Hello All,

This is my first time using a PC. I bought a 7424XP, but I had to send it back for an exchange since it was defective.

Anyways, I found out that one of my friends has a 7336SP and he let me borrow it.

I have some questions, and some in progress photos.

This isn't my first detail, but it is my first detail with a PC. And it's the first time I've detailed the s2k.

I don't drive it everyday, and I try and keep it clean, which is why the before pics don't show a lot of dirt.

Here's some before pics..




Before pics of the swirl marks. Most of these were introduced from the dealer, as the car looked like this upon delivery.







Before pics of the interior..





Cleaning the arches and wheels. I used some Megs All Wheel Cleaner for the back of the wheel. For the front, I had some Turtle Wax Car Wash from back in the day, so I used that.




A couple pictures of under the license plates..




I then washed the car using Palmolive dish soap to strip any sealants and wax that happen to be on it. Honestly, I haven't waxed the car since I got it 7 months ago, but the dealer tossed in the protection package they offer, so it had should have had some sealant on it.

The following pic shows the beading before washing the car with Palmolive. I have washed the car with ONR, so I think some of the beading is from the use of ONR.



The following pics are after I washed with Palmolive, clayed, and washed again wiht Megs Deep Crystal Car Wash. I clayed the car with Mother's clay that I bought OTC. The paint was fairly clean. It was a showroom car at the dealership, and it stays garaged at home.








Some pics of it taped up..





Here are some pics after a pass of polishing with the PC..

I'm using Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover 3.0 because it came with the kit I bought the PC with. I'll be following this with Wolfgang Finishing Glaze 3.0, and then with Pinnacle Paintworks Cleansing Lotion (if necessary). I'm also doing an IPA wipedown after polishing each section.

Here's a couple pics of the driver's side of the hardtop. I used a LC CCS 6.5" white pad with the Total Swirl Remover 3.0. I spread it on speed 3 and worked it in on speed 5.

These pics were taken under halogens. I'm going to take some better pictures using the sun tomorrow.




Here's a pic of the hood. Hard to tell since it's white.



Here's a couple pics of the passenger side. In the first pic, I used a LC CCS Orange Pad 6.5" to see if I could get some better correction (since the white pad left some light swirls and scratches on the drivers side). I didn't notice better correction using the halogens, so I went back to a white pad on the right side of the hardtop (the second pic).




So here are my questions:

1. The paint isn't looking fully corrected. I've read that Honda paint is soft, so I'm trying not to go too aggressive. There are still some traces of light swirls and scratches after the first pass of TSR 3.0. I was thinking of using the FG as a finishing polish to get rid of any holograms or anything if they do show up after the first step of polishing. I'm planning on using the FG with a white pad. Should I try another pass with the TSR and CCS white pad combo? Or should I try something else? Or should I just say thats good enough, go with the FG, and then the cleansing lotion? (hopefully if the latter, the paint looks fully corrected).
2. Is the product/pad combo not aggressive enough? Should I not expect full correction from the first step? I also have Megs Swirl X and Megs Polish (Step 2 in their 3 step system).

After polishing, I'm planning to add 2 layers of DPGS 3.0 followed by a layer of SSII as LSP. I'm applying 2 layers of DPGS 3.0 to maximize coverage.

I vacuumed the interior, but I'm going to be applying some Vinylex. I'm also planning to use Megs NXT Tech Wax to seal the wheels.

Any help and tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

Is there deeper defects or just light holograming?

If deeper then you might need to bump it up to speed 6 or move slower.

Always finish with a finishing polish on a white pad with about speed 4.

Edit: The car looks swirled quite badly if it came from the dealer like that. I would've bitched to them about it. Looks like they used steel wool to wash it before delivery.

 

There are some deeper defects, not many, but a little.

I'll try moving slower or a higher speed. I also thought about the possibility that I didn't work in the polish enough.

When I bought the car, it was an overcast day, and when I was done at the dealership to take delivery, it was already dark. I didn't notice until the next day when I saw quite a bit of swirls. I was going to mention it to them, but I had issues with their service department, so I didn't bother and frankly, didn't want them to touch my car anymore.

 

wow.... that CR is really coming along. i think everyone here appreciates a full and thorough detail on a beautiful S.

As for polishing......
the GPW body i'm guessing is looking very nice, whereas the black hardtop almost seems milky / translucent. This is due to the combo you used, but don't worry - it's not a bad thing! Because of the combo you're using + softness of the clear-coat, there is some haze being left because of machine correction. The solution to this is to use a finishing combo. You'll need a lighter polish + softer pad, and once using that you should have excellent clarity. The goal of the combo you're using now should be to eliminate swirls / light scratches, and the next combo will be used to refine any marring from the first combo.

IMO, no need for the paint cleanser. That is, if anything, what you should have used rather than dish soap, or at least use in the future. Many (to include myself) have and continue to use dish soap on cars as long as it will be a once in a VERY long while thing. Because of how harsh it is, it's not good for plastic / rubber, so now that your CR will look great, there shouldn't be a need for it in the future.

 

good answers above-

just wanted to post up to welcome you to the board, and to welcome you as our newest wacko!!
we look forward to more pics as you get that car wackoed-

 

Wow - this guy has done his homework before posting - great job!

The car is coming along great. You've already gotten some excellent edvice above, so no need for me to repeat what's already been said.

 

Here's some after pics pre-LSP. I'm going to apply a layer of sealant tonight, let it cure overnight, apply another layer tomorrow, let it cure, and then apply a layer of SSII.

The second pic is of the hood..

It's not 100% corrected, but it's probably about 95% if not a little more corrected. Considering this is my first time with a PC, I'm happy with the results.

I'll take better pics after LSP.

 

White is a real PITA to spot for swirls. Light defects just don't show up in halogens. Be sure to pull it into the sun to inspect

 

a good combo is sip/orange pad followed by micro-polish and blue pads. this will be great on s2k paint, and produce plenty of gloss. (As we all know, paint prep provides most, if not all the gloss).

Thanks for sharing a nice write-up on such a sexy ride!!

 

great job for your first with a PC and on that paint