Well, I recently picked up a 2001 sherwood green Maxima SE, it's very clean and has 112k on it but I don't believe that it was ever detailed before. Definitely looks like it was a frequent attendee of car washes though. I just kicked off this project and I'm hoping to finally get a detail documented start to finish....so here goes
Before:

After:

 

Came out really good. Looking forward to the list.

 

Update this thread already.

 

I know, I know. I might try to start back up on it Friday. I tried a little today, but thumb was having no part of the buffer. Hopefully another day and the swelling will gone and it can take the vibration. I'll definitely get it going again by the weekend.

 

yea want to see the progress as well but take care that thumb first

 

I'm tryin! Thankfull it's my left hand so I can still type! Will hopefully be good for the weekend. Gettin' there asap.

 

Damn thumb. I'm starting my detail on Friday.

 

Nice, it already looks 100% better compared to what it was.

 

Yours or mine?

 

wow dude really clean job man, looks great, what products did you use?

 

Yours

 

Thanks. I should have probably mentioned that before. Here's what I'm using both product and pad combo:

Optimum Compound - orange pad
Optimum Polish - white pad
Red Moose Machine Glaze - grey pad
Poorboys EX-P sealant - grey pad
Red Moose 100% pure Carnuba wax - blue pad

I might switch to a yellow pad with the compound to get some additional cut because it took a good amount of work to get the scratches out and the whole car is like the first picture. There's also some spots on the passenger side that I'll need to wet sand and buff too. I should probably take some pics of that too.

 

hey goat you do everything by hand right no buffer

 

Haha thanx man. Wait till after the detail.

I believe he does everything my hand. I have a RO though.

 

whats an ro?

 

Heck no, not by hand! I use a Porter-Cable 7424. RO, I'm assuming he means random orbital buffer. Just a guess. Those results are a bit tough to do by hand...although not impossible.

 

Random orbital buffer.

Is that Porter a buffer? But yes I'm gonna use a RO.

 

Yeah,the Porter is a dual action buffer, not a rotary.

 

Yours is better then mine but whatever, the RO should get the job done.

 

Same principle, but the PC has a little more power and has some additional flexibility with changing pads and such. I believe the one you have probably has a fixed foam pad that you tie the bonnet too? That's what I started with and just slowly worked up.

 

See I don't want more power, I'm afraid I'll burn or damage the paint. But your right about the foam pad and bonnet.

 

With the PC, you can't burn the paint since it's still an orbital polisher, not a rotary. You could sit there and crank on the edge of the paint and not burn it. You would really have to go out of your way to mess up, either not paying attention to your pad being clean or draging the cord across the paint. It's definitely great for a novice or someone just getting started. Easy to use and great results.

You can also check youtube for videos of people using it.

 

i have a craftman 10'' buffer used it onces but i saw that it did not do much maybe i was doing it wrong or used wrong product, i guess i try it again with the meguiers products and look for some videos

 

Sorry guys, on hold for at least another 6-8 weeks until the thumb heals. This blows. 2 weeks off and can't touch it.

 

Yeah I never even got started. Once it got cold, I got too lazy. One of these days I'll start the detail.

 

Yeah, the joys of winter. I was using the snow blower to clean the driveway and my thumb fell out of joint again. Now I've got to have it immobile for a while. This blows.

 

That sux man. I was using my snowblower as well this winter.