Pre-Detail Evaluation...

brandn3w said:
... I was under the assumption that the hydrotech pads were too (how should I say this) new, and very basic in design. I see all the tried and true LC CCS pads and then see just 2 HT pads capable of doing everything.
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That's commendably sensible skepticism. In this case though, these newfangled pads are worth trying. The tangerine one is supposedly a rebranded version of the Griot's orange that I've used on-and-off forever so it's not really all *that* new/different. The cyan one is just a more aggressive version.





None-the-less, I trust you and the reason for the SIP/UF was of course from reading great reviews, having a pretty hard paint to deal with (as well as some heavy marring), AND from reading that 105/205 wasn't all THAT user friendly.
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Different people will have different preferences, and I can cast stones in either direction with regard to diminishing/non-diminishing abrasives.



Still have to brush up on the IPA wipes and inspections...
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Don't fall into thinking that you need to IPA whenever you polish. Plenty of people don't do it at all and they're still happy with their outcomes.



Note that Mike Phillips and I have joked about how I sometimes approach this stuff as if somebody were following people around with a 3M SunGun, doing goofy-rigorous inspections. It's one of those "Pitfalls of Autopia" where you start to think that nothing but perfection is good enough, and then you start redefining perfection.



If you can connect with Gusbubba I think you'd quickly get the hang of this stuff and he could be a good reality-check about what is/isn't real-world feasible.



Oh and here's a link to the lights I'm considering:
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For the price, sure, why not? The trouble is that you just never know how well a given set of lights work until you try them- I suspect it has a lot to do with the reflectors. I have two sets of halogens and the *really* crappy cheap set shows flaws much better than the nice expensive one :nixweiss



Again, this gets into how *you* define what's good enough. Do you really want/need to see every little flaw or are you aiming to get your car "merely" (scare-quotes intentional) really, really nice?
 
I like what you said about perfectionism and it's critique. For a very show-inspired hobby I can definitely foresee it becoming ridiculous. Once again, if I can get ~80% correction I'll be MORE than happy.





Sounds good! Thanks a ton and later today I'll be sure to order up some stuff and God-willing Thanksgiving break holds some nice days so I can give this a shot and/or meet up with Gus.





You guys have been a great help and of course I'll be posting up as things come along =]





I'll wait to see if anyone else suggests adding anything, but for now I look okay.





As always, thanks again and all information is GREATLY appreciated!
 
Hook up with the other member (gusbubba) someone with experience is the best learning curve because they can set you on the right track, The rest of the curve just comes with experience.



IIRC if you have the extra cash and some time, There is a detailing course on a weekend in Pittsburgh. I forget who runs it. But a little more direction and some hands on training will help also. They require you to use their products. But Like I said some extra education never hurts
 
Thanks! Yes, I've talked with Gusbubba already on the phone and he was extremely helpful. I believe I have a good beginning handle on things. Regardless, he has offered help if I get stuck so Thank God I have a that available to me =]
 
Okay, I had a little time that I took on that horrid quarter panel just to get a feel for what I'm doing. Called up Gusbubba and he guided me through some mistakes I made. I applied TOO much 205 because when it came to LSP it left a haze despite #34 wipedown AND because I underworked it. I couldn't quite work it "clear/in" (per say) I had so much :-X There does seem to be a LOT of oils in the 205 product though and Gusbubba suggested I had been polishing well, the polish. Made perfect sense. Needed a better LSP so per reading and his oversight grabbed MF applicators and #26. Definitely love the smell and it leaves a very DEEP/WET look I was hoping for.



The paint definitely is hard, ha. I feel I need to go slower and add some more pressure with the 105, but I was afraid of it flashing and kind of kept a slow/hurried pace. I LOVE how this stuff finishes out though! I felt I almost didn't need the 205! In any event, God-Willing during Thanksgiving break I'll get the opportunity to go over the car and spend some more time with it.





Anyway, on to some pictures. I believe these are just after 105 for 3 hits then 205 for 1, but I really don't remember. I tried taking ones just a little ago with the #26, but poor lighting left poor pictures. Tomorrow in the sun I'll get some reflections and see how much more I need to work it.



Pads were Cyan and Tangerine per Accumulator. Thanks for the tip they work fantastic!





 
Thanks, buddy!



A LOT of credit goes to you answering my annoying questions and giving expert advise. Thanks again, man...





Oh and yes that IS orange peel. Car was repainted on that corner as it was backed into when the previous owner had the car. I knew the paint would be thicker here AND it had the most "damage", hence why I took on this section first. I think it will get better both aesthetically and in procedure. I reviewed technique with Gusbubba and feel the next attempt will go quite well. Not to mention the majority of the remaining uncorrected car is just swirling/hologramming I KNOW I can get out, soooooo I'm really excited when I get to go at it again! haha



Thanks for comments/suggestions/criticism, guys. Appreciate any and all tips... =]
 
Well I was having quite a time today using #34 and IPA wipe downs. I kept getting hazing and I thought it was micromarring. However, I would come to find it was as Gusbubba and my Dad assumed all of the chemicals reacting. I also learned that Meguiar's has a TON of additives that only come off after a good wash. So after panicking and bothering Gusbubba with micromarring that wasn't there I found out something: Audi paint is made from kryptonite. LOL :-X





This is a quick reminder of what I'm dealing with here.







Here is the 'hazing/micromarring' I kept getting and thinking it was from the 105. Well, I later realized it was neither just chemicals reacting. Should have known it wasn't caused by a DA on Brilliant Black, haha...







This is AFTER I washed the car and got to see what ACTUALLY was going on.







This is after some #26. As you can see I got rid of a good portion that caused an almost reflector like effect in the sun at all angles. So thank God I think I got it down that much, but still I have some progress to make, haha...









Don't ask for my procedure, ha. It was Cyan and 105 and Tangerine with 205 then thought I had marring so went 105 on Tangerine. Didn't clear up my pseudo-hazing so went to 205 on Cyan then 205 on Tangerine twice. After these results I may try Presta Ultra Cutting Creme I have lying around on Cyan then 105Cyan then 205Tangerine. I can feel the 'grit' in the Presta cream, and after seeing how much I worked this panel and how much more it needs to go I don't think it'd be too far off to give it a shot.
 
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