M205 leaving swirls with 4inch finishing pad!

[PowerHogger]

I've been washing my brand new mustang for a few weeks now using the good ole two bucket method to reduce marring to the finish. Being a black car I didn't realize how much the imperfections will show after just a few washes. So I started to gather pads and chemicals to buff my paint with a harbor freight rotary buffer.

Bought some m105, m205, and m21 with some ebay pads and some 4inch meguiars finishing black pads. Been going at it for the last few days and been real disappointed with the results. In fact, it looks worse that what I began with!

Here's my process. Clayed the car. I was surprised how much came off the clay only after 1300 miles. Then I went to prepping the pad with some detail spray and following with m205 (haven't touched the m105) rubbing it all over the pad making sure it's primed and good. I took the small meguiars finishing pad to start off with. Applied a little bit of pressure and with a slow speed then worked it in with the rotary. Arm movement is pretty fast, maybe 4-6 inches per second and the speed of the rotary is about 2.5 or around 1000 rpms. Worked the area for maybe 15-20 seconds as I could see the m205 already flashing. Waited a minute and wiped it off. Soon as I did I noticed very very fine micro marring. Have no idea how it gets there. The pads just came out the package and my paint was thoroughly cleaned.

So I went at it again applying a bit more pressure and moving a little slower. Same results. So then I tired light pressure then no pressure on the finishing passes and still marring. I am using a brush to clean off excess after every pass. These are all on the FINISHING pads. Did use some light cutting pads to get some scratches out but still the same results, super fine marring (scratches are out though ). Got discouraged so I just took another finishing pad and applied m21 all over the car. Looks real real good from afar, but up close it looks terrible in sunlight. Any thoughts??? Here are some pictures

[ChevyNick]

Hmm strange. Did you say your using the brush on the pad or the paint? I dont think I've heard of anyone using a brush on their paint or on a foam pad.

Don't let the polish sit on the paint, its wipe on wipe off.

Some of those scratches look pretty nasty. I'm not really sure why your getting those swirls. So you're saying they were never there before you went over it with M205? Are you experienced with a rotarty? I'm just rambling random thoughts lol sorry. It could be you aren't using the rotary correctly... But I wonder if you'd mess your paint up with a rotary at that speed with a finishing pad on a rotary. I've never used one.

[PowerHogger]

Re: M205 leaving swirls with 4inch finishing pad!

Hmm strange. Did you say your using the brush on the pad or the paint? I dont think I've heard of anyone using a brush on their paint or on a foam pad.

Don't let the polish sit on the paint, its wipe on wipe off.

Some of those scratches look pretty nasty. I'm not really sure why your getting those swirls. So you're saying they were never there before you went over it with M205? Are you experienced with a rotarty? I'm just rambling random thoughts lol sorry. It could be you aren't using the rotary correctly... But I wonder if you'd mess your paint up with a rotary at that speed with a finishing pad on a rotary. I've never used one.

The brush is purely for pads to scrape off excess. LOL I wouldn't brush the paint with it! That would be suicide! I've use the a rotary before on the truck in my avatar with good results (maybe I didn't notice since it was not black). I think I'm using the rotary right??? Even with no pressure though it still marring the paint.

Paint was flawless minus the scratches from washing. There are a few panels I didn't do because I didn't want it all over the car.

Note: Don't know if it matters but I did get tricked into buying the perma plate protection at the dealer. They put some type of coating on the paint.

[Marc08EX]

Re: M205 leaving swirls with 4inch finishing pad!

It just means your paint is extremely soft. Have you tried using SwirlX, Ultimate Polish or ColorX?

Did you try slowing down your RPM to like 600 or 800 RPMs? Do you have a D/A? Try that too because the rotary motion might be too aggressive for the paint.

I've read that to get the paint of a black Mustang perfect, they need to use Menzerna SF4500 (extremely low cutting ability) because it's so soft. They even joke on how the paint gets scratched when you breathe on it.

This article should help you out: The Challenge of Delicate Paint

[Marc08EX]

Re: M205 leaving swirls with 4inch finishing pad!

Please disregard my SwirlX suggestion. It's more aggressive than M205 so it will cause more harm than good. I wasn't thinking straight a while ago.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: M205 leaving swirls with 4inch finishing pad!

What pad is on the machine in the reflection of the pictures? Is that what you are referring to as the finishing pad?

How much pressure are you using with the rotary?

Have you ever polished this paint with anything other than M205?

Also, as previously mentioned - there is absolutely, positively NO reason to let a polish or compound dry on the paint. In fact, doing so will make removal harder which could in fact lead to swirls or hazing.

[PowerHogger]

It just means your paint is extremely soft. Have you tried using SwirlX, Ultimate Polish or ColorX?

Did you try slowing down your RPM to like 600 or 800 RPMs? Do you have a D/A? Try that too because the rotary motion might be too aggressive for the paint.

I've read that to get the paint of a black Mustang perfect, they need to use Menzerna SF4500 (extremely low cutting ability) because it's so soft. They even joke on how the paint gets scratched when you breathe on it.

This article should help you out: The Challenge of Delicate Paint

I only have a rotary at the moment. I would go real slow but still no results. Should I try and get a D/A? I might try that colorx as lots of people are getting good results. I'm at work at the moment but that articles looks like a good read. Thanks alot!

What pad is on the machine in the reflection of the pictures? Is that what you are referring to as the finishing pad?

How much pressure are you using with the rotary?

Have you ever polished this paint with anything other than M205?

Also, as previously mentioned - there is absolutely, positively NO reason to let a polish or compound dry on the paint. In fact, doing so will make removal harder which could in fact lead to swirls or hazing.

It's a eBay pad from tcp global. Used it once on a very small panel with same results. Does looks like I have extremely soft paint like Marc said. I was using both medium pressure (to get some larger swirls out, which they did) then light then no pressure on the final pass.

Nothing to polish the paint just m205 and before that the "perma plate" at the dealership.

I let the polish sit sometimes and others times wipe it off immediately. Same swirls either way. I would let it sit for 30 seconds or so tops.

Thanks for the reply!

[stanclub]

Re: M205 leaving swirls with 4inch finishing pad!

A good DA will work out much easier for your situation. Rotary is always more aggressive than DA, and harder to master. M205 should work out find on your soft paint with DA and good quality polishing pad; finishing pad might possibly be too gentle in this combo.

Rotary is going to be a challenge to the soft paint you have. Perhaps a good finishing pad + finishing polishi ( such as 3m ultrafine or Menzerna PO85RD ) will work out better if using rotary.