Tried out the PC (not a full detail)

T

tisteve

My back hurts...
Well I got impatient today, since my pads and SSRs won't be here til next week, this morning I took the PC to a small section on my roomate's black 87 cressida. It has spent all of its life in Orange County, CA (acid rain!) It has only seen tunnel washes, and APC was also used to clean it on occasion (!) for the last 5 years, it was parked 20 feet from a railroad track, and the horizontal flats literally feel like 220 grit sandpaper. Here's a before picture of the area I polished:

cressidab4.jpg


You can see the rail dust in that one :( Here is some nice dry-lakebed stuff:

cressidacracks.jpg


Both rear QP's are like that. I worked a 2x2.5 foot section on the trunk, which was the worst area of the car besides the rear QP's, but that damage is not repairable. My (by no means thorough) process:

EO bucketless wash (on the whole car, took about 2 minutes....I'm impressed by this stuff)
claymagic clay. Took about 10 minutes for that small section.
wash the section again
3M rubbing compound via PC at 5 x2 (also sold as scratch remover.)
NXT wax via PC at 1, let sit for 30mins and buff off,
NXT wax by hand, let sit for 30 mins and buff off.
NXT speed detail

cressidaaftr.jpg


reflection.jpg


whole thing took me about 2 hours, since this was the first time with a PC and it took me a bit to get used to it, plus I was half awake. There are many scratches I couldn't get out (they are through the clear) but I'd say it's a drastic improvement. I'm happy :)
 
It certainly does. I'm going to be doing the whole car and also maintaining it in exchange for the PC and the canon SD400 I took the pics with. (she knows that the cracking can't be repaired.) I didn't think the PC would be so easy...I can't wait to be able to do my truck! :present:

Steve
 
Just thought that i would add... you want to make sure you get a good flexible backing plate for your PC. I left mine in Alaska and am using a nonflexible backing plate, from a vector rotary i purchased, am having a hard time keeping the pads on the PC. I am making due. A new flexible pad will be here on Monday. But I need to keep going on my detail because I am leaving for a week and it needs to be protected when I am driving over the road. Just food for thought.
 
That's quite an improvement! Did you use the white pad that comes with the PC?

By the looks of that car, you might want to try Presta Products, their Cutting Creme works wonders on damaged paint like that, even via PC. I'm quite pleased with mine! ;)
 
Great job, The best partis that you're only going to get better at it!!! You see how much your confidence boosted with some proper tools and products? It might be too late to turn back now!!your hooked..
 
cwcad, yep I've got a full pad kit on the way from autogeek.

LikeaRock, I did use the included pad. I'll have to try the Presta stuff in the future, it's looking like it will take me several saturdays to restore this paint, unless I either get a lot quicker, or my back and wrist problems magically go away :( It would be nice to surprise her by repairing that cracked clear though...I just assumed it would be near impossible.

HawaiianElement, I'm definitely hooked. I had much more control over the PC when I went for the second app of 3M.

Pogo and Prodigy, thanks :)
 
tisteve said:
LikeaRock, I did use the included pad. I'll have to try the Presta stuff in the future, it's looking like it will take me several saturdays to restore this paint, unless I either get a lot quicker, or my back and wrist problems magically go away :( It would be nice to surprise her by repairing that cracked clear though...I just assumed it would be near impossible.
Click to expand...
The Presta Cutting Creme is a very abrasive polish, it works wonders on oxidized surfaces with the wool pad. I dd a 95 Acura Legend, the hood/roof were both oxidation city, one pass with the stuff took care of it in no time :cool:
 
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