Hand use: M205 vs polishing compound

[Slicked]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to hand clean/polish my 350Z because it has very sticky and soft paint.

If I have M205, do I need Polishing Compound? Does Polishing Compound offer an advantages over M205?

Thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: Hand use: M205 vs polishing compound

It will be quite mild. #205 can be used by hand, but wont be able to really remove defects if you need that.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Hand use: M205 vs polishing compound

Definitely a case for the test spot. Try it out in a 12 x12 area. See if you are pleased with the results. Then make any adjustments from there in your plan.

[jkk7479]

Re: Hand use: M205 vs polishing compound

I see you have a Nissan Bro....I have a 2010 Maxima and my paint has to be hard as nails! I used Swirl X with a Meg's polishing pad, on speed 5 with good technique. Didn't remove any swirls and I need to go more aggressive. I find it incredibly funny that you say the paint is sticky and soft! Let us know how it turns out!.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Hand use: M205 vs polishing compound

I find it incredibly funny that you say the paint is sticky and soft!

Why?

You might both have Nissans but they are different models and different years. Paint systems change all the time and you never know what you're going to get. We hear all the time that Mercedes have really hard paint and then someone comes along with a Benz that is piece of cake to correct. Same with BMWs. We've worked on Honda Fits with insanely soft paint that you could mar just by looking at it too hard, and then other Hondas where the paint was fairly straightforward to work on. Read the VW forums and they'll tell you that you need a strong compound and 4" pads on a D/A to make any headway at all. But we've gotten great results with much less aggressive processes.

Now, the OPs description of "very sticky and soft paint" does strike us as a bit odd, mostly because of the word "sticky". That sounds more like there's something on the paint, rather than the paint itself. So to Slicked we would recommend reading through the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle and learn how to fully evaluate the finish to check for above surface bonded contaminants as well as below surface defects. Then come back and tell us what you've discovered about the condition of your paint and we can talk about how best to address it. From the pictures you've posted the car looks fantastic......but you coming here tells us there's more than meets the eye.

[Slicked]

Re: Hand use: M205 vs polishing compound

Thanks Mike, the car is decontaminated and cleansed, hence why it looks great in those pics. But it is starting to develop micro-swirling which i'm keen to get rid of.

I will try remove any waxes before correction next time, and then follow with polishing compound (and perhaps rubbing compound beforehand).

JKK, I'm glad you have hard paint because no enthousiast should have to witness a cleaner bond to the paint of their car like concrete . At least you can bring out a wool pad, a few water spritzes here and there, some pressure combined with insane rotary speeds and your done. Actually, now that I think about it, we both have a serious problems .