this is a buffing experience of mine, please read and let me know what you think

C

chip douglas

New member
I started out buffing my hood with Meg'S #83 + Meg's polishing pad, then after I'd buffed each area, I'd wipe it off with QD, or even wash it to make sure no oils or fillers were stil there to hide the true paint. Couple days later, still on the hood, I decided to use a leftover of 3M's 5937 machine glaze, with Meg's polishing pad. So I go about doing it, and then wash the hood to have a look at how it performed. Guess what ? There were tons of swirls, which at first appeared to be rotary buffer induced (I'm using a rotary), so I then though the pad or the 5937 did that, however, I opted to keep using the 5937 to seee what I'd do after couple shots. Guess what ? After 2 times buffing the same area, which was covered in swirls, the paint was flawless, and I made sure to wash it after those couple shots going over the same area to make sure the true paint was revealed.



Now where did those swirls come from in the first place ? From Meg's #83 maybe ? As I said, at first I thought the 5937 induced them, but after buffing the same area twice, they were truly gone. So I gather those scratches were ALREADY there, but hidden, as the 5937 cannot have created them and then take them all out--it'd be silly when you think about it, so those scratches had to be there in the first place, but not apparent.



My guess is 3M's 5937 cleaned the paint removing fillers that were there and hidding them swirls, then wiping it, thought it was the 5937 which put them in, but it was not.



Any more idea ? Let me know...this in the long run gets me dizzy lol :rolleyes:
 
#83 often leaves a finish that needs to be followed by a more mild product. You did what exactly needto be done. Now, if #83 did not remove all of the swirls/cobb webbing the 3M may contain fillers(not sure) and it may have filled them??
 
I agree the 3m 5937's apparantly has non filling abilities.



I think type and angle of light may have something to do with showing you presence or degree of swirls also. I try to minimize the chance of having to redo swirls I missed by using IPA solution in between my polishing steps. This is my attempt in no matter what lighting situation I'm in to try to conclude for sure whether or not I still have swirls before moving on to my next step. I've been using the rotary a little here and there and I also wash right before applying my LSP to get rid of left over sling too :o I think the oils may be resistant to washing alone though.
 
I should have mentioned, that after buffing I washed it, and then had a look in the bright sunlight, which after each shot, showded a little more of them swirls, I then re-did the buffing step, washed, then go back in the sunlight, up until there was nothing left. You're right Bill, it's non-filling as stated on the bottle of 3M's 5937. If it contained fillers, and those were wash resistant, I wouldn't have been able to check my progression, so my guess is it is really non filling, although the washing step, or using IPA, is a must in IMO.



I always use the sun to check for swirls. After I was done the paint was squeaky clean.



Further, I'd followed the #83 by #82, but was unable to bring the paint flawless with the #82, although I removed while still damp. On my paint 3M's 5937 is the only product that brings my paint flawless. #82 left some very very very fine marring, not matter how much I'd run it on the paint. My guess is the abrasives in it, don't completely break down and on some paint, it leaves what was left on mine.
 
A better swirl mark illuminator are those high sodium vapor lamps (sometimes flourescent) typically found in grocery store parking lots. Just drive over at night (full darkness and not at dusk) and have a looky-loo. When I've done that I very quickly found out that I need to do some more polishing...... To help you remember the spots you missed, get you some of those little colored peel and stick circles at an office supply place (kinda like postit notes - you dont want to use anything with a lot of adhesive). Use those to mark your missed areas, the drive hoem very slowly so the wind-rusn doesn't peel them off.
 
Haha, just find a place they are tearing down and ask for the lights. I actualyl scored a set from the local Shell station when they tore it down:)
 
Gonzo said:
To help you remember the spots you missed, get you some of those little colored peel and stick circles at an office supply place (kinda like postit notes - you dont want to use anything with a lot of adhesive). Use those to mark your missed areas, the drive hoem very slowly so the wind-rusn doesn't peel them off.
Click to expand...



I just take a just about used up roll of blue painted masking tape and score it hard every 1" with a utility knife and stick those on the spot. As I stick it on I fold over a corner for easy removal.



I do this also on pre-detail inspection ( after wash ) to identify areas on customers cars that need attention.
 
I have to put my two cents in. I think the pad had some dry polish in it which caused the swirls. After the pad got worked a little bit and absorbed some polish, it stopped swirling.



I've seen pads do that before.
 
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