Pigtale like marks after polishing

[Oni]

Hi all
Ive searched and found a little info but id just like some clarification. Im learning to use my new g220 on my 90 mx-5 that is single stage red. im at work ATM so i dont have 100% details on polishs im using but on my test spot i found it needed to use a polish ( arround number 7 on the meg's scale) on a polishing pad and then finishing with number 9 swirl remover on a finishing pad. now the second step is removing the hazing but its leaving little scratches almost like "C"s or "?"s. After some reading i found that it might be becuase of my pads not being clean enough. i re cleaned my finishing pad and tried again but with the same results. im doing 2 passes with mild pressure at speed 6 and then 2 passes on speed 4 with little pressure. Any tips would be great thanks.
p.s ive read and rea read the hot topics etc but havent found anything on this

Reguards
Scott

[akimel]

Re: Pigtale like marks after polishing

Mike, hopefully Mike P. will be checking the forum today, but it's also possible he's away for the weekend. So be patient. He'll be back with you, and I'm sure the other experienced MOL detailers will also have some good counsel for you.

The "pigtails" you are seeing sounds like the "tick marks" sometimes left behind by a D/A polisher. #9 with a finishing pad is often prescribed to remove these marks, but it appears #9 isn't working for you here.

Do you have access to any of the new Meguiar's polishes, specifically, M205 or SwirlX?

I know that some folk have had success using ColorX and a finishing pad to remove tick marks.

Hang on. I'm sure solutions will be forthcoming in the next two days.

Cheers,
Al

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Pigtale like marks after polishing

It's either tick marks, also called micro-marring or hazing or it's some kind of abrasive particle on the face of the pad putting in a pigtail scratch.

If it's micro-marring then try doing a test spot with a foam finishing pad and one of these,

SwirlX
M205
ColorX
M66
M82
M09

If it's pigtail scratches then make 100% sure the surface of the paint/car is absolutely surgically clean and make 100% sure the face of your foam pads are clean.

Always do a test spot to a car before going over the entire car. You should only have these pigtail marks to a section about 16" square or so at this point if you did a test spot.

Is the problem over the entire car?

[Oni]

Re: Pigtale like marks after polishing

Thanks for the replies . Sadly none of the new products are out where i live so i dont have access to them. Although i do have the old version of colourx and scratchx.
Thanks for replying Mike the marks are only on my test spot i was planning on doing my whole car yesterdya but when i couldnt prefect my test spot i decided to post here and try get some answers before wasting time/product doing the entire car. Although being convertable + the bottom hald of the doors being chip guarded ( a pebble like texture ) there is very little paint to work on . ill have a few more tries with some colourx/scratch x/swirl remover using different pressure and speed and see how i go being sure to clean the pad completly for each product. hopfully ill have some good news to report later in the day

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Pigtale like marks after polishing

In my experience every Miata I've ever touched had pretty darn soft and sensitive paint. You might want to try, as a final step, using ColorX on a finishing pad at speed 3 or even 2, with light pressure. That seemed to give me the best results on the Miata I had.

[Oni]

Re: Pigtale like marks after polishing

Thanks for the advice . i have my hood done! I ended up finishing with M09 but i worked it a long time on 3 and it finished down alot better. My car has swirls that i would easily compare to some of the "exterme" makeover cars ive seen so im happy to just get 90% gone and i was able to. I have another question but i will sk it in the correct ( hand applied) forum. thanks all for making this a good experience