Using Paintwork Cleansing Lotions

[Mike Phillips]

Mr. Phillips,

I'm a complete newbie/novice with no paint polishing experience whatsoever, so I bought some Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer to apply to the Midnight Black Metallic paint on my 2023 Camry LE with my Griot's Garage G8 and G9 polishers before I seal the paint with Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant.

I'm thinking that since I'm a complete noob, the Paintwork Polish Enhancer will be a good way to learn how to use my polishers without doing any damage to the clear coat( or removing any of it )on my car's nearly new and very nice looking paint.

My questions for you are as follows:

1. Do you agree with my thinking that the Paintwork Polish Enhancer may be a good way for me to learn how to use my polishers
without damaging or removing any of my clear coat?;



Todd Clevinger

I was never a fan of that product or the other products like it with different labels.

I would stick with what I already wrote,

What is a Fine Cut Polish?
A fine cut polish is simply that, it only lightly abrades the surface to remove only a small amount of paint. Thus a fine cut polish is only for removing SHALLOW defects or for use after a more aggressive process like using an aggressive compound or a medium cut polish.

A fine cut polish can also be used in place of a paint cleaner as they will do the same thing, lightly clean the surface only a fine cut polish will do MORE than a paint cleaner as it will clean the surface AND remove shallow below surface paint defects.

If you're dead set on using the paint cleaner, FIRST do a Test Spot and make sure you're getting great results.

Place a strip of tape on a flat panel like the hood or trunk lid and then only apply to one side of the tape line following directions on the label. Wipe off and inspect. Using a strong light like overhead sunlight and/or a swirl finder light or even the flashlight on your phone.

There are a lot of variables involved here, but what you want to do is make sure the paint cleaner and/or combination of the paint cleaner and whatever pad you're suing are not causing micro-marring.

If the product and process is causing micro-marring - you'll be glad you did a Test Spot as now you only have to undo damage to one spot.

If the product and process is making the paint look great - then repeat over the rest of the car.


As stated in this article, (the first post of this thread is the article), I'm not a fan of paint cleaners. For ALL THE WORK it takes to apply a paint cleaner you can use a fine cut polish and get all the benefits of a paint cleaner plus all the benefits of a fine cut polish.

Win/Win


Mike

 

[Mike Phillips]

For the record, I don't remember ever using a paint cleaner as a part of any professional work I've ever done.

I have used them in how-to articles to show "HOW" to use them, but never because I wanted to use one or thought it was a good idea or thought it would be better than using an actual polish that uses great abrasive technology.

-Mike

 

[Jayfro]

If you're going to break out the G9, I would just go ahead and use a nice Polish or All-in-One such as Blackfire One Step or even better 3D HD Speed as these AIO's are bubba proof meaning you're not going to mess anything up and you'll be improving the overall look of the car.

Speaking of quality products, I HIGHLY recommend using a quality polish or AIO, not the run of the mill or something that has a pretty label you can find at a big box store...they do not use quality abrasives and will mar the paint....take it from me...been there done that and Mike P saved my car a few years ago with his advice...I will be in debt to him for a very long time!

If you haven't used the G9 yet and you want to see how it feels to hold and use, go ahead and use WDGPS with a wax pad (lake country black pad) and go over the hood or trunk to learn the machine, you can always polish it off with polish or AIO.

JF

 

[Mike Phillips]

If you're going to break out the G9, I would just go ahead and use a nice Polish or All-in-One such as Blackfire One Step or even better 3D HD Speed as these AIO's are bubba proof meaning you're not going to mess anything up and you'll be improving the overall look of the car.

Speaking of quality products, I HIGHLY recommend using a quality polish or AIO, not the run of the mill or something that has a pretty label you can find at a big box store...they do not use quality abrasives and will mar the paint....take it from me...been there done that and Mike P saved my car a few years ago with his advice...I will be in debt to him for a very long time!

If you haven't used the G9 yet and you want to see how it feels to hold and use, go ahead and use WDGPS with a wax pad (lake country black pad) and go over the hood or trunk to learn the machine, you can always polish it off with polish or AIO.

JF

Good advice Jay.

 

[Todd]

I was never a fan of that product or the other products like it with different labels.

I would stick with what I already wrote,




If you're dead set on using the paint cleaner, FIRST do a Test Spot and make sure you're getting great results.

Place a strip of tape on a flat panel like the hood or trunk lid and then only apply to one side of the tape line following directions on the label. Wipe off and inspect. Using a strong light like overhead sunlight and/or a swirl finder light or even the flashlight on your phone.

There are a lot of variables involved here, but what you want to do is make sure the paint cleaner and/or combination of the paint cleaner and whatever pad you're suing are not causing micro-marring.

If the product and process is causing micro-marring - you'll be glad you did a Test Spot as now you only have to undo damage to one spot.

If the product and process is making the paint look great - then repeat over the rest of the car.


As stated in this article, (the first post of this thread is the article), I'm not a fan of paint cleaners. For ALL THE WORK it takes to apply a paint cleaner you can use a fine cut polish and get all the benefits of a paint cleaner plus all the benefits of a fine cut polish.

Win/Win


Mike

Thanks Very Much for Your Reply and Information, Mr. Phillips. I Greatly Appreciate It!

Could you please recommend a fine cut polish that would be best for my situation, Sir?

Thanks Again,

Todd

 

[Todd]

If you're going to break out the G9, I would just go ahead and use a nice Polish or All-in-One such as Blackfire One Step or even better 3D HD Speed as these AIO's are bubba proof meaning you're not going to mess anything up and you'll be improving the overall look of the car.

Speaking of quality products, I HIGHLY recommend using a quality polish or AIO, not the run of the mill or something that has a pretty label you can find at a big box store...they do not use quality abrasives and will mar the paint....take it from me...been there done that and Mike P saved my car a few years ago with his advice...I will be in debt to him for a very long time!

If you haven't used the G9 yet and you want to see how it feels to hold and use, go ahead and use WDGPS with a wax pad (lake country black pad) and go over the hood or trunk to learn the machine, you can always polish it off with polish or AIO.

JF

Thanks Very Much for Your Advice, JF. I Greatly Appreciate It, Sir!