Water spots: FFFFUUUUUUUU?

[Buck531]

Ha, made you look. With the help from Kevin Clifford I got some 3M pads for the 7" sander/polisher I have. I started using the Zaino line but that wasn't getting very far. I needed something to cut some of the paint since I have swirl marks up the ass and dried water spots pretty deep in the paint. I went over to NAPA and grabbed a bottle of rubbing compound. (the purple/pinkish looking bottle). That seemed to help a good amount, but I still have a shitload of water spots that I just can't seem to get rid of.

 

The polisher is pretty old. When I use the low speed (1000 rpms) it's almost like it wants to stop as soon as I put any pressure on it. When I use the 2500, it sure as hell doesn't seem like it's spinning 2500 rpm's. It works, but I just don't feel it's doing the job good enough.

 

Here's some pics of what I'm talking about.

 

Before.

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/beforehood1.jpg

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/beforehood2.jpg

 

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/beforehood3.jpg

 

 

After

 

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/afterhood1.jpg

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/afterhood2.jpg

 

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/afterhood3.jpg

 

 

See the water spots in Afterhood3? Right around the lights. They're all over the hood and it's hard to get with my shitty camera. Do I need something to cut the clear coat a little more? Polisher shitty?

[mmrmnhrm]

Andy, what was the stuff you used on my hood, against that paint blob I had painted over the large gravel chip? It might get those water spots out.

[carsontl]

i use a 7424xp porter cable random orbital buffer, works pretty good and is accepted by most detailing companies as standard issue among them

[AudiOn19s]

A couple of questions / points.

 

1)Is the buffer a rotary or orbital buffer? A rotary should be really difficult to bogg down unless something's wrong....and / or if you're bogging a rotary you're likely doing more damage than good. (doesn't look to be that way from the pictures). But most orbitals dont' have speed dials like you mention so I'm guessing rotary.

 

2)Are you using 3M white pads or black pads? Should be White ones for cutting if I remember their pads correctly

 

3)Could be you just need a more agressive product too. Zaino's polish isn't going to be enough to cut those. Not really sure how agressive the rubbing compound is you got...most of those consumer products are still meant to be used by hand so they're not super agressive still. I'd try to find a meguiars dealer that will get you M105 and M205. Despite my love of some of my high end finishing polishes if I could only own two polishes based on what's currently on the market M105 and M205 would be the ones.

 

4) How's it look in the sun after this attempt. With a rotary, heavy cut compound, and cutting pad you should be able to cut through stuff pretty quickly...then when you look at your results in the sun think you completely f'ed the car up. It'll be ugly after a cutting stage but you'll quickly see what's holograms from the polishing work and what's still defects in the paint. You'll then need to follow with probably 2 more stages of polishing with less agressive product / pad combinations.

 

5)Sometimes on hard paint (GM) if the etching is bad enough sanding is the only solution.

[Buck531]

A couple of questions / points.

 

1)Is the buffer a rotary or orbital buffer? A rotary should be really difficult to bogg down unless something's wrong....and / or if you're bogging a rotary you're likely doing more damage than good. (doesn't look to be that way from the pictures). But most orbitals dont' have speed dials like you mention so I'm guessing rotary.

 

2)Are you using 3M white pads or black pads? Should be White ones for cutting if I remember their pads correctly

 

3)Could be you just need a more agressive product too. Zaino's polish isn't going to be enough to cut those. Not really sure how agressive the rubbing compound is you got...most of those consumer products are still meant to be used by hand so they're not super agressive still. I'd try to find a meguiars dealer that will get you M105 and M205. Despite my love of some of my high end finishing polishes if I could only own two polishes based on what's currently on the market M105 and M205 would be the ones.

 

4) How's it look in the sun after this attempt. With a rotary, heavy cut compound, and cutting pad you should be able to cut through stuff pretty quickly...then when you look at your results in the sun think you completely f'ed the car up. It'll be ugly after a cutting stage but you'll quickly see what's holograms from the polishing work and what's still defects in the paint. You'll then need to follow with probably 2 more stages of polishing with less agressive product / pad combinations.

 

5)Sometimes on hard paint (GM) if the etching is bad enough sanding is the only solution.

 

1: It's a Rotary. Wren (I think). two speed (1000//2500). It's pretty old. Any time I put any pressure on the 2500, it bogs down. the 1000 speed almost stops. I think a new one is in order.

 

2. I have both. the white and the black pads. I'm using the white to cut the paint, black to polish.

 

3. I went out to napa yesterday and grabbed this. 3M 0685. Purpleish bottle. http://www.shop3m.com/60455034854.html?cshift_ck=null&client_id=5093.

 

4. Dunno, I'll pull it out in the sun here in a few minutes and look. The paint actually looks a lot darker/cleaner now. Just the damn water spots.

Again, I think it's due to the fact the polisher can't keep up.

[carsontl]

Can't go wrong with a porter cable 7424xp random orbital buffer!

[Buck531]

Can't go wrong with a porter cable 7424xp random orbital buffer!

 

I know, you already said that above . I'm not going to spend $125 on a buffer (just yet). I don't do these cars for a living and maybe once a year. I'm going to head over to habor freight and pick up one for $30.

[AudiOn19s]

Can't go wrong with a porter cable 7424xp random orbital buffer!

 

No chance in hell he'll fix those water spots on GM paint with a PC 7424...unless he started with a 3000 grit sanding disk on the PC as his first stage.

 

Don't get me wrong...I love my PC, carry two of them all the time as a matter of fact, but it's not fixing his issue.

[Clifford Automotive]

Yeah he's using 6085 to cut with on a white pad. 6060 is a more aggressive compound to use for something what your doing. The problem is 6060 was discontinued and 6085 took its place. It is still possible to get 6060 but its hard to find. OAK has M105 & M205, they are a distributor.

 

The buffer he was using is an older one, and my guess (as Ive talked with him also) is the buffer was just old and wore out.

 

I would have to say, now seeing your pictures, if that compound and that pad is not "cutting it" like Andy said, your gonna have to get out some wet paper.

 

Your are making progress for sure. The pics are telling us that. Here is something that may help you... From the looks of your pictures I can still see the residue from the compound (thats a good thing). If you have a microfiber towel (clean) wipe the residue off the panel as you go to really see your results.

 

And like Andy stated also, if you pull it outside and it looks like shit, your doing something right! That compound is going to leave holograms. Thats why you got the black pad. What polishing glaze did you get? Or did you have some? Using the Zaino for that?

 

Just another tip, dont mix pads and compound.

[Buck531]

Ok. back from 6 hours of beating on it.

 

It was the polisher. I got a new one from Harbor freight and man.. within seconds I could tell the difference. I was able to crank it up to not even half speed, put some pressure on it and it didn't even slow down (well, a little). The hood (and rest of the car) look totally different. Even without the zaino on it. The paint looks so much deeper and the blue in it is nuts. I'll get some more pictures up here in a few minutes.

 

I'm using the white pad with the 3M stuff. That's it. I haven't used it on anything else. I still have the black pad and using the zaino stuff for that. I got the rest of the car done.

 

Again.. thanks for the help. My car is next, but it won't be nearly as bad as the wife's car is/was.

[Buck531]

Here's some pics. Still, not the greatest camera.

 

Before I got the new polisher

 

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%202/before/

 

after.

 

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%202/after/

 

Ran out of time (gotta work at 6). I'll finish it up tomorrow.

 

On the zaino.. and the dark pad. Should I just throw it on and keep buffing it until it's gone or just lay it on, let it sit, and hand wipe it off? Low speed? high? And I have Z-2 and Z5.. Should I put the Z5 on first then the Z2?

[neonkiller]

Here's some pics. Still, not the greatest camera.

 

Before I got the new polisher

 

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%202/before/

 

after.

 

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%202/after/

 

Ran out of time (gotta work at 6). I'll finish it up tomorrow.

 

On the zaino.. and the dark pad. Should I just throw it on and keep buffing it until it's gone or just lay it on, let it sit, and hand wipe it off? Low speed? high? And I have Z-2 and Z5.. Should I put the Z5 on first then the Z2?

 

 

Sexy.

[Buck531]

Sexy.

 

It's just a Regal man. About as sexy as old people fucking

[Clifford Automotive]

There it is Buck! Thats what your looking for.

 

Zaino... Not sure, only used it once and it was a loooong time ago. Andy will be able to help you. As you can see from some magic result with a new polisher Im a 3M guy.

[AudiOn19s]

If you haven't used anything after the compound and white pad you really need to find a finishing polish to use with the black pad first and then move onto the Zaino sealants.

 

If you've got the Z-PC polish you could use that with the black pad. If not you need a finishing polish with a little bit of cut still which the Z-2 and Z-5 do not have. Then your best bet is to apply the zaino by hand. I've had OK results with it on an orbital but the one time I tried it with a finishing pad on a rotary I didn't like the results. I don't think it liked the heat that the rotary generates.

 

Andy

[Buck531]

Hmm.. anyone have any good ideas on what to use (that isn't $40 lol) to use as another polish before the zaino goes on? Kevin? andy?

[Clifford Automotive]

3M 05996, its probably around 40 though.

 

Thats the polish for dark cars I showed you here.

[Buck531]

3M 05996, its probably around 40 though.

 

Thats the polish for dark cars I showed you here.

 

damnit! I knew you were going to say that. I just don't wanna spend another $40 on detailing stuff.. (already spend too much). I have some of that 2001 Polish crap in the garage (same stuff you showed me the other day). I thought about trying that on the hood and seeing what happens.

[AudiOn19s]

I'll second the 5996. I've used it and like it and it's about the only good finishing polish I know you can get locally.

 

M205 isn't much cheaper. I think a pint is $35ish.

 

My favorite finishing polish is Menzerna PO85RD. It's $45ish and not available locally...and it has such little cut that you generally need to add a 3rd polishing stage with a slighly more agressive product. The results when using it are amazing though.

 

If I wasn't getting down to my last little bits of everything right now I'd offer to sell you some out of my stash.

 

Some of the 3M & Meguiars Professional Line stuff comes in smaller sizes at NAPA. Might want to check to see what they've got sitting on the shelf.

 

Andy

[Buck531]

All done. I don't think I could have done a better job. Maybe if I used the polisher a little more.

 

Today started off with a coat of Z5, let it sit for 30 minutes, wiped off.

 

Then sprayed with Z6. Wiped off, then did Z2 (with the zfx stuff).

 

Wiped that off, more Z6, wipe off.

 

Then another coat of Z2, then Z6

 

Then polished the rims with some meguiars chrome polish.

 

Thanks for all the help Kevin and Andy. Maybe when I do my GS I'll use the dark pad and polish and then finish up with the Z2.

 

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%203%20done/100_0950.jpg

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%203%20done/100_0948.jpg

 

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%203%20done/100_0944.jpg

 

Rest of the few pics are here.

 

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk314/buck531/99%20Regal%20LS/day%203%20done/

[Clifford Automotive]

You did a fine job!

[Buck531]

Thanks man. I started doing my car today. It was almost worse with the scratches.

 

Remember that Turtle wax 2001 stuff? I found a bottle from '97. The zaino wasn't getting the swirl marks out so I threw some of that on after the 3M compound. OMG. I'll post some pics up in another thread. Amazing what 13 year old polish will do .

[Clifford Automotive]

Amazing what 13 year old polish will do .

 

You already know this... But thats what I said!