getting weird marks after polishing with d300

mbs431

New member
I picked up the Meguiar's DA Microfiber Polishing System not too long ago. I started with the hood and after doing one section I got these weird, small lines that look like a bunch of w's put together (wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww). I am using a porter cable 7424. What am I doing wrong? Too much pressure possibly?
 
^^^ what he said!



you need to clean the pad out and start over...and will probably have to hit that already done area a couple times as its "scratched now" instead of just "swirled"
 
doubt there is something stuck in the pad. I am very meticulous when it comes to cleaning pads. I forgot to mention I have gotten the same problem when using surbuf pads. It has to be something in my technique.
 
If the pad's not contaminated, then it could be a clump of abrasive from the M105. Not too many different things it can be.



The pressure shouldn't be the problem; the problem is that instead of a smooth compounding from a uniform layer of abrasive you're getting a "single chunk of something abrasive" grinding deep scratches into the paint. Figure out what that chunk(s) is and eliminate it.



Pad priming, pad cleaning (I do it after working a small section, I'm *always* cleaning the pad when using M105!), pad inspecting. You need a clean pad, uniformly primed with product, no clumps or bumps or chunks of anything (including cut-off clearcoat).
 
Wheelzntoys said:



I think of "haze" as being something more uniform. This sounds like some individual [somethings] causing a series of individual scratches. This sounds like a variation on the "pigtails"-type of problem.
 
Could be something as simple as a piece of dirt came up out of a channel or a ferrous particle in the paint broke loose and got into it.

 
Pressure could be the issue, in conjunction with what has been said. Your pad should rotate somewhat freely. Too much pressure and all you get is wiggle from the offset. If the pad is rotating then those same marks should look more like pigtails than Ws. What size pad are you using?
 
thanks for the feedback guys. I have an air compressor that I use in between sections to blow out the pad. I guess I should just inspect the pad more carefully. The MF cutting pads I use are 5.5 inches and the surbuf ones are 6.5.
 
like the previous commenters said, there’s something probably stuck on the pad you’re using. Better get it cleaned first before you use it on your car.
 
D300/105 can sometimes clump together, using a lot of pressure tends to make that clump put pigtails into the paint.



FWIW, I haven't noticed pigtails being an issue at all with my Rupes 21. Might have a lot to do with the pad not loading up like it does with a regular DA and a smaller orbit.
 
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