Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

[04blkpearlcoupe]

I painted some areas of my car and have wetsanded with 1500 grit so that its all smooth. I already tried M85 with a random orbit buffer on some areas and although they came out great with a mirror-like finish, it took WAY too much polishing. I had to go over each area about 10 times with the M85 before it finally looked like a mirror finish. Each time I made about 6 slow passes too. I need something that cuts much faster. What should I use instead? Thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

Finer sand paper...

[Marc08EX]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

M105 should take out those 1500 grit sanding marks. I think that M105 is designed to take out 1200 grit sanding marks should it be like a walk in the park.

However, it might be better to do Murr's suggestion of using a finer sand paper such as 3000 grit.

[imz4n]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

M105 and a wool pad ( 3')

[04blkpearlcoupe]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

Thanks. I did not use a wool pad. I used a smooth cloth polishing bonnet that came with the orbital buffer. Maybe that is the problem. It did an amazing job where it touched the factory paint though.

As far as using a finer sandpaper, the only finer one I can buy is 2000 grit and it just feels like a piece of paper. You can't even feel any grit on it.

If a wool pad and/or finer paper doesn't work I will look into getting the M105, but that stuff is $40 a bottle. The M85 was only $15.

[greg0303]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

To remove 1500-grit sandmarks you would normally use a rotary buffer/ cutting pad (wool or foam) and M105/ M95 or M86 liquid.

In your case, when only random orbital polisher without adjustable speed is available, your best choice would be to refine sanding with a finer grade (3000 would be ideal). I still think M105 must be called to the rescue.

[Murr1525]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

Any step up in sand paper will help, and make marks easier to remove.

Remember you cant feel the grit in #105 either. Doesnt mean it isnt there.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

Really the issue here is the use of a random orbital buffer to pull out 1500 grit sanding marks - it just doesn't have the power to accomplish the task. M85 is fine, but using it or any other compound to remove sanding marks that coarse is generally done with a rotary buffer and a wool or foam cutting pad, and about 1800 rpms. An orbital buffer, even a quality DA like our G110v2, Porter Cable 7424XP or the Griot's tool are rarely up to this task.

If you are unable to obtain a rotary buffer (and if you have no prior knowledge of that tool we highly urge you to NOT use one to learn with on your car!) then we would suggest you refine your sanding marks down to 3000 grit before further compounding. Refining the sanding marks down to such a fine level will always make compounding faster and safer. If you're going to stay with that orbital buffer then you're going to have to live with the repeated applications in order to bring up the final gloss you're looking for. Bottom line - it's just not the right tool for the job.

[04blkpearlcoupe]

Re: Which cutting polish should I use after 1500 grit sandpaper?

Thank you for the input. I can't afford a DA right now, so I will have to try a wool pad and finer sandpaper. After contemplating this overnight I realize now that maybe I didn't go over the areas enough with the 1500 grit. I initially used 800 grit to take down the orange peel. Trying to polish out 800 grit marks could certainly explain it.

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm sure that I have enough info to figure this one out now. My touch-up project is already 99% done. I just have one more area that needs a bit more polishing, but I will be repainting the front bumper on my dad's BMW and that is where this advice will REALLY come in handy.