Chemical Guy Pads

[SF0059]

I'm planning my spring cleaning for both the Honda and the Audi which brought up a question. I bought 2 Chemical Guys Hex-Logic pads and an Astro backing plate for my HF DA. The two pads I bought are the zero-cut finishing (black) and the light/medium cut (aqua).

The question is: if I am going to do a first step Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and then a second step Meguiar's Ultimate Polish, would the light cut pad be sufficient for both? Both paint jobs have some minor swirly but nothing need major corrective action. If I can use the light cut for both I might just buy another.

What do you guys think?

 

[The Critic]

Light cut pad and Meguiars Ultimate Polish is what I would start with in this case. Ultimate Polish and M205 but have a decent amount of cut.

Be sure to brush out and/or blow out the pad after each section. Paint debris will have a negative impact on the quality of your finish.

 

[qwertydude]

You can use the light cut pad with both. The Ultimate Compound will still cut very well on a finishing foam pad.

Do a test spot first with Ultimate Polish on the polishing pad. That alone might be enough to both remove the swirls satisfactorily and leave a wax ready finish.

Or try Ultimate Compound on a finishing pad. That will have more cut and depending on what kind of absolute perfection you expect could also provide a wax ready finish.

But weigh it carefully, the more you polish, the more you do thin the paint. You can do Ultimate Compound on a Polishing Pad but if you're not satisfied with the finish you'd have to then go Ultimate Polish on a finishing pad to refine it.

But to me for a daily driver I generally don't multi-step it for absolute perfection. The perfect finish will just get ruined anyways in short order.

And the less polishing you do the better your paint will last. It's a lot better to learn to live with some of the deeper swirls and simply reduce their appearance than to constantly try to remove them.

 

[SF0059]

Thanks guys, I'll try the polish first since there isn't need for extreme corrective action.

The Audi's paint is as hard as a rock. I'm not to worried about the clear on it since it has been garaged most of its life and other than the few swirls it is in mint condition.

I worry a little bit more about the Honda. I know that Honda uses thin, softer paint and clears. I want to be able to maintain the shine and reduce the swirls, while at the same time protecting that soft, thin paint.

Both cars are going to get a final coat of Einszett Glanz Wax just because I have some laying around that I want to use up.

 

[The Critic]

I don't think the Audi's paint is any thicker -- it's just harder.

While I agree that you should minimize the level of cut, I believe that one should always finish out to the maximum gloss possible.

Sure, a less than perfect wash may inflict a swirl or two, but finishing out well and eliminating any haze will really make the finish pop.

Previously, I used to be a big fan of doing 1-step corrections whenever possible. But ever since I started doing a separate finishing step using CarPro Reflect (or another ultra-fine polish, such as HD Polish or SF4000), I find that the gloss becomes significantly better.

 

[SF0059]

Thanks Critic.

Question for you. If I order some CarPro Reflect, would you use the Ultimate Polish prior or would you recommend a different polish as a base? Also, what pad would you use with the Reflect?

I appreciate your knowledge!

 

[The Critic]

If you use Ultimate Polish and the cutting pad for defect removal, I would just do a second step with Ultimate Polish and the Black pad.

For your purposes and interest, I wouldn't bother with ordering Reflect just for this job.