Sanding marks

[bimmer330i]

Will #83 with a PC remove sanding marks? If it will, which Meguiars pad should I use? If it does not what should I use with the PC from Megs. I want to try to remove a scratch.

[Murr1525]

Re: Sanding marks

What was the grit of sandpaper used?

Or, you might not have tried yet... in which case, yes it is possible, if you go with a very high grit, around Unigrit 2500 or 3000 to finish off. Then the 8006 pad and #83 have a fair chance of removing it. But, still not something to tackle unless you are confident with a PC and practiced sanding on something else first.

Not sure how hard BMW paints are to work on though, that is also a factor.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Sanding marks

First, Meguiar's does not recommend trying to remove sanding marks with a PC, as such we don't have any official recommendations for pad and products.

Simply put, if M83 with a W-8006 foam polishing pad on the 5.0 setting will not remove whatever it is you're trying to remove, then it's time to,

• Learn to live with the defects
• Learn how to use a rotary buffer
• Hire a Professional that knows how to use a rotary buffer

Read this,

PC + #83 not "Cutting" it! - The Limits of the Dual Action Polisher


Note, we're not saying sanding marks cannot be removed using a dual action polisher, it's just we don't recommend it or have an official procudure for doing this type of work because there are too many variables that are outside of Meguiar's control to insure our customers will be successful.

Things like,

• Skill of operator
• Hardness of paint
• Depth of Scratches

Have a strong influence over whether the task can be completed or not.

[bimmer330i]

Re: Sanding marks

Have not done it yet. I have been using the PC for a while. It is on my wife's SUV, a Black Mercury Mountaineer. I will do a very small section first and see how it goes. If all goes well I will tackle the rest.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Sanding marks

Definitely do a small section first, about 8" square, finish with at least #2000 grit or #2500 grit. Only sand a little bit and then see if you can remove the sanding marks.

Unless your paint is very workable, you may find removing sanding marks very difficult, even with the grunt power of a rotary.

[Murr1525]

Re: Sanding marks

Would some Grunt Power and ScratchX work better to focus effort on the sanding marks?

[bimmer330i]

Re: Sanding marks

Thanks for all the advice. I will let you know what happens.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Sanding marks

Would some Grunt Power and ScratchX work better to focus effort on the sanding marks?

No, not more than a rotary with the correct pads and compounds.

Wet sanding is easy. It is removing the sanding marks that is difficult! Some paint can be as hard as glass making the removal of the sanding marks almost impossible. Though some have had success using a PC to remove very light sanding marks, in somewhat soft paint, I have yet to see it remove the marks at a level comapred to using a rotary and the proper equipment and technique.

Tim

[Murr1525]

Re: Sanding marks

No, not more than a rotary with the correct pads and compounds.

Tim

I actualy meant ScratchX compared to a PC, but success probably depends more on the paint if you only have those two things available.

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Sanding marks

I actualy meant ScratchX compared to a PC, but success probably depends more on the paint if you only have those two things available.

In that case, the ScratchX may have a slight advantage. However, to be quite honest, if a person has those two items as their only choice, I would strongly encourage them not to attempt wet sanding. There is a strong possibility that they may not be able to remove the sanding marks thereby requiring someone with a rotary to do it. Paint hardness or if it is fresh or cured makes a big difference.

However, I have done a lot of wet sanding and only in a few case a PC *may* have removed "all" of the tracers and sanding marks. In the vast majority, a rotary is required. Hence the reason Meguiar's does not recommend removing the sanding marks with a PC; the results are unpredictable and in most cases, may leave the finish needing a rotary.

Tim

[Murr1525]

Re: Sanding marks

Thanks, good info as always.