofate]

Its a flake Silver though -- Officially called Beige on the title .. and Champagne by factory.



It looks beige'ish at night, and Silver in daytime. Odd color imo.



So apparently it can look better. That is fantastic, I always want more potential.



I think more agressive on the next Buff is ideal,.. but the paint is old -- So I am scared to go through it. But it was seemingly hard.. in that the XMT 3 and Orange pad didn't cut out the swirls easily or fast. In fact if you look with the right light you can still see some marr's/swirls in spots. So I suppose I need to go with a more agressive product.



Does this indicate that the paint/clearcoat is relatively 'hard' ? It would seem that way .



What do you mean by the tweaking of the LSP. I haven't used any Quick Detailor on the car-- just the NXT 2.0. Why do people brag about Danase Wet Guard if it wouldn't do much of anything?



I believe you more and more about the prep doing all the work for the finish,.. but these expensive after products have to provide some effect, imo.



I don't look forward to the job,.. because it is tedious to do right. Which is why I'm not 'rebuffing' it right now with a stronger compound. I spent so many hours prepping the car, I don't want to do it again. It really is hard work. I have a problem with going so slow, it gets on my nerves , but I do it.



Which is why I ask could I go faster with the buff, and just cover the area with a bit faster movement but in the same time frame and get the same result as moving the pad an inch per 2 seconds ?



How much pressure do you generally apply to an orange pad? How about to a finishing pad?