how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

[pjoseph24]

I am using ultimate compound with the da power system using a yellow pad.
I did the entire area about 3 times and im not sure when to move onto ultimate polish?

This is not on a car its actually the front of a home subwoofer i built. I am going for a gloss black finish . I used rustoleum black lacquer spray cans for paint. wet sanded up to 2500 grit, and today moved onto ultimate compound im just not sure when to move onto ultimate polish.

I will try and post some pics tomorrow using a digital camera hopefully i can get some clear pics, tried to take a few earlier but they came out terrible i think during the day will be better with more light.

[ffboy]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

UC is used to remove those swirls, if you are happy with the results from UC, you may skip Ultimate Polish. If however, there are still minimal marring, you can move to Ultimate Polish. Or if you simply feel like applying ultimate polish for that brilliant, deep, wet shine on black even if the paint is virtually flawless, then go ahead and use Ultimate Polish.

[Detailing by M]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Well pics will defiantly help but here area few question we'll have.

1. How long did you let it cure?
2. How many coats/thickness?
3. Did you sand at all?
4. Is there Orange peal?
5. What was the surface you painted?

[pjoseph24]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Thanks for the replies
Regarding the questions above.

1. about 3-4 months.
2. about 6 coats
3. Yes, 600, 800, 1000, 15000, 2000, and 2500 grit using 3M sand paper
4. I believe any orange peal is gone from sanding
5. box is made using MDF but was first sealed with fiberglass resin, then skim coated with USC Chemicals Pro-Flex Putty (light weight flexible body filler), sanded flat, and primed.

I will post some pics when I have a chance.

thanks again

[Michael Stoops]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Obviously after sanding the finish you're left with sanding marks. The compounding step should be used until the sanding marks are completely gone, even if some other light marring remains. This is where a bit of experience comes in handy to be able to discern between sanding marks and DA haze or other marring. It's quite common for the more aggressive compounding step to leave it's own set of defects behind while removing the sanding marks, and that's what a finishing polish is designed to clean up. But is any sanding marks remain, don't think a finishing polish will get them out - continue compounding until all sanding marks are gone, then move on to the next step.

[pjoseph24]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

here are a few pic, i put a description in the title bottom left of each photo, thanks again

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94131015@N06/sets/72157634223000303/

[Michael Stoops]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

OK, from the images you posted it appears that you've got some light hazing and nothing more. That could be down to the paint being very soft and therefore quite delicate and easy to micro mar and haze. Try a small area using the black foam finishing pad with Ultimate Polish - that should clear up the haze and take that finish from a dark grayish appearance to the glossy black you're looking for. You should also ease up on both the speed and pressure when doing this, and you might have to experiment with just the right touch depending on how this paint responds.

[pjoseph24]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Ok thanks, I will see if i can find the pads locally during lunch will follow up after thanks again

[pjoseph24]

The polish improved it a lot, but was still a little cloudy, so i used a little UQW and it came out great
Added some pics thanks again
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94131015@N06/sets/72157634223000303/

[Michael Stoops]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

It could very well be that this paint is just super delicate and hazes very easily, but it looks like you've got a great finish on it now! To be completely candid with you, the slight hazing you still had after polishing but that is now gone after UQW is really down to UQW hiding that very fine hazing. That's really OK though as trying to do any more work on this surface with the tools you have probably won't make any more forward progress but could actually get you in trouble if you work too long at it. If UQW is yielding the overall result you're looking for then stick with it. It's so easy to apply and isn't going to cause any negative effects.

[pjoseph24]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Thanks,

will the UQW wear off eventually making the haze show again? I was not sure since it will be indoors how long it would last.

Also would adding a coat of the wax made for black cars add any benefit?

[Murr1525]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Yes, if the wax is just hiding it, then as the wax wears off, the haze will show back up again.

A wax made for black cars may have some more polishing oils in it, and may hide things a bit. So a possibility there.

It is also possible that the Black Wax may be milder than the Ult Polish, so even another refining step there.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

Yes, if the wax is just hiding it, then as the wax wears off, the haze will show back up again.

A wax made for black cars may have some more polishing oils in it, and may hide things a bit. So a possibility there.

It is also possible that the Black Wax may be milder than the Ult Polish, so even another refining step there.

We have to agree with all of these points.

Meguiar's started out, back in 1901, as a furniture polish company and many of our products back then easily transitioned to car care as cars became more and more common. When you're dealing with paint it doesn't matter that much what the paint is covering since you're working on paint, not the substrate. To that end, until just a few years ago we still offered a line of furniture polish products that were still very closely related to our car care line, specifically the Mirror Glaze Professional Line. You could apply some M07 Show Car Glaze (or even Deep Crystal Polish as it's likely easier to find) before applying UQW next time. That would probably do the most to really maximize the gloss, although our new Black Wax contains both polish (like M07/Deep Crystal) and a light cleaner that could refine the surface a bit more. You may want to apply Black Wax by hand rather than with the buffer as that process may still prove a bit aggressive on this particular paint. Honestly though, if it were me personally doing this, I think I'd go with M07 and top with UQW.

[pjoseph24]

Should i apply the M07 by hand?
If yes i have both the yellow foam applicator pads and the black one which comes with the ultimate liquid wax, which would be best to use if any?

[Murr1525]

Re: how do u know when to move onto ultimate polish?

The black and yellow hand applicators are the same, so either would be fine.

For the black / yellow machine pads, the black would probably be the better choice.

A pure polish can be pretty easy to do by hand, so up to you if messing with a machine is worth it.