So I got a Griots DA polisher and polish kit for Christmas, and I am just getting my feet wet. The kit came with Griots #3 polish and best of show was with a orange and red pad.

My paint was had the typical scratches from washing plus a few deep clear coat scratches. So I tried the #3 on the on my Audi S4, and had mixed results. It got some of the small scratches out but the result I was looking for. So I order Griots 1-4, and I was going to try to use the #2 and possibly #1 to see if I can get a better result. I hear Audi has hard paint so I think that should work. I do have a couple of questions thought

1) I don't have a paint depth gauge, will I be ok using a more aggressive polish.
2) I did get some holograming but I believe it is because I didn't work it in enough. Still sort of new at this.
3) Should I go ahead and start with Griots #1 and work my way up because the paint is so hard?

I'm enjoying it so far, but I can't wait until I get this down a little more.

 

Congrats on detailing your own car and beginning the fun process of detailing as a hobbie. To answer your questions:

1. If you know the history of the car and know it's never been machine polished, basically OEM paint, you're fine. The DA polisher from Griot's isn't aggressive enough to burn paint. Not that it's impossible to burn with the polisher, but it's highly unlikely.

2. It can be from not working the polish enough, using too aggressive of a pad, or needing to finish with a softer pad and milder polish.

3. IMHO, ditch the griot's polishes and get a quality line like Menzerna. Super intensive polish and super finish are the only polishes you'll ever need. The results you'll get putting in the time with Griot's and Menzerna will be night and day. Basically, 4 hours with Griot's wouldn't touch 4 hours using Menzerna since the Menzerna line is a true polish and far superior to the Griot's.

 

I don't know the history of the car, as I bought it used. So I'm assuming you would say to make a friends with a guy who has a depth gauge. Thanks for the advice on the polishes.

 

Go to a body shop that specializes in your car and just have them walk around and measure the paint. It shouldn't take long and wouldn't cost anything.