Orbital Polisher Newbie

[dansmith180]

Just buff off with a nice soft microfibre like normal mate, most machine sealants want to sit for 20mins or so meaning you can normally apply to half the car then buff off and repeat

[dazza]

Just buff off with a nice soft microfibre like normal mate, most machine sealants want to sit for 20mins or so meaning you can normally apply to half the car then buff off and repeat

Thanks mate looking forward to getting stuck into this. Hopefully i will be a bit happier with the results.

[dansmith180]

 

[dazza]

Made a start on the paint today. Usually i would have left it until spring but some **** keyed the bonnet.

Two bucket wash followed with the clay bar then wipe down with some red mist. I struggle buffing anything off could it be i use to much product or the microfiber cloths are too soft?



Done a couple of sections of the bonnet with the flex vrgs, Rupes UHS polish and a yellow lake country pad bye bye swirls. 

The machine is easier on the arms than the das6 i can feel the panel getting warm.

Should i do a complete pass on the bonnet then come back to the scratch?

[dazza]

Its going to take some time to get the scratch out. Does the Rupes UHS polish have more cut than the Chemical Guys V32?

How hot can i let the panel get?

[dansmith180]

Not used the V32 before but UHS is pretty aggressive so can't imagine V32 has much more. If its not on or near the edge of a panel then it can get pretty hot. Sometimes I will go over it a few times then let it cool then hit it again without buffing off the compound in between.

[dazza]

Not used the V32 before but UHS is pretty aggressive so can't imagine V32 has much more. If its not on or near the edge of a panel then it can get pretty hot. Sometimes I will go over it a few times then let it cool then hit it again without buffing off the compound in between.

Thanks again for your help. My bonnet it a mess anyway full of road rash but i would like to get the scratch out. Will have another go at it tomorrow.

So far i'm happy with the new machine and polish. It would be impossible to get perfect but it should be a lot better than it was. A couple of passes on the bonnet got most of the swirls out just leaving a few deeper scratches here and there. I'm struggling to see whats what on the bonnet, looking forward to getting onto the wings and doors.

[jedi-knight83]

you need to get the smaller backing plate so you can use the 5.5" pads.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-accessories/dual-action-backing-plates/flex-xc-3401-vrg-5-5-inch-backing-plate/prod_1569.html

I don't like using the bigger 6.5" pads

For what its worth as well I'm currently really getting on with the rupes pads and compounds on the flex VRG. both me and my assistant use this combination now.

[dazza]

you need to get the smaller backing plate so you can use the 5.5" pads.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-accessories/dual-action-backing-plates/flex-xc-3401-vrg-5-5-inch-backing-plate/prod_1569.html

I don't like using the bigger 6.5" pads

For what its worth as well I'm currently really getting on with the rules pads and compounds on the flex VRG. both me and my assistant use this combination now.

Thats good to know i have a lot of the smaller pads.

Any tips for dealing with this? Most of it has polished out just left with a fine line.

[jedi-knight83]

you need to get the smaller backing plate so you can use the 5.5" pads.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-accessories/dual-action-backing-plates/flex-xc-3401-vrg-5-5-inch-backing-plate/prod_1569.html

I don't like using the bigger 6.5" pads

For what its worth as well I'm currently really getting on with the rules pads and compounds on the flex VRG. both me and my assistant use this combination now.

Thats good to know i have a lot of the smaller pads.

Any tips for dealing with this? Most of it has polished out just left with a fine line.

Very hard to see. TBH the paint looks very blotchy and hazy. But I think your referring to the scratch to the left of the main light source. Without knowing the paint depth I wouldn't advise chasing it. If there is good paint depth then I'd use a 3" spot will pad to focus the polishing on that area and then go over again with the 5.5" pad to refine it down.

Also.. i changed my spelling mistake from earlier... i meant RUPES pads and compounds.

[dazza]

Hopefully the paint looked terrible due to having not cleaned it for over a month. Which made me notice the scratch straight away as there was a clean swipe across the bonnet.

How the bonnet is at the moment. I can still find the scratch with a lamp but could not pick it up in a photo. The paint depth around the scratch is 113-128. I have some 3 inch pads but will they do much on the das6?



A close up of the wing i have just finished. Cant find any swirls but there are a couple of fine scratches will probably leave these as if i try and get everything out i will be at it forever.

[dazza]

Made a bit more progress today.

Still struggling buffing the polish off. The soft microfibres i have seem to take ages to buff the product off and the not so soft microfibres buff the product off but think they may scratch the paint. Can anyone recommend some?

Tomorrow i will need to do the drivers door think this has been poorly resprayed as the paint readings are more than everywhere else and i get paint on the pads. Should i skip the yellow pad and rupes and just give it a once over with the finishing pad?

[Daveyboy]

Forgive me but I haven't read the full thread but have you tried flattening the scratch back with 1500 wet & dry?

[dazza]

Forgive me but I haven't read the full thread but have you tried flattening the scratch back with 1500 wet & dry?

I have thought about it but knowing me i would probably make it worse.

My bonnet is such a mess due to road rash/road rash repair by an old owner  . I may treat my self to a respray in the new year.

[Daveyboy]

It doesn't look that deep mate try a bit 1500 on it. Use a block with it tho and I prefer to use soapy water when I flatten stuff back. Then use a cutting compound to bring it up nice and shiney. I find that 3M fast cut plus is good stuff