Need Compounding/Buffing Advice
 

Have just color sanded the camaro this week, used mirka abranet 1k and then abralon 2k with my DA. It really smoothed out the paint and what orange peel that was present.

Started buffing/polishing this weekend. Using 3m Perfect it radiused white foam pad and 3m 6060 extra cut compound. The paint really shines up well even before I have polished, but I am seeing alot of ultra small DA sanding circles in the clear (have not seen but 2-3 pigtails). So I buff it again a 2nd time in hopes that will remove the scratches but marginal improvement if any.

Any suggestions on a compounding system that will cut out the scratches better, and not really eat up my clear coat to much? Do I need to go over it again and wetsand it by hand , etc... any tips from here on will really help.

a wool pad will help remove sand scratches better than foam,,wool first,then go over with foam.then polish with foam.....makes shineeeeeeee paint....

absolutely, wool does cut better than foam for the initial buff to remove sanding scratches. Have you done this before???????????:P

Jody

I have compounded out 2-3 cars before and never ran into this issue, but I would not say that my prior experiences make me an expert. I have been given alot of advice that makes sense, and think I can get r done now. :)

In the past I have used wool pads to compound, however I let a friend convince me the foam pad was better, etc... and the foam pad vs. wool pad is the only difference in prior scenerios and this one.

the foam pad is safer, harder to burn the paint with it. But it doesn't cut like wool either. It's just faster to use the wool pad for the first pass, then follow with the foam. It also really speeds the buffing process to be patient and meticulous with the sanding; the finer you work up to and end with (like 2500 grit) the easier and faster the buffing is.

Jody

The issue with DA and that fine of paper is the residue will ball up and can make the scratches you are seeing. Especially if you don;t keep the paper clean. Should come out if they are not that deep with a wool or firm foam pad and medium compund. I usually use the 3M Perfect-IT II. Is the 3M white pad firm or soft? I use Megueir's and theirs are a different color. I would suggest wet sanding with 2500 to get your da marks out and then buff again.

Lose the DA !!!!!!! I use to allow this in my shop ''ITS FASTER'' but it takes that much longer to buff the DA cuts ... Just do it by hand you will be much happier with the results....
Mario

Are you seeing scratches or heavy swirl marks? The extra cut compounds are pretty aggressive.

What speed are you buffing at? With only sanding the clear with 1000 grit you should just need a compound like 3M 6062 and a yellow foam pad.

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I like my final sanding to be with 2000 or 2500, by hand only, never a DA. I use a product called Sure Finish polish availible at autobodystore.com. Check out that site and read up on the techniqes. A lot of info.