Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

I sprayed my cab this weekend with Deltron base and clear.

24 hours after spraying clear I started a cut and buff.

I wet sanded (about 2 passes each grit) with 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000.

I then used a da polisher and foam pad with Meguirs “ultra pro finishing polish” at about 2000 rpm I think (setting 2 out of 6) on a 5000 rpm machine. I did two moderate pressure passes and 2 light ones per the instructions.

The clear is shiny but not mirror shiny. It still has a slight haze and the scratches are circular like spider webbed older paint with wash marks from years of scrubbing, but very light.

Any insight into what is keeping me from a true shine with this process? My hunch is that the polish is too fine to get past the 3000, but the polishing scratches are circular and not hatched from wetsanding.

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

I am far from an expert when it comes to cutting and buffing but what what works for me is 3 rounds of Meguires M100 on a wool pad using a rotary buffer at about 1400 rpms and then 3 rounds of Meguires M205 with a foam polishing pad on a rotary buffer at 1400 rpms. Be very careful around edges and body lines with the wool pad. If you slip and catch an edge it will do damage. I learned the hard way so now I tape all edges and body lines.

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

Thank you. Are you doing any wetsanding before using the cutting compound?

What you suggested is a Meguires "heavy cut" (#12 on their scale) followed by a "light cut" (#4 on their scale).

The M210 I bought is even lighter (3.5 on their scale). It seems I am going too light too fast without any intermediate wool buffing. I think I need a "medium cut" before using the M210. They have one that is a 7 on their scale

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

I use liquid ice from Eastwood with different pads. I start with a wool pad then blue then finish with white pad. I get a mirror finish sanding to 2000

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

John....i wasnt aware that eastwood had it also
mine is labeled as Norton liquid ice...appears to be the same thing
1 compound, 3 diff buffing pads
but thats what im using and am very impressed with the results

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

I hand wet sand to 2000.

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

What color is your foam pad? The pad might be more of an aggressive cut than you need for final polish. There are varying grades of foam pads too. Ex. Blue, White, Black they all have their purpose.

Re: Cut and buff new paint - need advice
 

I was using blue (medium) when I started the thread. After the advice here, I used a wool pad, and then an orange (medium heavy) foam pad combined with the meguires. m100 heavy cut compound and am getting better results. I also turned my RPMs up to around 2500.

I believe my core problem was too soft pad, too light compound, too low RPM and I wasn’t really buffing anything down.

After the orange pad I use a blue and then a black with a lighter compound and it seems to be doing the trick. I’ve paused on this effort to try and finish my paint work but will pick it back up soon.