Still Not Sure Which Paint Cleaner and Which Pad!

I

imported_Paul Mitchell

New member
Hi,

Been lurking a long time since my last post. I've been learning tons and searching. Finally got a PC W/2 Yellow and 2 white pads from CMA.

We have had the worst winter and I need to clean up properly before using either Z or K. (12 coats of Z didn't make it through the Winter we had!) I choose a sealant because the car is a daily driver that is never garraged.

I will use the PC for the first time this weekend and I am not sure which chemicals to use and which pad to use for my initial run with the PC. The car is silver and it seems to just really be grungy and have a layer of crud over the surface. I do not see any swirl marks,(of course silver hides them!). I have a few minor surface scratches with a couple of scuffs and several paint chips. Of course I will wash, clay and seal but which paint cleaner?

I have available to me, Megs Medallion, #9, SFP and DACP. I also have 3M SMR and FI II. I also have AIO, S100 SEPC and Pinnacle PCL. I figured my second polishing step would be with the SEPC or the Pinnacle or the AIO if I choose to go the K route, but........the first polishing step????? Which chemical with which pad? Do I need the yellow pad or is it too harsh? Do I go with the white pad with a stronger cleaner? (DACP?) or do I stay with say #9 and the yellow pad? Obviously I want to use the least aggressive combo that I can but what is my starting point???

I was also wondering if a QD with 50/50 isopropyl/distilled water will remove the oils prior to Z or do I need another full wash?

Lastly, I have seen mixed posts on weather Z will bond over AIO. Any experience on this is appreciated.

Thanks in advance! Best regards, Eric
 
Whew!! OK, where to start....



If it were me my first step (after washing and claying) would be DACP and the yellow pad. This has worked great for me in the past as DACP really cleans the paint well, removes the moderate scratches and scuffs, and leaves the paint ready for anything.



Next up is either the PPCL or SEPC and the white pad. This will lightly polish the paint and leave a terrific gloss. Some of the gloss will be lost when you wash or wipe down the car prior to Z or K but it will come back with those products.



You prolly should wash prior to Z or K since there will likely be some splatter and residue that would be easier to wash off than wipe off with QD or IPA. Its up to you, though.



Can't help with Z over AIO but I'm sure there are posts that can be found discussing this.



Hope this helps.
 
Thanks!

Most of what you said were my first instincts, yellow pad first, white pad second and wash before sealant. I was just fearful that DACP would be too aggressive on a one year old car with the yellow pad but I was also feeling that #9 or SFP might not be enough. (For some reason, at this point I am more fearful of the 3M products. )

I also worry about creating a haze and/or having trouble removing any product. I am aware that I will need to break down the product fully and being that the car is silver, hopefully it won't be too fussy and it will be easier for this PC novice!

I appreciate you help!

Regards, Eric
 
I agree.



DACP with a cutting pad rules.



Just make sure you keep the pad clean and damp or youll have a nightmare with the DACP clogging up.



Im a big AIO/UPP fan topped with S100 as the 'sacrificial layer' buts thats entirely up to you.
 
Thanks Smoker!

I rekon it'll be DACP with a yellow pad.

Thanks for the tip on keeping the pad clean and damp.

I was wondering if keeping the pad damp with a QD would be an advantage? How are you keeping it clean and "cake free"? I was planning on having a putty knife handy to keep the crud off.

I can just envision myself going through my two yellow pads and not finishing tha car........



Don't have UPP and I don't want to use Klasse SG(which I do have), but I wish I knew if I could use Z layered over AIO and ultimately top with S100???!!!

Thanks! Regards, Eric
 
EricGTI said:
Thanks Smoker!

I rekon it'll be DACP with a yellow pad.

Thanks for the tip on keeping the pad clean and damp.

I was wondering if keeping the pad damp with a QD would be an advantage? How are you keeping it clean and "cake free"? I was planning on having a putty knife handy to keep the crud off.

I can just envision myself going through my two yellow pads and not finishing tha car........



Don't have UPP and I don't want to use Klasse SG(which I do have), but I wish I knew if I could use Z layered over AIO and ultimately top with S100???!!!

Thanks! Regards, Eric
Click to expand...



Keep it clean by washing it out with warm water & liquid soap and spin drying it with the PC.

If youve got 2 pads youll prolly have em both 'caked' by the time you've finished.

Keeping it damp with water or a non-wax QD meanwhile will just prolong its usability and theres actually rumours its helps with the cutting action.



As for Zaino and AIO together ?.. I'm not saying it WONT work, but I wouldnt risk it if i were you.
 
To keep pads from caking as I'm using them I think I read somewhere a tip about using a normal paintbrush and placing it on the pad as it's running. Can't recall where I read that....



I haven't tried it yet, but it should be feasable since the pad will spin like crazy when you run it no-load.
 
I use a stiff bristle brush to clean my PC pads when they become caked with DACP. Once the pad becomes full I simple shut down the machine and brush the excess residue from the pad using center to edge motions with light pressure. When doing this you can really see the pad clean up and it only takes a minute to do.
 
The brush trick works better on the rotary. On the PC, it seems to be a little messy. I just make sure that I have several pads cleaned and ready to go. When one gets dirty, I switch to a clean/new one.



DACP: Meg's W7006, W8006 or W9006

SFP #82 : Meg's W9000 on rotary and W8006 on a PC



:xyxthumbs
 
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