Tiny scratches from polisher?!?

**Nealio** · 03-25-2016, 10:13 AM

This may be a rookie question that`s why I posted it in here, but last year I detailed 2 black cars and on both with my orbital polisher I tried to polish out some pretty harsh surface scratches to the point where both looked almost grey. One was a 2014 mustang and the other was a 2010 Camaro. Anyway the point of this is that after I ran over the cars with compound and moved into polish I could see tiny little scratches all over the place. I don`t know if I didn`t decontaminate the car good enough or what but what causes this? I cleaned everything and ran over the area with clay again and tried again, but the same result... I even tried a fresh pad! I don`t know why this happened and was super confused does anyone have any ideas on what this could have been?

**mjlinane** · 03-25-2016, 10:23 AM

Haze or scratches?

Former - need to do another round with a polish and softer pad.
Latter - either didn`t get out all of the original scratches or contaminated pad.

Kind of sounds like haze.

**donbeezy** · 03-25-2016, 10:34 AM

what type of pads, what type of polish?

**The Driver** · 03-25-2016, 10:54 AM

Definitely sounds like haze, try a less aggressive pad then step to a less abrasive polish.

**Nealio** · 03-25-2016, 11:42 AM

I was using CG V36 and the orange hexlogic pad.

**donbeezy** · 03-25-2016, 11:47 AM

try v38 and a white pad. I`m not a big fan of CG v series compound and polishes. they all tend to dust quite a bit

**fergnation** · 03-25-2016, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by donbeezy

try v38 and a white pad. I`m not a big fan of CG v series compound and polishes. they all tend to dust quite a bit

I am sure there are some detailers out there that can spend the time with these particular polisher and make a car look good. But I have seen time and time again beginners hack up paint with these polishes.

**pwaug** · 03-25-2016, 12:48 PM

I`ve always felt the pads with grooves and dimples could possibly cause marring (especially when finishing) as spent product and removed clear could accumulate in the depressions. So why even take the chance--just use flat pads.

**Accumulator** · 03-25-2016, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by pwaug

I`ve always felt the pads with grooves and dimples could possibly cause marring (especially when finishing) as spent product and removed clear could accumulate in the depressions. So why even take the chance--just use flat pads.

Agree.

And I`d do a test-spot to make sure the planned approach will do what`s desired. Best to get everthing dialed-in before trying to do the whole car.

With all the different detailing products and tools available today, this kind of work oughta go pretty smoothly if the right stuff is used in the right way. If it *doesn`t* go smoothly then something`s haywire.

**BluBrett** · 05-02-2016, 09:50 PM

I`ve found the Chemical Guys line to be pretty aggressive. I`d only use it on lighter, harder paints.

My go-to for finishing soft, dark paint right now is Meguiar`s M205 polish. It`s one of the few that have passed my stress-tests.

**Accumulator** · 05-03-2016, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by BluBrett

My go-to for finishing soft, dark paint right now is Meguiar`s M205 polish. It`s one of the few that have passed my stress-tests.

See how experiences differ?!? I find M205 can`t *quite* give me the final finish I want, even on hard paint in light colors! It`s sure not bad, and maybe there`s some kind of user-error involved, but M205 just doesn`t get it for me.