BrennanT

Wheew thanks guys I was getting just a little worried. I'll be sure to have a few back ups and clean often to ensure consistency throughout the process. Side note I've been on a lot of forums in the past for vehicles and several other hobbies of mine and this is the first one I have been on where people give you straight up answers and advice. No bashing or arguing over form or how to do things the "proper way" instead just sharing stories and things done in the past that have worked for others. So kudos to you guys out there and I look forward to keeping in touch through the forums!

So final question here I guess before I make my purchases. I have been doing a little reading and seeing some people are using anywhere between 5-10 cutting pads to do a full size vehicle with around the same amount of polishing pads... seems like a lot of $$ up front. Do I really need that many pads to get good results on my truck? Just seems like a lot of money to shell out for a weekend DIY guy like myself that is brand new to all this.

Thanks guys based on the feedback here I think I may wait a couple weeks and save up for the SK and purchase the kit with correcting compound and the cutting polish and finish with a sealant. If the SK is truly more effective in a shorter amount of time as well as smoother operating I think it would be worth the investment to make a first experience one that will be enjoyable an make me want to continue polishing.

mc2hill, so even though it says it's a 6" DA you can use the 5.5" pads on it? I guess I'm a little confused cause I thought the 6" was the backing plate size and you had to always get the pads larger than the backing plate.

So a friend of mine has a Griot's 6" DA that is new in the box unopened that he would give me for $50. Would this be worth purchasing given the price as opposed to paying full retail for the SK? Just trying to weigh my options before diving into this whole process.

Thanks Rich I appreciate the input and looking forward to doing a lot more research here on the forums. Shane I will look into acquiring the SK then from what it sounds like it could be all the difference in making for a more pleasant experience and ultimately make me want to continue with the process. When doing the IPA wipe down do you typically use a 50-50 mix with distilled water in a spray bottle and just wipe clean with a microfiber or is there a better method for this?

Great help and info guys I really appreciate it. Honestly there isn't much oxidation in the paint at all mostly just the swirling and that's really what I am after. I would like to take care of it before it gets too late into the spring/summer and super hot on the vehicle while working outdoors. Thanks Firebuff for breaking down your process super helpful and I will look into doing this if weather does not cooperate and I can't dedicate a weekend to the cause. I am glad to hear someone in my same situation has done this and achieved great results because I was a bit discouraged at first in thinking how much effort and time would go into this and it potentially being hindered by these factors. I almost gave up completely and thought I should take it to someone to do but in the end I am a real do it yourself kind of guy and I know in the long run it'll save me money and give me great satisfaction. Shane what I am understanding is if I wash and clay the entire truck the first day and get as far as I can I should them come back the second day and do a IPA wipe down and continue with the polishing steps where I had left off? I am just wondering in case the first day I only get done with the compounding would it be okay to leave the truck overnight outside and come back the next morning and spray down with the IPA and then continue on to cutting polish and into finishing polish. And to address the DA I was not set on the porter cable really I just saw it was a cheap option with good reviews so I figured as a beginner start there or I was considering the the Griot's as well. But if you are saying the SK is much superior I may have to reconsider. Any explanation behind this?

So I am fairly new to the polishing/paint correction world and I am really looking for the best way to remove the swirls and oxidation from a Chevy 2500 dark gray paint job. The truck is a 2005 and has a few scratched here and there that I know won't come out but I see a good bit of swirling in the paint from previous washes overtime. I am looking at purchasing the Porter Cable to do the work but I guess my main question is what products would work best and most efficiently? The main reason I ask is because unfortunately I don't have a garage that will fit the truck so I will be working completely outdoors so I figure I would have to complete my process in that same day and I am afraid by the time I wash and clay I wouldn't be left with enough time to go through and compound, polish, finishing polish, then apply a sealant. Is there a possible way to complete the process in 2 days rather than one? I am just worried about the contaminants on the truck overnight and not starting on a clean surface the next day? Any solutions to this issue? Thanks!