machine polishing newbie

[OMGASAXO]

Got a duel action machine polisher off amazon for £70. My cars paint work is covered in swirls and light scratches... Since im a newbie to machine polishing im just going to use Autoglym SRP for now, I've seen good results from it on other forums to mask up swirls.

My question is, if im using SRP do I need to use the medium cutting pad first for 2 or 3 passes or what ever it takes, then followed bye the soft...I think it's yellow polishing pad?

Any advise welcome, thanks.

I will be washing and claying the car to begin with.

[Gabbastard]

Its pointless machining your car with SRP, its full of fillers and will mask the work youve done

[OMGASAXO]

uhh I haven't done any work to mask..

[Gabbastard]

What I mean is, youre machining it to get rid of the imprefections in the paint. But if you use something with fillers - like SRP - all its going to do is hide the swirls and imperfections, not remove them.

[Gabbastard]

My advice would be: get a couple of Menzerna polishes for about 15 quid, spend a wee bit of time properly sorting the paint, then bask in the handiwork.

This didnt take me long, and those swirls are now GONE

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v177/Gabbastard/106%20wash/IMG-20130525-WA0002_zps798133cc.jpg

[OMGASAXO]

wow thats exactly what I want, Did you use menzerna cutting compound then finished with a finishing polish? and what pads?

[Gabbastard]

I used Menzernas medium pad with PO203S, theyve changed their names though so I think the equivalent is PF2500, Id need to check though. But thats all Id done when I took that picture. After that I used a 3M polishing pad with SF4000.

[Jamie]

As above, fucking SRP lol.

You even said it yourself dude, ' I've seen good results from it on other forums to mask up swirls.' Mask by definition is a disguise, a disguise is to give (someone or oneself) a different appearance in order to conceal one's identity. - taken straight from google. In other words, what lies beneath is still there.

If you want the swirls gone, buy some proper compounds as suggested above - and they are good, I've used Menzerna many a time and rate it. You'd have to be a royal plonker to mess up your paintwork with a dual action so don't worry about scare mongering, obviously just do your homework and you'll be sweet.

[Ross]

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab74/rossdagley/Audi/0F58CC9A-F604-4A8E-B0B1-32CD93B1FDB2_zpsiqbtidjg_1024_zpse7dab983.jpg

Became:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab74/rossdagley/Audi/3F7DBFBE-A5D5-443E-94E1-A1E86D367E18_zps6bw4eube_1024_zps23a10c26.jpg

with a G220 and a single pass of menzerna fast gloss and a cutting pad.

[OMGASAXO]

As above, fucking SRP lol.

You even said it yourself dude, ' I've seen good results from it on other forums to mask up swirls.' Mask by definition is a disguise, a disguise is to give (someone or oneself) a different appearance in order to conceal one's identity. - taken straight from google. In other words, what lies beneath is still there.

If you want the swirls gone, buy some proper compounds as suggested above - and they are good, I've used Menzerna many a time and rate it. You'd have to be a royal plonker to mess up your paintwork with a dual action so don't worry about scare mongering, obviously just do your homework and you'll be sweet.

Yes I know it only masks it up like I said, I just thought srp because it's a safe bet since iv'e never ever used a machine polish before and would help to get the feel of it.

I am however going take the advise and use Menzerna polishes, and hopefully get a good result. one thing im worried about is "holograms" but am I rite in thinking the final polish takes that away? Hopefully we have some dry weather soon so i can attempt it anyway.

[Gabbastard]

Make sure the paint is completely spotlessly clean, then get the buffer into it. Dont worry about it or having to get a feel, youd need to be there all day to cunt the paint with a DA! :)

Ive never been left with hologramming, I think you could get that from the paintwork not being spotlessly clean, or trying to hurry the job. Work in a waffleweave style pattern and dont rush, moisten the pad before using and itll be fine.

[Ross]

Rushing is the main cause of hologramming - too fast a da setting and moving the pad too fast. Other than that, hard to go wrong!