Struggling with UDM/Sonus

Q

quadcammer

New member
So I got the UDM kit from autopia, and well, either I'm terrible at using it, or something else is up.



Using the Sonus SFX-1 polish and pad does nothing on the finish of my swirly black 99 mustang. It doesn't seem to remove any scratches or imperfections, dusts a lot, and is difficult to remove (some splotches of polish will not come off without applying QD).



Not to mention this thing vibrates a hell of a lot more than I anticipated.



I'm spreading the polish with speed 3/4 initially with moderate pressure, and then going to speed 5 with lighter pressure.



Any ideas why this isn't working?



I'm about ready for the return policy.



thanks.
 
I have a black 99 GT and I have been using Zaino PC with an orange edge pad followed by SFX-1 on a green pad and have gotten very good results via a PC. You may have to break down and pay someone with a rotary that knows what they are doing to get the finish right and then use a PC to maintain. The PC will certainly remove the defects given the right pad and polish combo but will take a lot of time.
 
Try working a small 2'x2' area. I think you may be going to fast. The PC will work it just takes longer then a rotary.
 
quadcammer said:
I'm spreading the polish with speed 3/4 initially with moderate pressure, and then going to speed 5 with lighter pressure.



Any ideas why this isn't working?
Click to expand...



Spreading the polish is done with light pressure, you're just spreading it around before you start polishing. Less less polish than you think you need to, if you're getting gumming, you're usually using too much polish or you have a saturated pad (unless you're working on a hot surface). For defect removal, you need to use a lot of pressure, and very slow arm movement. The polish needs to be broken down and worked in until it goes clear or dusts (depending on the polish). It's going to take a lot of time, and I would use speed 6.



I don't have time right now, but try to find some of the polishing videos so you can see the size of the areas worked, arm speed, number of passes, what the polish looks like when it breaks down, and how much polish is used.
 
The 6 inch pads are gonna take a lot longer to correct your paint.

Buy the 4inch pads and you should be much happier.

I have not used their polish so I can not comment on it. Maybe throw up some pics of your paint so we can see what kind of car and condition you are working with.



Also search the Kevin Brown method on here. It shows how to properly prime the pad to get best results. Basically you spread polish on the pad with your finger so all the pores are filled. Thats the basis of it but there is more to it and there are pics to show what it will look like.
 
thanks guys.



I switched over to my 05 S500 and I went slower with speed 6 and more pressure. That said, I'm still not getting the correction I'm striving for. You can still see quite a number of scratches, although swirls have been reduced.



I'm a bit frustrated, but at the end of the day, the car does look much better.
 
Scottwax said:
Maybe this will help you to see if there is a problem with your technique. Made this video today with your post in mind.
Click to expand...



Nice little demo, Scott!



[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i_cPtLHQDw]YouTube - Proper DA polisher technique[/ame]
 
Scottwax said:
Maybe this will help you to see if there is a problem with your technique. Made this video today with your post in mind.



YouTube - Proper DA polisher technique
Click to expand...



To be honest, thats pretty much exactly what I did.



When you say to prime the pad, are you doing kevin brown style?



The sfx line is a diminishing abrasive as far as I know, so I haven't really done much priming of the pad.



I've learned that 6" pads are kind of useless, so I'll get 4 inch next time. I also think that I'll get the menzerna SIP when I'm out of sfx.



Btw, my friend Rob Bogdanowitz praised your work greatly Scott (he's got the blue 335i and white X5), so keep up the good work.
 
quadcammer said:
To be honest, thats pretty much exactly what I did.



When you say to prime the pad, are you doing kevin brown style?



The sfx line is a diminishing abrasive as far as I know, so I haven't really done much priming of the pad.



I've learned that 6" pads are kind of useless, so I'll get 4 inch next time. I also think that I'll get the menzerna SIP when I'm out of sfx.



Btw, my friend Rob Bogdanowitz praised your work greatly Scott (he's got the blue 335i and white X5), so keep up the good work.
Click to expand...



I didn't prime the pad ala Kevin Brown style, just typical pad priming-use a bit more polish for the first few panels.



Glad to hear Rob likes my work. :)
 
quadcammer said:
To be honest, thats pretty much exactly what I did.



When you say to prime the pad, are you doing kevin brown style?



The sfx line is a diminishing abrasive as far as I know, so I haven't really done much priming of the pad.



I've learned that 6" pads are kind of useless, so I'll get 4 inch next time. I also think that I'll get the menzerna SIP when I'm out of sfx.



Btw, my friend Rob Bogdanowitz praised your work greatly Scott (he's got the blue 335i and white X5), so keep up the good work.
Click to expand...



From a fellow quad cammer :xyxthumbs, in addition, running the PC on 6 and applying pressure will work the PC so hard that it heats up and the heat goes down the shaft and into the backing plate, so that the backing plate eventually fails. I've pretty much given up using my 6" cutting pad for correction, in favor of the 4". I still use 6" for final polishing where I don't go above speed 6.
 
I have had plenty of success with a UDM and SFX1 polish and SFX1 pads. Infact the yellow pad is my favorite pad in the bunch. It works really well with the KBM method and would suggest everyone try it atleast once with the Sonus yellow pad. This pad is so freaken versatile it is amazing.



But I think you just need to practice and try different ways untill you get it down. Also, you havent explained how deep the scratches are and even if they are correctible. But keep trying. SFX1 polish is pretty strong stuff (plus it smells great) and with the 6 inch yellow pad there are a lot of corrections that can be had.



This isn't a I am better than you post. I jsut don't want you to get discouraged and think you can not achieve the desired results. Because it can. Stick with it
 
You guys are right, and after finishing up the benz, i have to say the results ARE impressive. Still some rids and some very slight swirling, but the designo black metallic sure looks great. I topped with megs 26, and am now scared to touch it.



As for the mustang, I think it was the result of not working the product nearly enough, and having incorrect expectations.



I'll have to give it another whirl, although the 4 inch pads probably would work better.
 
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