Should Cut / Buff come out as good as freshly painted Clear?

65Ranch

65Ranch

Promoted Users
I'm sure I'm just doing it wrong, have only did one other car before, but after 5 coats of UC laid on thick and beautiful, even the runs look great and there are alot, when doing the cut / buff it just doesn't come out as clear. I do the 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 then Trizac 3000. Then to the foam pad w/ compound then polish. Comes out nice but the sparkle just isn't there. Is there a common area/step people just don't do right that may lead to this? If it should come out as good as freshly painted clear, I'm all ears on technique and products.
 
Meguiars 105 compound and 205 polish. Griots G8 Random Orbital with 3 inch pads, all Griots stuff from the Boss compound pads and then their foam pads, black-orange-red. Am going to buy another polisher for something larger than 3 inch, maybe the Dewalt 849 but not married to that brand. The clear has cured for 2 weeks now in a hot Georgia garage, have only sanded on very small areas now for testing. Has been out a few days in the sun as well during some days.
 
65Ranch said:
Meguiars 105 compound and 205 polish. Griots G8 Random Orbital with 3 inch pads, all Griots stuff from the Boss compound pads and then their foam pads, black-orange-red. Am going to buy another polisher for something larger than 3 inch, maybe the Dewalt 849 but not married to that brand. The clear has cured for 2 weeks now in a hot Georgia garage, have only sanded on very small areas now for testing. Has been out a few days in the sun as well during some days.
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I'm hooked on the Meguires M100. I've used a lot of brands, including the ACA, and Meguires kicks them all.
 
65Ranch said:
Meguiars 105 compound and 205 polish. Griots G8 Random Orbital with 3 inch pads, all Griots stuff from the Boss compound pads and then their foam pads, black-orange-red. Am going to buy another polisher for something larger than 3 inch, maybe the Dewalt 849 but not married to that brand. The clear has cured for 2 weeks now in a hot Georgia garage, have only sanded on very small areas now for testing. Has been out a few days in the sun as well during some days.
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Dump the 105 and get the M-100, you'll be glad you did.
 
Wow guys, thanks. Ya'll are up early. Can do on the M-100. So I take it that Dewalt is fine? And the sanding grits as well?
 
And as far as Foams go, Chem Guys and or Lake Country are the ones I've heard most about. Either are fine?
 
7" Rotary buffer with twisted wool pad and Meguiar's M100
Change to foam cutting/polishing pad and Chemical Guys V36
Finish with polishing foam pad and Menzerna Super Finish 3800

Three coats of Euro Clear as sprayed:
Third Coat of Euro Clear 3.JPG


After above cut and buff process:
Roof Buffed.JPG
 
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So you didn't do any sanding first? Just started with the wool since it was in such good shape after painting?
 
65Ranch said:
So you didn't do any sanding first? Just started with the wool since it was in such good shape after painting?
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I wet sand with 1000 grit and a hard block to flatten the surface and remove any orange peel.
Follow with 1500 grit on a semi-firm block to remove all the 1000 grit scratches.
Finish with 2000 on a soft block to remove the 1500 scratches.

Generally, you need to find what works for you. There are many who use different techniques and products to get their desired results.
The rotary buffer with a twisted wool pad and Meguiar's M100 will be a real eye opening improvement for you. I use a variable speed buffer so I can start with low RPMs and not sling compound all over the shop. Start working it and then increase the rpms to around 2000.
When you approach edges or body lines make sure the pad is spinning "off" the edge and not into it.
 
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dhutton01 said:
You are missing on all counts. Never going to get there on that path. You need a rotary.

3D ACA 510 compound on a wool pad. Their yellow wool pad is awesome.
3D ACA 520 polish on a foam pad

Don
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Why do you use the 510 and not the 500?

I'm also conflicted now seeing Megs M100 vs the ACA 510! I've been using Chem Guys V36 on Hexalogic foam but it has almost not cutting, so I want to switch compounds and pad, and also go to one of the dry sanding films that have been thrown around a lot here. I just loathe wet sanding.

Regarding wool pads, I have a Wizards wool pad, are they any good? I haven't used wool very much at all.
 
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