Alright. I have a '99 Accord, and am looking to detail my car properly once I finish this semester at school. It has a few scratches here, and there, with a few deep ones at certain spots. I can get pictures up in the next few days.

I have a 6" random orbital buffer, so no worries about the elbow grease.


Anyways, I bought the Werkstat Acrylic Series Kit a while back, so how does this order of operations sound? http://www.werkstat.com/products-werkstat.php

Touch-up paint (allow to cure for a few days)
Satin Prot (interior)
Wash
Prep Clay
Polish
Acrylic Prime
Acrylic Jett Trigger
Acrylic Glos
Wash (again)
Wax


I need to decide on a polish (or polishes), and a wax. I've never used a polish before, and the only wax that I've really used is Meguiar's NXT, which I have had no problems with. Any recommendations, though?

Thoughts?


Thanks in advance.

 

What kinds of pads are you using?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GuNnErGoD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What kinds of pads are you using?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The buffer came with a terrycloth, and a wax applicator bonnet, but I bought a polishing bonnet as well.

 

Bump.

 

Try doing a little research. I am unfamiliar with that product line but each item has a comparable product from many different companies.

I guess we can start off by finding out what color the car is. Scratched up pretty badly? Oxidized?

What material is the polishing pad you bought? Foam?. You're probably going to need to start off with a wool pad, which brings us back to our first few questions in order to determine what suits your needs.

Pictures might help?

 

The color is Dark Emerald Pearl.


As for scratchers, there's only two deep ones (where it's just solid white) that I can think of. One is on the sideskirt, and the other is on the passenger side of the front lip. Those were the areas that I was going to use touch-up paint for.

Other than that, there's just minor surface scratches that aren't visible until you get up close. The only oxidation that is present is a small cloud above my passenger side door.


This is the polishing pad that I have. Yes, it is a lambs wool bonnet.




I'll try to get pictures up sometime this weekend.

 

i used to use a random orbital buffer because I was afraid to burn the paint, but it never really did what i wanted it to, so I got a rotary buffer and practiced. in my opinion a rotary buffer is the best choice for polishing/buffing. as for the pads, look into FOAM pads, i like them and they are very user friendly. (user friendly, not idiot friendly)

 

First off a buffer like that will not be able to do any real polishing. you need a porter cable DA with the correct foam pads at the very least. And I would go with a proven line of products like Menzerna.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-Rok &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And I would go with a proven line of products like Menzerna.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Care to dig deeper into the subject of their products?

Also, any recommendations for a new wax, or will Meguiar's NXT suffice?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crono139 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Care to dig deeper into the subject of their products?

Also, any recommendations for a new wax, or will Meguiar's NXT suffice?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, Menzerna is known for being able to remove moderate defects and leave a brilliant finish with the SIP/106ff combo. 3m and Meguiars also have a select few very good products.

which NXT do you have, the original stuff or NXT 2.0? I ahve both, they are probably the best OTC wax you can get. But there are so many different waxes with different traits, its all preference really.

But I will tell you, Meguiars #21 synthetic sealant topped with #26 leaves a super deep finish and will have superior durability as the #21 is known for lasting months by itself.

edit: I wasnt able to click the link last night, but I just checked it out and those prices are steep!


you only need 3 polishes/compounds and do pretty much anything.

Meguiars #105 for heavy compounding (need a wool pad and a rotary for this)

Menzerna Super Intensive Polish for moderate defect removal (probably the most aggressive thing I would use on a non-rotary)

Menzerna 106ff for final polishing.


But again, don't expect anything much out of the buffer you are currently using. those things have very very little polishing power.

 

If you can get your hands on any Automagic or Malco products I can assist you there, but they usually only deal to professional shops so they may be harder to find.