After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PICS*

[ElectronMan]

I have a 2006 Honda S2000 that has a ridiculous amount of heavy swirls and scratches for it's age/mileage. I bought the M105/205 combo when I bought the car, but was immediately frustrated with the M105 and I went back to my M80/83 with decent results. After doing a lot of reading, I think I've found my problem with the M105 and I'm read to give it another shot.

Today I made a pass with M105 on a Lake Country Orange pad, followed up with M205 on a Lake Country White pad. The results are MUCH better than I was expecting and I'm pretty pleased thus far. However, it does look like I'm having some marring that isn't going away.


Should I follow up with the M205 on a black finish pad? or should I follow up with an application of M80 (I love they way it finishes). Any suggestions would be great.

[akimel]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

I'm surprised that the M105 is not removing the marring that you are seeing. Honda paint is known for its correctibility. FWIW, I have found that Ultimate Compound is a lot easier for me to use on my S2K. With a Megs yellow polishing pad it seems to remove most marring and swirls. I then follow it up with M205. In an ideal world I'd follow-up with M205 with polishing pad and then M205 with finishing pad ... but I don't live in an ideal world. By the time I get to this polishing stage, I'm usually at a point of physical exhaustion and my back is crying out for pain meds.

To your original question: I honestly do not know if a finishing pad will remove the marring that you are seeing (I have no experience with LC pads), but there's only one way to find out. I remember Tim Lingor telling me that sometimes one has to be counter-intuitive with soft paints.

BTW, what speed are you using for your polishing? How many passes do you do per section? That info might help the gurus to refine your technique.

[ElectronMan]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Thanks Akimel for the quick response. Glad to see another S2K owner out there.

I guess my main concern is that the M105 with the LC Orange Pad (Light Cut) is removing a bulk of the defects but also leaving some marring behind.

For this test panel, I did ~3 passes with the M105 on a speed of 6, followed that up with 6 passes with M205 on a speed of 4. With the M205, I tried to lighten the pressure towards the later passes to help the finish.

[Murr1525]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Yeah, gentler pads are always a good thing ottry on a test spot if you have them on hand.

[rst08tierney]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Your using a pc right, you should use 205 on the number 6 setting with the white lc pad

[Lasthope05]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

From the pictures it looks like hazing. Honda paint is extremely soft so you rarely have to go as aggressive as m105. Try using a finer polish or softer pad. Keep the speed low(4-4.5") with slow arm movement and light pressure.

[akimel]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

FWIW, I use M205 at speed 5. It removes any marring left behind by the UC. There are a few expert detailers out there who believe that with the SMAT polishes it's best to not to lighten up the pressure or slow down the speed. Heck if I know what's best. I guess it's trial and error.

It's just a matter of tweaking your technique and finding the right combination of product, speed, and pressure to remove the hazing.

[ElectronMan]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

I first attempted a few passes with the M205 and LC Orange Pad and wasn't making any progress with the deep scratches and swirls. I have yet to attempt the M105 with the LC White pad. I may give that a shot next.

I am using a PC, Meguiars G100.

Lasthope, are you suggesting that I should use the M105 at a slower speed or keep the M205 on a 4-4.5 speed? From what I've read, which may be incorrect, I understand that higher speeds have a greater potential for hazing. Is this correct?

[ElectronMan]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

FWIW, I use M205 at speed 5. It removes any marring left behind by the UC. There are a few expert detailers out there who believe that with the SMAT polishes it's best to not to lighten up the pressure or slow down the speed. Heck if I know what's best. I guess it's trial and error.

What sort of pads are you using with the M105/M205 setup?

[akimel]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

If you can't get M205 to clear up the hazing, you might give Menzerna PO85RD a try. That's a popular finishing polish over the at S2K forum.

[ElectronMan]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Yeah I've read some really good things about the PO85RD, I wish I could get my hands on it locally.

With what I've described, do you think it is the M105 causing the hazing or the M205?

[Murr1525]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Sounds like there is two issues?

1. Removing deeper swirls/scratches?

2. Removing a haze left behind where swirls are removed?

[Lasthope05]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Lasthope, are you suggesting that I should use the M105 at a slower speed or keep the M205 on a 4-4.5 speed? From what I've read, which may be incorrect, I understand that higher speeds have a greater potential for hazing. Is this correct?

Use the M205 with a black pad if you have it. Yes higher speeds have a greater potential for hazing which is why when working on softer paints you want a slower speed. With a DA the higher the speed is the more it aggressively cuts into the paint. However, there are times where M205 does not finish well at all and follow up with 3m ultrafina/Menz 85rd is necessary (3m ultrafina can be locally found at napa or a paint supply store.)

To better understand the effects here is Kevin Browns diagram.

[ElectronMan]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

Sounds like there is two issues?

1. Removing deeper swirls/scratches?

2. Removing a haze left behind where swirls are removed?

That's exactly what I'm trying to solve.

Here a few updates. The first picture is after making ~5 passes with the M205 on a LC Black pad with a speed of 4.5. Definitely an improvement.



This picture is on the M205/Black Pad test spot after an application of 3M Imperial Hand Glaze applied by hand. The hazing appears to be almost non existent at this point. Perhaps a finer polish should be used.




I'm still open to thoughts and suggestions. I'm going to make a run to O'Reilly's, Advance, and AutoZone to see what I can get my hands on.

Thanks for everyone's help.

[akimel]

Re: After using the M105/205 Should I be following up w/ M205 on a Finishing Pad? *PI

You might give Megs' Ultimate Polish a try.