3M SMR or Machine Polish????

B

Beach15

New member
Okay, quick question. I just started trying to remove the swirls on our black Avalanche, but as I guessed, Meguiar's #9 is quite weak. The swirls really aren't that bad, but I notice them and I want to get rid of them.



So far, applying the #9 with my new PC seems to have brightened things a bit, but not done a lot for the swirls. I already have 3M SMR that I bought in the spring but haven't used it yet. I need to know, should I just go to the SMR as the next step or would 3M Machine Polish be something that I want???
 
Ahh....now I'm thinking I should just try the SMR with the yellow pad, then S100 cleanser/polish with the white pad, and finish with some Klasse and Platinum (I miss the look I used to get from that combo!).



Does this sound good? How well does the SMR work with the PC?
 
I think Beach15 has the right idea. I would follow his instructions and try the Meguiars product with a yellow pad on your PC. There is a good resource for use of Meguiars products on www.showcargarage.com



Use the forums and read the posts by Mike Phillips. His methods may help you out.
 
smr is a joke on swirls, go get some dacp or fine cut compound to get the swirls out. use smr after a compound to restore gloss if needed.
 
I haven't found Machine Polish to be appreciably different than SMR. Like said abouve, SMR is best used after a harsher product to remove any hazing left behind.
 
1.3M Fine Cut by hand with a terry covered sponge.



2.PC/3M SMR/Yellow Pad



3. PC/Megs #9/White Pad



4.Hand Applied/Klasse AIO/ Terry Pad



5. Hand Applied/Klasse SG/ Foam Pad



6. Hand Applied/ S100/ Terry Pad



This provided excellent results for me. The 3M FC removed water spots and swirls quite well as it evenly hazed over quite quickly.
 
Beach15- Yeah, as others are saying, you need to move to a considerably more aggressive product. #9, SMR, 3M's Machine Polish, these are NOT really aggressive enough for what you're trying to do.



DACP or a 3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound, or at LEAST something like 1Z's Paint Polish. Some paints are pretty hard, and it isn't always easy to get the marring out.
 
Black cars are a PIA. I know... Get the 3M fine cut compound. It's awesome. It removed everything from my car. Use it with the PC, speed around 4 - 4.5 with the yellow pad, and really work it..., then move onto either the S100 cleanser, or the klasse AIO, depending on if you're going the carnuaba or polymer route. I use AIO as a base for everything, and it's my fav. product ever.
 
I already knew SMR was very weak from what I've read here, so I don't know why I even bothered asking. Too bad I just placed an order last night from CMA before I knew what polish to get!



3M Fine Cut compound sounds like what I need!
 
Beach15 said:
I already knew SMR was very weak from what I've read here, so I don't know why I even bothered asking. Too bad I just placed an order last night from CMA before I knew what polish to get!



3M Fine Cut compound sounds like what I need!
Click to expand...



I would try something like Meguiars DACP or Menzerna Intensive Polish before jumping to 3M Fine Cut - that's pretty harsh stuff, especially if the swirls aren't really that bad as you say.
 
Ds01C5,



In my experience, 3M FCRC really isn't all that agressive when used with a PC and yellow pad (at least not compared to some heavier guns like Meg's Heavy Cut or Diamond Cut). I've found it to be just slightly more agressive than 3M Finesse-It II. It's usually the polish I reach for when the swirls are heavy (as always though, least agressive needed to get the job done). While it does have more cutting power than other polishes, I've found it breaks down well and leaves a nice finish, often not requiring a followup with a a milder polish, at least not on lighter colors.



Caveat: If using a rotary, FCRC may indeed be extremely agressive. My only experience is with the PC and a cutting pad, which mutes the agressiveness of any polish as compared to usage with a rotary. Kind of the difference between throwing a bullet, and shooting it, you know?



Tort
 
Well, the swirls really aren't that bad, they're just some annoying marks you can see on the sides in only direct sunlight--but that really bugs me! It used to be perfect, but I polished it improperly once or twice, and the marks appeared.



What polish sounds best for this? The 3M Fine Cut, the Menzerna, or something else?
 
Beach15,



For mild to moderate swirls, I use 3M Perfect-It III Machine Glaze (which really isn't a glaze in the "oils-n-fillers" sense of the word, it's an abrasive swirl remover with NO fillers). I've also used 1Z Paint Polish a couple of times now with good results. Although I don't have a lot of experience with 1Z polishes yet, they're rapidly becoming my favorites. Very easy to use, good results with a PC (and others report good results by hand).



Tort
 
I'm still going with the Fine cut. I live with a black daily driver with over 100k on it, and I get to deal with these swirls and scratches on a daily basis.



Fine cut isn't that agressive with a PC, but it does work. There have been some blemishes i've have to move onto a more agressive product with, but as a general purpose swirl destroyer, this stuff is fantastic. I've included a link at the bottom that documents a detail I did with it, and the results it has.



On a black car, I do follow up with a less agressive polish, but that's more to fill any blemishes and to polish the car.



I don't have any experience with the 1Z polishes, but I hear they're all that and a bag of chips from some reputable sources. They're next on my list.





Check out my pics to see some of my work on the black car:





crazy detail







my car
 
I just ordered Menzerna Intensive Polish from CMA this morning, so we'll see how that goes. The swirls are light, but I clearly need something more abrasive and effective--and the Menzerna sounds like it can do the job!
 
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