Used polish compound on clear coat

[LedFoot]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

I agree with Murr, make sure you are using new, clean applicator pads and towels.

The TW you used may have been more aggressive than necessary to correct the defects you were trying to correct. I would suggest trying something less aggressive, like the Deep Crystal paint cleaner. If that doesn't work, bump up to Swirl X or Scratch X 2.0. If that's still not enough then try Ultimate Compound. If that doesn't do the trick you may need the help of a DA (Dual Action) orbital buffer instead of doing by hand. Read the threads on this forum for the correct applications and techniques for using these products. There are plenty of in-depth explanations and how-to videos. I've learned a lot in the short time I've been on here.


Also you said you let the compound DRY before you removed it. You should remove compounds immediately after you are done using them.

Here is part of a post by Mike Phillips from a thread on another forum on this subject:

"Apply, work and remove (Compounds)
Once you are finished removing the defects you can and should remove the product. The benefit from using these types of correction and polishing products is created when these products are worked against the finish. Once you're finished with removing defects on a panel, you're finished with the product... wipe it off...


No benefit just increased risk
Allowing compounds and polishes, paint cleaners, etc., to dry adds no further benefit and in most cases will make the product more difficult to remove. In some cases, some products will be so hard to remove that you will inflict toweling marks into the paint trying to fight the residue off.


Innocent mistakes and usually harmless
People treat non-wax products like wax innocently because they just don’t know any better so their approach comes fromthe car wax mentality. In most cases you won’t hurt anything by allowing a compound or swirl mark remover dry, you’ll just waste time and make wipe-off more difficult."

Here is a link to that thread: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...re-wiping.html


Good luck.

[Murr1525]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Yeah, hopefully those marks werent caused by a coarse towel if struggling to remove.

[sleepy weasel]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Thank you both for all of the helpful information. I am very new to detailing and am just starting to acquire any knowledge; I definitely have/had the "car wax mentality" described in that linked forum post! Hopefully, now that I am armed with a little more know-how, I can get to work trying to correct my mistake.

I am doubtful that the use of a coarse towel in removing the dried polish is the cause of any of the marks on my finish; most of the visible ones all indicate a similar direction of travel, which was used in the application. I was pretty indescriminant in my removal, wiping in all directions and circular as well. Stupid car wax mentality.

Thank you again for your input, you have helped greatly in steering me onto a correct path.

[sleepy weasel]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Project won't start until the middle of next week, when I have some time away from work, and a couple of additional questions arose. How much pressure should I be using? I feel like maybe I used too much originally, and that this, coupled with the poor technique, caused my problem. Would an orbital buffer increase my chance of success, or would it just introduce more opportunity for error and me making a mess of things? I kind of have the fear that my novice fingers can do more damage if machinery is involved.

[Murr1525]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

If your product and your applicator/towel dont cause swirls/scratches (which they shouldnt), then you can apply and remove in any pattern or direction you want.

I tend to find that if you are holding the applicator properly (under palm/fingers, not finger tips), I can really only apply so much pressure and still be able to move the pad around.

For just mild cleaning or waxing, you really dont need much pressure. For removing swirls, or things like this, you will need some pressure for the cleaning step, and probably a few applications.

Working by machine isnt a big deal, as long as you were to buy something good. The real cheap machines dont have a lot of power in them (although the newer Meguiars products do seem to help the underpowered machines get results), and a rotary isnt what you want. A good DA and all the pads, etc could get you up into a couple hundred bucks starting off.

Really, if you got the two products mentioned above, and the good hand applicators, you can try some test spots and see what happens. If nothing happens, then maybe a machine is needed, and you can go from there. The UC and SwirlX would be find by hand or DA, so nothing wasted there.

If a machine were needed, you may also be able to talk to a local detailer on here for a quick fix up (a good local detailer from on here or maybe autogeek, not just anyone local who will make it worse), and then maintain yourself by hand in the future.

[sleepy weasel]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

So it was my product and/or applicator that caused the scratches and not my technique? Was it just a matter of using the wrong product for the task at hand? Or possibly the condition of the applicator? I was assuming that something about my technique, i.e. too much pressure, side to side method of application, rush and impatience in not fully working product in, etc., was the cause of the marks on my finish ...

[sleepy weasel]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

And would it be correct to say that I should use as much pressure as possible while still being able to move the applicator across the finish? I assume I must use at least some pressure to smooth away the marks that I have previously made, but I imagine being able to exert quite a bit of force while holding the applicator with my palm, and I am fearful of causing more damage.

[Murr1525]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

This thread has a pic of what finger marks tend to look like, when you work the applicator with your finger tips, which would be bad technique.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?55236-Help-fix-what-a-quot-professional-quot-couldnt-and-made-worse&p=507166&viewfull=1#post507166

And this one has a pic of using a scothbrite type pad:

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?12458-Scotch-Brite-Pad-Debachle!-Help-Needed&p=105051&viewfull=1#post105051

So it kind of seems like you are closer to the damage form something being very coarse, either product or applicator.

As far as something being wrong...I would say yes. It can be a little hard to pinpoint exactly just typing without seeing things and working on them, but pointing you to a good applicator that you can get a couple of, and then 2 products that are a mild cleaner and a strong cleaner, we should be able to move in the right direction. None of those 3 items would cause swirls on their own if just used with common sense (work clean, no finger tips, dont put a lot of pressure in one little spot), so that starts to narrow things down and see what might fix it.

Pressure is probably the hardest thing to talk about online. But yeah, you have to be able to move the pad around with some speed, to work the paint, and some pressure. Like if you bog down a machine buffer, you have pressure, but the pad isnt spinning, so nothing is really going to happen. You have to keep the pad moving.

So just for me, while you can think about trying to 'rock the car on its springs' with pressure, it also seems the more pressure I put on a pad by hand, the slower I have to move it, or it starts grabbing, and sliding out of my hand, etc. I would have to go to my finger tips to hold it, which is wrong, so have to back off.

Also keep in mind you can start off gentle, and build up pressure if needed.

[sleepy weasel]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Yes, i see the results of the fingertip application. Luckily, I either wasn't using my fingertips, or not supplying extreme pressure, as I managed to escape the fingertip "cheetah" mottled effect. My marks seem more akin to the second link. Which caused me to reexamine the applicator I used originally. It is not foam. It appears to be either terry cloth or microfiber. I have found some foam applicators in a store near my house, though they are not the Meguiar's ones, which I have not been able to locate yet. And I have purchased some microfiber towels, though once again I was not able to find the Meguiar's ones mentioned.

Once again, thank you for your valuable insight regarding pressure and technique. I think I am gaining a firmer grasp of what needs to be done in the solution process. I think it may take a little trial and error, but I plan on erring on the side of too little pressure, and then checking the results and adjusting accordingly. Armed with the correct tools, I think a situation that I considered bleak and hopeless may be salvaged.

[Murr1525]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Terry cloth is generally a bad sign these days.

I think the Meguiars pads often end up being an online purchase.

Yeah, just do like a 8inch or so square test spot with the mild product, then the strong one. Varying pressure along the way, checking progress. You might also put a tape line down an edge to give you a line to compare with.

[ffboy]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Try using milder pressure while working the product a bit loger instead of going at it once with too much pressure and use foam applicators for correction. With foam applicators, you can get away easier with applying too much pressure since it also cushions any excess pressure.

[k.hall]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

I just bought a 2012 Ford Edge with the WHITE PLATINUM TRI-COAT METALLIC paint. When we tried to polish out a scratch on the back bumper that my dog left, we used the above mentioned TW compound. Now it feels different where he rubbed the compound, even though he followed it with a high quality wax. The spot is about the size of a quarter, so it probably is not a big deal, but, since it's new, it just really bugs me. Is there a way to restore the tri-coat paint? Do we use the same products as listed in the above entries? I have never detailed a car before, but I love the way this car looks and would like to try a little of this "therapy" that I am reading about in your forum. But first, I just want to fix this quarter sized spot that does not feel as "slick" as the rest of the car.

[Murr1525]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

You dont want to go too crazy on a small spot. Focusing a lot of energy on a small spot is how you go through the clear coat.

But yes, you could try something like the products above, or just ScratchX 2.0 if this is the only thing you will do, and work about a 6" square of an area and see how it goes.

And using a good applicator and towel. If just staying simple, I have had good luck with the Target brand towels.. and then finding a smooth foam applicator. Dont want anyting coarse as noted above...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

Wow, maybe we should create a "sticky" thread on how to fix the issues created by using this competitor's product!

We'd like to reiterate that, technically, there's nothing wrong with the competing products used, they just aren't really the best fit for a modern clear coat finish. We could say the same thing about some of our older products as well, though, and if you hand applied them you probably wouldn't be overly pleased with the results either. But products like our M84 and M85 aren't as readily available as the products used here, so the risk of a consumer finding them and having problems with them is minimal.

That said, for any of the cases cited here, the fix is the same: use an abrasive liquid that won't scour the paint, use an applicator that won't create any haze or fine scratches, and above all use good technique. Ultimate Compound is just such an abrasive liquid, and a foam wax applicator pad is the pad of choice to remove the defects created by the other products. But as has been mentioned, avoiding fingertip pressure points is critical or you end up with that "cheetah spot" effect, even with Ultimate Compound. Again, that's not really the fault of the compound, but a function of poor technique.

[sleepy weasel]

Re: Used polish compound on clear coat

I have been working on correcting my car over the past couple of days, and it is slow going. And a lot of work. I am finding that I have to go over each section twice with Ultimate Compound, and the second time applying nearly as much pressure as I can while still being able to use proper technique. Perhaps I have hard paint. Regardless, I am seeing results. While the hood is not showroom perfect, it is much better than it was; I believe I have corrected most if not all of the damage I had previously inflicted. There are still swirls, which probably existed before i purchased the car. And I think maybe some holograms? (I am not entirely sure what these are) in direct sunlight. The side-to-side scrapes I applied using the Turtle Wax compound and incorrect applicator are gone. For now, the remaining defects will have to wait until I gather my strength for another go at them, or I break down and get a DA, which I am sure would have made this job easier and quicker. I am posting a picture of the trunk taken on my terrible camera phone; hopefully some improvement can be seen given the low quality. Again, thank you to all who posted with helpful suggestions/links/tips; there is a definite and noticeable improvement.