Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

[Jorknow]

I was wondering if anyone was ever mixed together a few different kinds of polishes or compounds, like a two-in-one deal. A while ago I had to wash and buff a 40ft yacht.

After doing almost the whole side, a lot of swirls started coming up after using some diamond cut compound, #85. I mixed in some #9, #82 and some #83. It worked wonders, removing all the swirls and not leaving any more marks left. I was wondering if anyone has any input on doing this.

I used a Makita rotary with a wool pad. not sure on the cut, I think it was a combo of both heavy cut and a lighter cut.

[MWAUTOPRO]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

Mixing products usually isn't a good idea, if there was a easier mixture, using a combination of existing products, they would make it.

I have used #7 to make some compounds work longer in extreme heat though, small batches and specific use...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

Mixing products usually isn't a good idea, if there was a easier mixture, using a combination of existing products, they would make it.

This is correct. Our chemists are very good at what they do.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

A while ago I had to wash and buff a 40ft yacht.

After doing almost the whole side, a lot of swirls started coming up after using some diamond cut compound, #85.

The fibers of a wool pad are a cutter or an abrasive, always remember that. Buffing with just a wool pad and a pure lubricant like vegetable oil, motor oil, baby oil, (you get the idea, a lubricant with no abrasives), and you will still get swirls as the fibers themselves cut the paint.

Now M85 is an aggressive compound, use this compound with another thing that also is aggressive and cuts the paint, (the wool pad), and now you're using two things that are cutting or abrading the surface. So it's normal to have some swirls left in the paint or in your case probably some type of LP paint or AwlGrip coating, possibly Gel-coat.

M85 was never formulated to leave a Zero swirl results, it was formulated to leave "Low Swirls Results" the idea being after you make you're initial cut you come back and re-polish each square inch using a less aggressive pad and product combination and after this you go to wax.

Because large things like Yachts and Motorhomes require so much time when doing a multiple step process, it's better to use a good one-step product "if" you can versus a heavy compound.

If the surface is so oxidized and deteriorated then you might not have any other options but to use a compound but after the compound you'll have to do at least 1 to 2 more steps, it depends upon you're criteria for end-results.

I mixed in some #9, #82 and some #83.

It worked wonders, removing all the swirls and not leaving any more marks left.

If after you mixed the above cleaner/polishes with the compound you continued to use the same wool cutting pad, then likely what happened was the products above likely masked the swirls you're leaving behind and in reality are still there.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

I had a guy who did this at one of the detail shops I managed back in the day. He was one of those guys who was "stuck" in their old ways. I argued up and down with him about it but he refused to stop doing it. I even compared the right way vs. his way on a car but he didn't care. I think he mixed 3M perfect-it compound with Imperial Glaze or something and used a polishing wool pad.

[Joe's detailing]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

The only products I've ever mixed was QD with last touch. Both bottles were near empty, so I made one half bottle worked good ...

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

Why not mix APC with Hyper dressing so you only have one step with your tires, or 80 with your NXT?

Come on guys, mixing products is a BAD IDEA! If there was a faster, easier or better way to do this, don't you think Meguiar's chemists would come up with this product? If you can't spend the time to do ALL of the steps required, maybe it's best to turn the job down, or wait till another day.

Meguiar's products are designed to be used individually, not mixed together.

[Jorknow]

Re: Mixing a few compounds and polishes?

Thanks for all the replies.

You guys proved a good point. I guess the only reason it seems to work better is because the diamond cut takes a very long time to fully buff away, and some polish just makes it thinner and easier.