I actually finally got around to testing the csi compound on my task car this weekend, and I've obtained some thoughts. In the event that you've spent any kind of time scrolling via detailing forums or even watching professional color correction videos, you've probably heard individuals whispering (or shouting) about this stuff. It's officially generally known as Clear Shot World, but everyone simply calls it CSI.
The cause it gets therefore much attention is definitely that it promises to break the "rules" of traditional car detailing. Usually, whenever you're trying in order to fix a scratchy, dull paint job, you're looking at a multi-step process. A person start with a heavy-duty cutting compound, proceed to a moderate polish, and surface finish using a fine glaze. It's a great deal of bottles, lots of pads, and truthfully, a lot associated with time. The csi compound claims to simplify all associated with that into a single-product system. I had been skeptical, so I chose to put it in order to the test on a beat-up black hood I got sitting in the garage.
Precisely why I even tried it to begin with
I've been using the particular big-name brands intended for years. You know the ones—the bottles that smell like heavy chemicals and leave your garage area covered in a fine white dirt. While they function, I've always hated the cleanup. There's nothing worse compared to finishing a three-hour polish simply to recognize you have in order to spend another hr scrubbing dried compound out of the door cracks and plastic trim.
When I actually started reading about the csi compound , the first issue that caught our eye was your claim that it's water-based and contains no fillers or silicones. Within the detailing entire world, "fillers" are such as the ultimate be a cheater code—but not inside a good way. They hide scratches briefly, making the vehicle look amazing with regard to a week, only for the swirls in order to reappear after the first car wash. Understanding that CSI will be used by high-end body shops and painters gave me a bit more confidence that this wasn't just another "as seen on TV" gimmick.
The "Single Product" philosophy
The whole feel behind the csi compound system is simplicity. Instead associated with changing your chemical for every step, you swap out your pad or your pressure. This sounds a little insane if you're used to the old-school way of performing things, but it actually the lot of sense when you start working along with it.
If you have heavy oxidation or strong scratches, you make use of a wool mat with the compound. Once those are gone, you don't reach for a new bottle. You simply switch to a foam polishing pad and keep using the same csi compound . The abrasives in the method are made to work across the whole range. It's an enormous time-saver, especially if you're a hobbyist who else doesn't want to own a collection various chemicals.
My experience on the garage floor
Setting up was pretty straightforward. I snapped up my dual-action polisher and applied a few drops of the csi compound to the clean pad. The first thing I noticed? No smell. Well, no bad smell. It doesn't have that severe, solvent-heavy scent which makes you feel such as you need a respirator.
I started on a section of the particular hood that appeared like it acquired been cleaned along with a Brillo sleeping pad by the prior owner. I happened to run the polisher from a moderate rate, and what really surprised me was how long the "work time" has been. Most compounds begin to dry up plus "dust" following a moment or two associated with polishing. These things remained wet and energetic for much longer. I actually could actually see the paint changing as I worked, without the surface getting gunked plan dried-out product.
When We wiped the remains off having a microfiber towel, the difference was evening and day. The deep swirls had been gone, and the black paint really looked black again, not that will hazy grey color you get from sun damage. The greatest part? The cleaning was an air flow. Because it's water-based, it didn't stain the rubber cut round the edges associated with the hood. In case you've ever accidentally hit some dark plastic trim with traditional compound, a person know that whitened stain is basically permanent. With the particular csi compound , this just wiped apart with a damp cloth.
Could it be better than the "Big Brands"?
It's hard in order to say anybody item is "the best" because everyone has their very own style. However, I am going to say that the csi compound solves a lot of the particular annoyances I possess with traditional products.
One thing in order to keep in brain is that mainly because it's a single-product system, you really have to pay interest to your safeguards. Since the chemical substance isn't changing, your own pad choice turns into the most important variable. In the event that you try to perform a heavy cut with a finishing foam pad, you're going to be there all day. You possess to trust the machine and let the wool the actual weighty lifting first.
Also, it's worthy of noting this isn't a "one-and-done" polish. It's a modification compound. After you're done utilizing the csi compound in order to get the paint perfect, you nevertheless need to put some kind of protection on there—whether that's a ceramic coating, a sealant, or a traditional wax. CSI really makes a "Ceramic Polish" that works perfectly as being a followup step to add that will extra layer associated with slickness and protection.
The training competition
I'll become honest: there is a slight learning curve. If you're utilized to compounds that require higher RPMs and plenty of heat, you might have in order to adjust your method. The csi compound seems to carry out better at lower speeds. You don't need to prepare the paint to obtain results. In truth, keeping the temperatures down is part of why it finishes so cleanly.
Also i learned the hard method that a small bit goes the long way. I'm used to being quite generous with product, but with this things, if you use too much, it can get a little bit "soupy" on the particular panel. Start along with a few pea-sized drops and see how far it will get you. You'll be surprised at the coverage.
That is this with regard to?
I think the csi compound is a perfect fit for two types of people. First, the professional detailer or entire body shop tech who else wants to reduce their cycle period and eliminate the mess of dusting. It's a "clean" product that can make the workflow significantly more efficient.
Second, it's great for the DIY lover who is intimidated from the "three-step" polishing process. If you're a beginner, attempting to figure out there which compound goes with which polish and which glaze over can be overpowering. Using one container for the entire job requires a lot of the guesswork out of this. You just require a couple of different pads and a few patience.
Final thoughts
So, could it be worth the investment? In my book, yeah. It's not the least expensive bottle on the rack, but when you consider it supercedes two or three other products, the value is definitely generally there. Plus, saving time on cleanup is definitely worth its fat in gold.
After completing the hood, We ended up performing the remaining vehicle over the course of the weekend. The results were professional-grade, and We didn't end upward with white dust in my curly hair or my hearing. If you're tired of the old-school mess and need a more contemporary approach to paint modification, provide the csi compound a photo. It might simply change the method you look from your detailing package.
Just remember to maintain your pads clear and take your time. Color correction is an artwork, but getting the perfect tools—like a solid compound—makes the "artist" part a whole lot easier. I'm certainly keeping a bottle of this on the shelf from today on.