Ok, I started at 11:30am and finished at 6pm. Sorry I don't have any pictures to show yet, *but will post finished results when sun comes out*.

Equipment used:
PC 7242
Lakeside backplate
1 Yellow (Heavy Cut) pad
1 Orange (Medium Cut) pad
Optimum Compound
Optimum Polish
Poorboys EX-P Wax
MF Towels
Ricardo Claybar
Dawn dishsoap (original blue)

Most of the work was done in a indoor facility.

Step 1:
Wash the car down with dawn soap
Dry

Step 2:
- Used dawn soap and water in spraybottle as lubricant, didn't find too many area's where it needed, hood, front bumper and around the exhaust were the major areas I recieved resistance on
- Claybar the headlights.... seemed to remove some of the hazing

*after-thought, leaving the dawn soap to "work" in while claying seemed to remove any stubborn grease/dirt that normally would stay on after a hand wash since the soap doesn't normally stay on the car for very long*

After claying an area, took a bucket of water and rinsed off that section then moved to next section

Step 3:
Wash with car soap (mild) and re-dry

Step 4:
Before I did ANY work, I took a TOP/LEFT/RIGHT/FRONT/BACK schematic of the car and then highlighted all the scratches I wish to tackle.

- Heavy cut pad with Optimum all the areas that I highlighted on paper
* Results: Some of the scratches I thought would come out didn't, even went over it with on 6 speed several times but it was just too deep for a PC. What it DID do though is make the scratchs more fine and smooth, it effortlessly removed any clear coat rubs

- Wipe off any residue with MF towel

Step 5:
- Mild pad with Optimum Polish

- Wipe off any residue with MF towel

Step 6:
Apply wax using a MF appilicator and Poorbooy EX-P waited 30 mins before removing

- Initially wasn't sure the best way to apply this (ie: apply on car then smear or apply on pad), and tried both and it's best to apply a SMALL amount on pad and do small sections at a time.

- Remove with a MF towel


Since I was short for time, I couldn't do the heavy cut pad with compound, medium cut pad with compound, medium cut pad with polish, polish pad with polish

But as I was working, I didn't think I needed to do all those steps as it was turning out very good with what I did above.

Questions:
After your done with a pad, should I leave in a ziplock bag or wash it?
When you use a pad for the first time, should you spritz it with water first? or maybe work in the liquid into the pad by hand?
Do you use a MF towel to apply the wax? or a sponge core MF exterior applicator (which I felt absorbed way too much wax)?


Results: brought the paint to a mirror shine

 

excellent report!!
as soon as you get pics up, pm me for the coveted badge - which you have earned...

answers to your questions:
when you are finished, wash out the pad well (i like to use pad cleaners-soap), rinse and hand wring, then put it back on the machine and ...-important-... on the lowest speed setting... "1". spin it a bit, turn off then repeat until it doesnt fling water any more. do not turn up the speed.
pad should stay out until it is completely dry. i keep mine in a cardboard box.

yes, you should spritz a dry pad- i use product that is meant for that

i have been using these recently for pad cleaning and for spritzing:
http://autogeek.net/xmtpadcacofs.html

i either use mfs or a pad with no cutting action to apply protectants- and some even come with their own applicator (p21s, for example, has a small light sponge for application of the wax).

again, cant wait to see your pics!!

 

[QUOTE=iDomN8U,Jun 4 2007, 09:33 AM] Ok, I started at 11:30am and finished at 6pm.

 

Just washed it yesterday, it was dark and cold... perfect time for a wash

The sun is out today and I will have the pics up asap

 

some touch up paint on rock chips












Unfortunately these pictures don't do the car justice and don't be disapponted if the first time around you miss some area's. I think it takes a couple of tries to get familiar with the product you use and how well it works.

If I could do it over again, I might have picked up the Optimum hyper compound and then in future only use the optimum original/polish to maintain the finish.

last thing... mask off the plastic piece on the bumper for the exhaust... I didn't and it's a pain to remove residue

 

The REAL test will be when I do the GF car... it's a black RSX (might catch it in the background) that is SEVERLY oxidized and marred from scratches.... With that project I WILL take before and after.

I will open a new post with that project... I hope to tackle that this weekend..

 

Looks great!

 

nice shine- hard to get on silver!!