MMD

Maybe that's enough sassy-ness and exaggeration on your part, Geeez!

jfraser

Anthony
Thanks for all the really great info...much appreciated
Jason

uzj100

As noted, very informative thread. Many thanks to Deanski and Anthony for adding so much info! Deanski and I have PM'd (Ben too) about the FK1 stuff. I'm sure pleased with the results I'm getting with their products. Tho I have a PC, I apply their products by hand. Guess I just like the "hands on" approach.

I'm sure people like Deanski, Anthony, Ben, et al could produce absolute, or pretty close to absolute perfection, but for me, my results with hand application of FK1 products are very acceptable. (I have no affiliation)

Deanski

Holy crap! Look at THAT reflection! Pass me a razor, I can shave in that thing!

Nice pic of the finish! I hear the #425 spray makes the finish ultra-slick!

One of these days I have to try and play with the FK1 products.

Regards,
Deanski

black993man

Those of you worried about damaging your 997 with clay or orbital buffers are focusing on the logical but wrong items. The real culprit for problems is the innocuous looking MICROFIBER cloth.

But not for the reasons you might think. I'm not talking about paint swirls or finish damage, but rather electrical system damage. Huh???? Is this guy nuts? No. Happened to me just last night and was confirmed by other posts on P-car forums. Apparently, the electrostatic charge buildup caused by microfiber cloths is sufficient to flake out the front control module in '05 997s (not sure if '06 models have been fixed as of yet). In particular, use of the microfiber cloth around the front headlamp area is the highest risk due to improper ESD shielding of the control module (a design flaw) and a electrical pathway in that area of the vehicle that travels from the front hood release mechnanism to the module itself. Symptoms manifest as "System Fault - Go To Workshop" displayed in the dash display and headlights/parking lights/interior dash lighting no longer function in response to use of the headlight switch but rather turn on and off seemingly randomly. Others have claimed the hood latch can also release spontaneously (although the saftey catch prevents this from being a catastrophic event should that be true).

I was shocked (no pun intended). Since when does waxing your car kill the vehicle electronics??? Apparently, with 997s it does. My car's at the dealer today and I will be very interested to see what level of knowledge they have in addressing this known issue that apparently PCNA is working on. In the meantwhile, if you haven't dealt with this already and have an earlier car, I suggest you use cotton towels rather than microfiber ones.

Consider yourself warned.

Deanski

Interesting post! If you're a member of Autopia, I'd post it there AND Detailcity to warn of the issue.

Regards,
Deanski

zumaron

Hey guys - I'm back from a long session on the couch with my therapist. Happy to report all is well and thank you for the support.

I've got a swirl on the hood of the Cayenne. Asked the detailer to remove a scratch and ended up with the hologram. :-/

Even though the 997 looks really good after all the work, there are still a few very fine cobweb (marring) scratches I can see at just the right angle. Also, when polishing out a linear scratch, is a linear motion the preferred method?

Thanks for the compliments on the effort.

OCBen

The word is hologram derived from holography, not halogram.

Master Deep

This is what I do when I do a full detail 2x a year:

1. Wash w/ Sheepskin wash mitts
2. Dry w/ Waffle Weave Microfiber Towels
3. Clay
4. Wash
5. Dry w/ WWMF
6. Use 3M Fineese-It II Machine Polish w/ PC with an Orange Light Cutting Foam Pad
7. Buff off with a plush microfiber towel
8. Next I use Klasse AIO w/ PC using a White Polishing Foam pad (Gets rid of hazy look casued by 3M)
9. Buff off w/ a plush microfiber towel
10. Then I apply Klasse Sealant Guard by hand w/ a Terry covered Foam Applicator (3 coats)
11. Wipe off w/ a MF towel
12. Top with S100/P21S wax

This works well for me. I can get rid of all swirls. And if u are washing and drying correctly, you should not get any swirls. Just be sure to use the right towels so you don't scratch the car (Pakshak or fiberworks).

So is this procedure ok? Anything I should add or change?

uzj100

Thanks, Deanski! And FWIW, I polish in one direction say horizontally, then remove vertically. I layer on the wax back and forth, up and down then diagonally in one direction and diagonally in the other direction (an "X" pattern, and 4 layers). I have a minor spider web here and there, but by and large the finish is pretty flawless and swirl free.

I'll post on the durability as the detail"ages"

You might want to give the FK sample kit a try? But, as your signature says--"find what works and stick with it."

(Again, I have no affiliation with FK)

Deanski

Anymore info on this or posts from the other forums to support this?

Very interesting!

Deanski

996toomey

Yes this was covered last year in great detail, here on this forum as well if I remember correctly. I believe 06 and late 05 model years are not experiencing this problem anymore.

Anthony Orosco

When polishing it is best to go in the direction of the scratch. This though can be difficult when dealing with numerous scratches which is where a polisher comes in handy.

I would consider getting some Menzerna Final Polish II and also a Optimum Ultra Fine finishing pad and using that combo with a PC on your paint. Then seal it with the wax of your choice.


Yes thank you very much for the correction. My fingers can't keep up with my thoughts....it also doesn't help that I am a two finger typer

Anthony

Anthony Orosco

You are wasting not only product but also your time. There is no reason to:

Wash - dry - clay and then wash and dry all over again.

Instead wash the car and rinse it but don't dry it. Take your soap solution that you have pre-mixed in a spray bottle and start to clay your paint and rinse as you go along. This should be done in the cool of the day and out of the sun. You can even clay an area, say the roof, rinse it and then dry it and move on down, claying, rinsing and drying as you go along. Now if you enjoy taking the time to do these steps then by all means please continue

I would not use the 3M every time you polish. Rather go for something a bit finer, like Menzerna FPII or Optimum Polish. Using these products with a finishing pad may give you better results in one step rather than 2 steps.

Anthony

Anthony Orosco

4 layers of wax do nothing except waste wax. You can't build up or layer wax because of the solvent content that is used to soften the rock hard carnauba. Now again, if you enjoy doing this then it most likely won't harm anything so more power to you. But if you have been told that you can get extra protection from 4 layers rather than one you have been told wrong.

Just seeking to help out,
Anthony