Red STS Review of ICE Paste Polish and Meguiars Gold Class

[EChas3]

Originally Posted by sburgin

perhaps -but I have to think getting a set of stock 18 inch wheels would be more expensive than going aftermarket. I'll have to keep my eye open.

To the submitter of this thread though, you *really* need need to get a random orbital polisher (like a porter cable 7424). it will cut your two day project down by more than a half. Plus, it will give you a shine you'll never be able to get with microfiber cloths and elbow grease

Not to pick a fight but...

Occasionally 'take-off's' can be found pretty cheap, if you believe the posts.

It's a lot easier to harm the finish and trim with a polisher. I'd like to compare the shine(s).

[Regulator]

You can't harm the finish with a random orbital polisher.(not unless you really try)
There is no way one should have done all that work by hand, there is no way to really polish by hand......maybe a quick once over, but that is way too much car. It takes a professional at least 2 hours to do a car with a 1600 rpm rotary buffer.... you can't tell me you can get anywhere near that doing 30 rpms by hand?

[sburgin]

my thought process as well - random orbital polishers don't keep the friction in one place long enough to cause any damage (maybe if you just lean your whole body on it). It's the RPM's that do all the work.

next time you go to do this - go rent one and report back. My money says you'll not go back to hand buffing ever again.

Originally Posted by Regulator

You can't harm the finish with a random orbital polisher.(not unless you really try)
There is no way one should have done all that work by hand, there is no way to really polish by hand......maybe a quick once over, but that is way too much car. It takes a professional at least 2 hours to do a car with a 1600 rpm rotary buffer.... you can't tell me you can get anywhere near that doing 30 rpms by hand?

[hazcaddy]

Amen to that. I've hand orbital buffers for about 10 years now and they work great. Through experience I've found it is important to
a) have plenty of bonnets, so as soon as one gets "waxed up" you can put a new one on;
b) there will still be areas you'll have to do by hand because the buffer can't reach (e.g. under door handles), and most importantly
c) use the buffer only to take polish and wax off. Putting it on with a buffer will illustrate several laws of physics that you learned about in high school, and will also involve a change of clothes.

[bbshriver]

Your experience in part C is exactly backwards of mine, I've always used the random orbital to apply product, and remove by hand. I use mostly Griot's Garage products and that seems to be the way they have designed the "system"
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...%26+wax+kit.do

I've never had much luck with removing wax or polish with the machine, but partially I think because I've never had enough bonnets.

I did mine by hand this weekend, using the 1 step sealant from Griots, but I haven't bought the random orbital yet (used to use my parents' but they moved to Fla, so not as convenient now). Came out amazing, but could be a touch better if I'd had the orbital.

Originally Posted by hazcaddy

Amen to that. I've hand orbital buffers for about 10 years now and they work great. Through experience I've found it is important to
a) have plenty of bonnets, so as soon as one gets "waxed up" you can put a new one on;
b) there will still be areas you'll have to do by hand because the buffer can't reach (e.g. under door handles), and most importantly
c) use the buffer only to take polish and wax off. Putting it on with a buffer will illustrate several laws of physics that you learned about in high school, and will also involve a change of clothes.

[K STS]

Originally Posted by Lifer

Love the color. Needs some real portraits now.

1. The 17" wheels defy the massive appearance of this whip. Get some 18" or better.

2. That FORD front plate really sets off this machine. WHOO WHOO.

3. What about the inside, the engine, the glass? By the way, I never heard of waxing the windshield.

I plan on getting some chrome 20" wheels in a few weeks.

The ford plate is gone.

See other pictures.

[K STS]

I will be purchasing a orbital this week as well.

[EChas3]

Oh boy! A chance to buy a new toy!

Anybody know the value of Bon Ami for windshield bug removal?
Just rinse thoroughly.

[AllWheelEric]

K: Beautiful. I wish I would have found an STS in that color. I settled on Silver ("platinum"). Even so, you make me want to go spend a weekend cleaning it. When I look at your final photos, I have an urge to apply a treatment to your tires. I have an idea. You come polish my car, and I'll spray your tires! Seems fair to me.

[K STS]

yeah, i forgot to put the tire wet on. doh.

[notso1951]

Your car is beautiful man! Where can I buy the products you used? Is it a kit, or 3 different products? Please tell me what I need to get and I'll try to get mine looking as sharp as yours. Thanks!

[trackbait]

Originally Posted by EChas3

It's a lot easier to harm the finish and trim with a polisher. say what? I'd like to compare the shine(s).

With the Porter Cable 7424 buffer and the CORRECT foam pads, CHECK THESE OUT you wil get a substaintially better finsh that than when it rolled off the line brand new.

Comparisons? The hardest color on the planet is black. May I direct you to a few images for comparisons.. The after's look like wet nail polish.



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I would wager to say there is NO WAY you could ever get a finish like that by hand. Simply impossible.
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Another tip: Wash your car with a microfiber towell, then BLOW IT DRY it with a leaf blower. Will keep the swirlies away and minimize re waxing as often.

[Dougs06sts]

Excellent tip KSTS ! I've followed your advice step by step and have a couple photos of the results. The car came out looking fantastic. Everything was done by hand also and it took me about a day and a half. Lots of work , but well worth it for the results

Doug

[hazcaddy]

Excellent shine!

What I'm finding with getting a high shine on my Diamond White car is that it just becomes a high gloss white car: the "pearlized" look disappears for about a week. Using the new Maguiar Ultimate Quick Detailer spray instead between my twice-yearly polishing sessions alleviates that somewhat; you get a good shine but no loss of the special color effect.

A heads-up for folks in Southern Ontario: the Eagle One "All Wheel & Tire Cleaner", which I've found to be mahvellous at getting rid of brake dust without killing yourself, is being dropped by most car parts and retail stores like Cdn Tire. Only Wal-Mart now sells it. I stocked up this morning to see me through to the end of the year.

[amgqmp1]

Originally Posted by bbshriver

I did mine by hand this weekend, using the 1 step sealant from Griots, but I haven't bought the random orbital yet (used to use my parents' but they moved to Fla, so not as convenient now). Came out amazing, but could be a touch better if I'd had the orbital.

I've been using Griots products for years now, and a bottle of their Paint Sealant just arrived last week. I haven't yet had time to put it on, but I will say that you are better off having applied their Paint Sealant by hand. It's cut with their Fine Hand Polish product (I used to have an S2000...which was cake to do by hand, small car...so I extensively used the Fine Hand Polish and their Best of Show Wax). You won't hurt anything by running it on with an orbital, but I doubt you'd gain much.

My moms car was the first I had seen with it, and I was sold. You should see the Paint Sealant after a year (and one Iowa winter). Amazing product.