Question about #85

[teacherray]

I dug out my old polisher (a crafstman 2 speed polisher/grinder from the 1970's ) last weekend to work on some scratches in my Suburban. I used the low speed and started with #9. As I worked I kept in mind the saying about using the least agressive product to get the job done. I gradually moved to more agressive products MPPC, #2 ,#1, #84, then #85. I used all products on a clean Meg's yellow pad. I cleaned the surface with final inspection and a MF cloth when changing products. I had no difficulty using the products until #85. I had a very difficult time controlling the polisher with #85. It kept grabbing the finish and caused the polisher to jump around. I initially applied the product to the pad in an X and began polishing... grabbing began immediately. So applied more product to the surface after the polisher began grabbing. I had the same results. I gave up on the #85. I finished up with the other products. Since I always have great results with Meg's products I figured there was something I was missing. Is #85 more difficult to apply? I was wondering what I did wrong or should do differently.



BTW I have used Meguiars product since the 1980's ... GREAT PRODUCTS.

[Mike Pennington]

Hi teacherray,

The main reason why M-85 (Diamond Cut Compound) was giving you some trouble is very simple. M-85 was designed to work with a wool pad. Unfortunately, when you try to use a foam pad with M-85, it tends to dry much quicker which will then give you that jumpy motion.

If you used M-85 with a wool pad, you will see that it buffs very smoothly.

Also, keep in mind, if you must use a foam pad on a rotary buffer to remove deeper than normal defects, M-84 (Compound Power Cleaner) should be your choice because it works nicely with wool or foam.

Hope this clears things up...

[teacherray]

Thanks for the quick reply. The machine I used is a rotary. I have used it for years for buffing out paint. So if I were to use the 85 with a wool pad I could expect better results? How aggressive would the cutting be with the wool pad?

[Mike Pennington]

You would see a change in how M-85 works with a wool pad for sure...Much smoother...

Keep in mind since you are cutting much more with a wool pad, your pad will get loaded up faster. Make sure you also clean your pad often to ensure this doesn't contribute to any unecessary jumping.

In addition, you will see a significant jump in the cutting ability just due to the change in pad from a W-7000 Foam Cutting Pad to a W-4000 Wool Cutting Pad...Sometimes this a good thing, and sometimes it could hurt you.

However, keep in mind the total cutting ability in a given situation is a combination of many things like...liquid, pad, downward pressure, RPM's, arm speed, paint hardness etc... all of these combined is what creates the actual "cutting power"...

[teacherray]

Thanks a million Mike for the clarification. When I started detailing as a teen in to 70's there were fewer products and one pad now with all the choices it can be confusing.

[Mike Pennington]

Anytime...

That is what we're here for.

Good Luck