A Few Observations from Today

I finally got to use my new rotary on the car today. Man was I nervous/excited.
I learned/noticed a few things from today.
Lessons learned
1. Two step polishes aren't always needed.
2. Working with the rotary is much faster than working with my UDM.
3. The results with the rotary were MUCH nicer with less effort with the UDM.

I'm not as tired, my hands and arms aren't nearly as tired as when i used the UDM. In fact my hands and arms aren't tired at all.

Sorry guys I went to take pictures and my battery was dead. I managed to get two photos I think. I'll post them when I get home from the race track tomorrow.

 

Awesome. I'm still afraid to try a rotary. Which rotary did you get and what polish/combo did you use at what speed?

 

Makita rotary. SSR1 w/an orange pad. I started out using SIP, but it was just too hot/humid here today to get it work with me today. I worked it at about 1500 rpm then back down to about 600.

 

Shauna, thanks for the post. I went the cheap route and bought a rotary from HF. $31 for the rotary and a year replacement warranty! I'm looking forward to trying it out, but yeah, i'll be nervous too. I might have to try it on one of the ambulances at work hehehehe. What they dont know hehehe. My test mules hehe

detaildoc,
I'm in the same boat. I really need a test vehicle or get a fender or something from a body shop. Come to think of it. A tail gate might work pretty good!!

 

My test vehicle was someone else's GTO...LOL

Oh I tried out the new Dodo Wax shampoo. Man that stuff is pretty neat.

 

Curious, why do you think two step polishing isn't always needed.

 

In this case my car had been polished in early April. The defects I encountered were not that bad. Dealer installed buffer trails were the main reason I polished the car today. Decided to use a more aggressive pad with the SSR1 and got the results I was looking for today.

 

So what you are saying is you achieved perfect paint correction or just good enough to your liking because you should always finish up with a fininal polish on a finishing pad. Not giving you a hard time but that just doesn't sound like the paint is 100%.

 

Honestly you really don't "need" a scrap panel to practice on, although it is a good idea because you can get crazy with it and no worry about it. Just start off with a polishing pad (LC white pad for example) and a mild or finishing polish and keep the speed down around 1000 - 1200 rpm. Do this and you'll be fine. Once you've gotten comfortable on how to handle the machine you can start getting more aggressive if needed. Its really not that scary honestly, you just have to pay attention to what you're doing.

I also have the HF special, got it for $20. In the future I might get something like the Makita or Hitachi but for now this does the job just fine. Once you get comfortable with a rotary you'll probably never go back to a PC type machine.

 

I know with my paint there won't be 100% correction because wetsanding the car is out of the question. The clear coat is too thin and I do plan on keeping the car for a very long time.

I did apply a pre wax cleaner after the SSR1, but I didn't apply a wax (fresh paint) just a body shop safe glaze. I didn't think that applying a pre wax cleaner was considered a polishing step.

 

No its not, but i guess the glaze took care of any light marring or light scratches. Glad you had success with the rotary. Also you dont have to always wet sand scratches in the paint, just need more practice with the rotary and you will see what I mean.

 

I mentioned wet sanding to get rid of the orange peel. I've seen some guys work some serious magic with a rotary and the proper pad/polish combo. One of these days I'll get close...LOL

 

You are right there isn't that many of us that can work a rotary with serious magic.

 

I'm kinda in the same boat Shauna is. I only have one vehicle. I'd like to play with something that would cut down on the anxiety of using the rotary. Just to get an idea about the machine. My best friend's dad owns a body shop, so getting something shouldnt be hard at all.

Thanks for the info 2KLS1. I need to read more stuff on rotary's, pads and products, just to get more familiar with it and how it cuts, etc etc

 

I would get a wool pad to prctice with it is a lot easier to use than foam.

 

okay AR. I've got a couple I bought from FMINUS.

Any certain products you'd recommend starting out with?

Sorry Shauna. Dont mean to try to hijack your thread.

 

M105 is very easy to use, 3M extra cut works well with wool, also Meguiars #3 with wool gives you some decent working time so you can get a feel for the rotary with a wool pad.

 

Power Gloss is one of the easiest compounds I have found for use with wool. I have also had decent results with Scratch and Swirl Be GOne and Diamond Cut 2.0

For foam pads SIP and Scratch and Swirl Be Gone

(SSBG has a like an infinite work time with foam, I am talking 20 plus passes, not that it is necessary but it is so much easier when learning the rotary)

LMGTO did you get the bumper pad?

 

Yes power gloss works well with wool, but it will induce a lot of swirls if you are a rookie, also it dust like crazy too. Since wool will glide alot easier that is why I have suggest this to numerous people to try first to get the feel of the rotary and it has worked for them.

 

Also don't forget, your local junkyard will have body panels as well, and I can most likely guarantee it will have scratches/swirls in it.