Will 360 do what I need?

H

hydro556

New member
I am a relative newb to swirl removal. I have been using XMT360 on an orange LC pad with my Makita 6040. It has made every vehicle I have done look great, even without wax. And it seems to really last, as my Ram is just as shiny today as it was the day I did it, probably a month ago. But it doesnt seem to do much as far as swirl removal. I havent been too aggressive because I dont really have many swirls in my paint and I am being cautious. I have a friend with a near new Toyota Tundra. It is a dark green, really sharp. He is wanting me to buff it and try and remove swirls. I want to use the LEAST aggressive product, especially on someone elses truck. I know everyone says you almost have to try and screw up with an RO, but I am nervous anyway. Question is this- Should the 360 with an orange pad on the Makita be able to remove minor swirls or do I have to step up to a more aggressive polish? I dont mind taking more time if it means I can stay with the 360. Maybe I need to apply more pressure and work more slowly, I just need reassurance I wont mess up my paint or someone elses. Thanks.

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Is an LC orange pad aggressive enough to do what I want? Also, what are your guys experience with LC wool pads? Would this be a good route for a newbie?
 
360 is a god product..but has a lot of fillers also....it does correct to a point...but whats not corrected is filled and will show up in a few washes.....



do a alc and water wipe after polishing and then judge your work..see if you need to go more or use a stronger polish.....



360 does great after correcting with a decent cutting polish and THEN doing the 360 as a final polish...sorta like a finishing polish.....



AL
 
Thanks AL. Any suggestions on which polish or polishes to use before the 360? Do you have an opinion on the LC orange pad? This is my most aggressive pad and what I have been applying the 360 with. Do you think I should use a more aggressive pad to remove swirls or just stay with the orange and use a more aggressive polish? I have to learn to trust myself to be more aggressive with my Makita as well. I have a tough time really putting the pressure to it. I need to spend some time on my practice panels.
 
Based on your other thread about which products you currently own, I don't think it would hurt to get a polish and compound. 360 has little defect removal ability. It's an all-in-one product afterall so you can't expect it to do everything well.



I personally wouldn't bother going to a more aggressive pad, like the LC yellow and using XMT 360.
 
ok....I see your pads you have....and I do not think the wool will work very effectively on the rotary mode on the machine...I may be wrong...but the rotation is sorta slow ...



heres the pads I would have in my arsenal...LC CCS pads in green..yellow and white and a blue....and you have a orange now...



for a polish....I use menzerna ..but there good one out there also....I have heard good things on the 4* polishes from Danase..also Danase has his own polish line now....



Now the polishes will depend on how bad the swirls are...I am trying to think of a user friendly polish to get you started....Opt is good..but some say its not...I use it rotary only...no PC use ...so can not comment on it....



Let me think on this....



Al
 
I am not bashing 360. It has made every vehicle I have done look great, I am just wanting to know which polish to step up to when 360 wont do it. I also was wondering if the 360 might be sufficient if I used a harder pad or used the orange pad more aggressively? I am thinking about getting the Menzerna Intensive polish and Final polish. Do you guys think these products would be good for this relative newb? Are there others that are better? I realize opinions differ, but I want to hear them anyway.
 
Thanks AL, exactly the kind of advice I am looking for. You are correct the Makita is very "safe" in the rotary mode. Around 1000 RPM I believe. I rarely use it rotary mode though, only RO.
 
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