Polish, which one do you use?
 

I'm going to clay and polish my car using a porter cable. The porter cable is something I haven't used before but read a few tips such as placing about a pound of pressure and start it and turn it off on the paint. My car is silver and I don't see very many fine scratches even when I hold up a light near the paint. So I'm thinking I need a mild polish, probably a one step thing, something easy and not too complicated. Which polish and pad do you recommend? Should I tape up my rubber trim before I polish? Are headlights and door handles ok to polish? I use zanio soap, detail spray, clay bar, and their very soft towels. And I use optimum spray wax.
Thanks

If you've never use a porter cable before, I would practice on something else first.

Porter cable are EXTREMELY easy to use. It is a dual action polisher and very user friendly. Just take your TIME. that is the biggest mistake people make. Do small areas 18x18" at biggest at a time, spread polish evenly first on setting 3 then fire up to 5 or 6, apply preasure but do not bog the PC down at all. do a total of four passes then you should be good. And again take your time and go slow. Its always better to have to make multiple passes then trying to run through the numbers quickly. Headlights and glass are ok to polish I would leave the door handles alone on the Z though. And as far as polishes, Meguiar's m-105 and m-205 are a great combination or Menzerna polishes, for a one step polish their power gloss or SIP (Super Intensive Polishes) is amazing and finishes up almost as well as a finishing polish but cuts like a milder polish. Feel free to PM me I do a lot of this on a regular basis, and know the PC well and what works best as far as combos. And yes, tape all rubber trim, and gaps like hood lines etc... save you a lot of clean up too. Use 3m painters tape for best results and ease of use.

Hell I'll even offer you some menzerna SIP to try out. Just shoot me a PM brother. I love using Optimum spray wax, great choice!

I use the Griot's system. Typically on new cars I only need Polish3, but on occassion I use Polish1 and 2.

I use Pinnicle XMT polishes, 1,2, and 3, with 1 being the least abrasive. #1 is a finishing polish, swirl remover. With the way you described the finish on your Z, you shouldn't need anything abrasive, just a nice finishing polish to make the paint "snap". Keep the bonnet moving and apply a slight pressure, let the polisher do the work. A minimal abrasive pad would also be advised, since you are not trying to "fix" any flaws, scratches, or remove any acid rain etchings. You'll get the hang of it!

John

You can use Polish people?

Why not? It's regular paint just like any other

I think he was joking and referring to people from Poland....
There is no comma in that question..

I know, was sarcasm. No cool smily face for it :)

What do you think of optimum polish 2? I don't see very much swirls on my silver z. I would like a mild polish and something that is easy to remove. I saw pics from a professional use menzerna first then did a final polish using something else. But the gtr had a ton of swirls. The guy would wipe down the car with mixture of alcohol and water after polishing to check his work. He was pretty hardcore I think he spent about 30 hrs. I would like to do it in about 10 hrs.

I should have everything next week, ordered

DI Packages Porter Cable 7424XP 6.5" Basic Ki 1 $149.99
Lake Country Tire Dressing Applicator 1 $1.79
Lake Country White Polishing Pad - 6.5 inch 3 $24.98
Menzerna PO106FA Nano Polish (Super Finish) - 16 oz 1 $24.29
Poorboy's World Bold 'n Bright - 32 oz 1 $16.19

I clayed and polished my car, which took me about 8 hours. I have used zaino before but using the porter cable is so much easier. Car paint is smooth as glass I was surprised how much contaminent was on the paint. I removed my headphones so I could hear the clay grab the contaminents. I only taped the headlights because I used a finishing polish with white pads.

Simply no equal when it comes to polishes: Menzerna

German made Menzerna, stay away from Menzerna USA.

Menzerna Super Intensive Polish (Orange Pads)
Menzerna Nano Fine Finishing Polish (White pads)

PS- Shouldnt this be in the detailing section?