Tips for hand polishing?

W

WickedLTZ

New member
Hey all,



I recently bought some 1Z PP and MP along with a pack of the Sonus Pro Applicators (yellow on one side black on the other). I decided to give my new stuff a try on my mom's 2002 Chrysler Concorde with dark metallic blue paint. I decided I would wash the whole car, but only focus on the hood for the remaining parts. The paint is in great shape, but I figured I could add depth and clarity too it and remove some small scratches, swirls, and micromarring.



I washed with Meguiars gold class, clayed, washed again, cleaned with Megs Medallion paint cleaner. Then I started with the 1Z PP and worked it in like the directions said. I used the yellow side of the Sonus applicator which is said to be the "scrub side". I used moderate pressure on the pad and took a lot of strokes with it. I then followed up with 1Z MP after buffing off the PP with a MF. Again, I followed the directions with the MP as stated on the bottle.



Anyway, the polishing did not really seem to do anything. The light swirling and micromarring is still there, and overall depth and reflectivity seems to be the same too. I know polishing by hand can be time consuming, but I was only doing the hood and felt like my arm was going to fall off.



Any tips for technique and how long to polish it for? :nixweiss
 
WickedLTZ, I'm a 1Z polish nut, and I can tell you that hand application works beautifully. However, I'm not familiar with the Sonus applicator; is it foam? In order to be able to remove swirls, etc, with 1ZPP, you need to use a COTTON TERRY APPLICATOR. A foam applicator is not aggressive enough. If you don't have a cotton terry one, simply fold up an appropriate size cotton terry towel, and you'll see a vast improvement.
 
WickedLTZ, I will be interested to hear what your experience is, trying out a cotton terry applicator. My own experience of polishing by hand was similar to your first post: No significant difference.



Changing the subject a bit: What is Megs paint cleaner? That name makes me think it's a glaze, ie a superfine polish. I think glazes are for very new paint, to help waxes/LSPs bond properly; or as a second-to-last step product after all other polishing is done. AIO being the prime Autopian example. The glaze step would be the best place for fillers (but I think all Megs products have fillers, so you can always skip more polishing and go right to the LSP if you're happy with what you've got at that point). To get to my point finally, I don't think you needed the Megs paint cleaner step before you started polishing with the Einszett.
 
I do have some Terry cloth applicators. I will try those, thanks percynjpn. Clutch, the Meg's paint cleaner is not a glaze, just a cleaner that uses chemicals to remove blemishes that clay necessarily won't remove. I probably did not need it like you said, but I wanted the best prep possible like many people here emphasize.



I will try out the Terry cloth applicators and get back to you guys. However, percynj do you just use strokes like it says to on the bottle?
 
Like meg. No.2 Fine cut cleaner..... That should clean the car up nicely. Found at NAPA stores. If that doesn't work Medium cut cleaner will. Or take it to a detail shop that has a Rotary polisher. Good luck... Finish up with a good sealant. Look under reviews for the better choices.
 
[do you just use strokes like it says to on the bottle?]





You should apply it in an "oblong", circular pattern. I recommend you dampen the pad first with water; put light pressure on the pad and work it for maybe 20 seconds, then work it with no pressure for 10 seconds. You may have to do the paint twice with PP before you move onto the MP; the MP is VERY mild.
 
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