What compound are you using.

[onegoofydad]

Thanks to Joe and Merlin I am on my journey to getting C quartz loaded on my car. Currently I am using a Orange Hex Logic Pad with V32 Chemical guys ..It's doing an OK job. I feel like it's not cutting enough. Sometimes it takes two passes. This could easily be user error as well.

In any case just curious what others have used with success on a black Camaro.
Is Car Pro fixer decent with a foam pad? I might go to that so I'm simplifying down to one line of products for now anyways.

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

What machine are you using?

I have no experience with V32 but I know it is a diminishing abrasive compound capable of removing 1200-1500 grit sanding marks, so it's definitely aggressive.

Is it flashing after only two passes?

The diminishing abrasive compounds I've used require at least 4 section passes to flash properly.

I did compounding on my Camaro with Megs DMC pads and D300 compound. Easy to use, and only left a few RIDS. This was with a Griots Garage 6".

I did use Fixer and a Lake Country HD pad on my front bumper with a Rupes 21 w/5" backing plate and KB washer mod, after removing a strip of PPF that was on the car when I bought it.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=423610


I've found Fixer to finish down well on softer paint with the HD pad, D300/DMC for paints the have medium hardness, Shine Supply Flat Top/Carpro Flash pad for hard paint.

I haven't done a lot of Camaro's, mine and 3 others, on all of them, D300/DMC worked great. The plastic areas (front/rear) will haze a little more with D300 then Fixer.

[BRZN]

What machine are you using and at what speed?
You may want to bump to a more aggressive pad, either a microfiber pad, a Lake Country Yellow Foam pad, or their Purple Synthetic Wool pad.

I've had success with Meguiar's 105 Ultra Cut Compound, their 101 Foam Cut Compound, and with Adam's new Heavy Correcting Compound.

I've found the Adam's Heavy Correcting Compound to dust less than the Meguiar's compounds when used with his new blue foam pad or white microfiber pad. The Adam's cuts almost identically to the Meguiar's 101 when compared on foam pads.

[onegoofydad]

Right now I am using a Porter Cable 7424. Joe, I mean I am doing a full complete pass/session checking again with the light and still having to deal with running another full session/pass to get it at least close enough for Essense than C Quartz.

I was kinda hoping to get the area worked out in one session/pass with V32.

Could very well be the speed and my technique too. Currently I am spreading on speed 2, then doing my pass at 5 or 5.5. I go until it starts to clear up then I wipe it down check with my light and run another round if needed.

Thanks for the tips on the other products.

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

Originally Posted by onegoofydad

Right now I am using a Porter Cable 7424. Joe, I mean I am doing a full complete pass/session checking again with the light and still having to deal with running another full session/pass to get it at least close enough for Essense than C Quartz.

I was kinda hoping to get the area worked out in one session/pass with V32.

Could very well be the speed and my technique too. Currently I am spreading on speed 2, then doing my pass at 5 or 5.5. I go until it starts to clear up then I wipe it down check with my light and run another round if needed.

Thanks for the tips on the other products.

I would think your pad is not cutting enough. Change to a microfiber cutting pad or a Cyan (Blue) Lake country Hydrotech pad.

You should make 2 passes with some pressure, just enough to slow the machine down a little, then 2 without, to work the partially broken down compound out, it should be completely clear when your done.

[onegoofydad]

Thanks for the tip Joe. Are you cleaning your pads throughout the process. Was just thinking about this step, my first panel always responds well..subsequent panels take more work...maybe that is my problem...saturated pad too.

[BeastMode]

I would listen to Joe since he knows his stuff really well.

If you want another thought, I go very basic. I use a Porter Cable 7424. First go over with lake country orange pad with Meguiars M105, followed by a white pad with M205. This was only the first time I did each of our vehicles, the following times I just do M205/white pad to maintain the finish - been doing this once a year.

This is essentially the procedure recommended by The Junk Man, or at least it is if I am remembering it correctly.

I have 3 of each color pad so I can keep it relatively clean. I use a handheld device I got on Autogeek to give the pads a quick cleaning between panels.

[Adam's Polishes]

I might add, do a 2x2 test spot so you will know what it will take to correct your paint.
I would work on high, I believe the PC goes to 6 and go slow and make sure you are putting around 14 lbs. pressure on your machine.

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

Originally Posted by onegoofydad

Thanks for the tip Joe. Are you cleaning your pads throughout the process. Was just thinking about this step, my first panel always responds well..subsequent panels take more work...maybe that is my problem...saturated pad too.

I think you've figured it out.

It makes logical sense that the V32, which is a pretty aggressive cutting compound, is leaving paint residue and spent compound residue in the pores of your pads.

Here's a good process for cleaning foam pads "On the Fly"



I usually use 3 pads when using this cleaning method, because at some point, the pad will need a complete cleaning.

Another thing that's important on Camaro's is tilting the machine to match the contours.

[BRZN]

I run the Porter Cable on speed 5.

If you're using microfiber pads, clean them every time you add more polish, by brushing the nap of the fibers back up with a stiff bristled brush. Foam pads don't require cleaning as you polish unless you're using too much polish and clogging the pores of the pad. Use a spritz of Detail Spray to reactivate the polish already in the pad vs adding polish constantly. This will help from having the foam pads clog up.

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

Originally Posted by BRZN

Foam pads don't require cleaning as you polish unless you're using too much polish and clogging the pores of the pad.

He's not having a problem with polish. He is having a problem with compounding residue, which he figured out himself actually.

He posted that he got good results in his first section with his V32 and a orange CG Hex Logic cutting pad.

Getting good results on first section with a clean foam pad, then results diminish as pad becomes built up with residues. When your compounding, your removing more paint then you would be just using a polish, and your also getting spent compound residue.

If both of these residues are not cleaned, the pad/compound cannot properly abrade the paint on the next section.

Your still getting some paint residue when polishing too, just not as much, but again, a clean pad is best.

Working clean always gets better results.


Copied from the Kevin Brown site. Buff Daddy.com

Paint residue: The Performance Killer. Although most of us realize just how rapidly a superfast cutting compound can eliminate defects, we seldom consider the effect that the abraded paint remnants or paint residue can have on polishing performance as it encompasses our buffing liquids and pads. Eventually, paint residue will accumulate to the point that it drastically slows or altogether stalls cutting ability. The need to control paint residue build-up is of utmost importance.


He is also using Essence for his finishing, which does not activate with detail spray, it actually activates from the heat of the pad, that's why it gets such fast results.

[onegoofydad]

I don't know why that idea of cleaning my pad didn't surface before. Thats the lovely part of the forums! Get me thinking.
To bad its thunderstorms here all weekend otherwise I would finish my car.

[BRZN]

[Joe M 2012 2SS]

Originally Posted by onegoofydad

I don't know why that idea of cleaning my pad didn't surface before. Thats the lovely part of the forums! Get me thinking.
To bad its thunderstorms here all weekend otherwise I would finish my car.

Your hood looked great from the earlier picture.
That isn't rain, those are tears from Green Bay fans falling on the Georgia Dome!
I hear the Falcons are serving cheese pizza, all you can eat, for all 4 quarters!