Please help with buffing advice!!!

G

Greg T.

Hey Folks,
I am trying to buff a hood that me and my dad sprayed. It is black with red rally stripes. It is single stage. I am trying to buff and polish the hood but when we get done with the compound there is a hazy finish. It is similar to swirl marks but this is more like a haze. We are using the 3M Perfect it system with the white, black and blue caps. I have the polisher set to about 2.5 on the variable speed dial (which goes to 5 and then has a MAX setting). What am I doing wrong. I have only tried buffing a few times ever and it seems I can never get the black done to where it looks "clear and clean" in the sun. Is there anything you guys can suggest to me if you have ever seen this before. Thanks in advance.:confused::confused::confused:
 
When you switch compounds, you must clean all traces of the previous compound from the surface, and also the cracks and crevices to prevent the previous, coarser compound from being pulled onto the pad. Double check your materials and make sure you are really going from coarsest to finest. Giving us more detail on your exact process with each step and material would be helpful. Make sure your pads match your compounds, and are perfectly clean (washed out until the water runs clean) each time you begin. Also probably want to slow the buffer down towards the end when using your finest swirl remover.
 
I am using the compound first and apply a small bead to do a small area at a time. I do not move the buffer at too high of a pace. Then I follow with the polish and its corresponding pad and then finally the ultra fine machine polish and its pad. I may not be cleaning my pads good enough. I am using the foam pads that are recommended with this system. Thanks for your help and I will try cleaning my pads out a little better.
 
I think buffing is something that takes a lot of practice and patience. Don't buff til the panel is dry with the swirl remover, use a microfiber to remove the residue as you go. If the paint is fresh it will be easier to buff but harder to make look perfect, if that makes sense.

Also, black is nearly impossible to make "perfect." We shine dark colors up with our finest swirl remover and still need to put some Meguiar's #7 on them for that show car shine. Once the paint is fully cured (one month or more), some yellow carnuba will help it stay looking good.

There are guys here that I am sure know more about buffing than I do, if we keep this topic alive for a while someone else will chime in for sure.
 
Thanks Crash, we went back and tried less substance at a slower speed. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see the results because it is dark here now. It looks awesome in the shop or in the shade, it is just when it hits the sun you can see the hazy swirls. Almost makes a Christian want to cuss, LOL!!!!! Thanks for your help and have a great night!!!
 
I think I will try that. Is it ok to use that in conjuction witht the 3M system?
 
Oh, yeah. It functions similarly to wax, filling in the tiniest of scratches and giving the paint a nice shine, while allowing it to breathe where wax might not. Compatible with all compounds on gloss finishes. Once the job has spent a good while out in the sun, you can use yellow carnuba on it.

P.S. While it functions like a wax, you don't use it like one. Rub it in and buff it off immediately, don't let it dry on the panel!!!
 
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