Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

[Houranis]

Hello all,
I’m new to car detailing.
I have 6-month-old BMW black metallic color. Few days ago, I fixed a chip with applying matching paint and sanding. However, I got a dull spot after sanding which is expected. I applied Meguiar’s Ultimate Polish using Meguiar’s applicator pad, then I cleaned it with microfiber towel. Dull spot is gone, but I was surprised to see many new fine swirls in the area.
Did I do something wrong?
And how can I fix this by hand? Should I apply Ultimate compound?
I don’t want to buy DA for such small area.

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Possibly I can ask some questions that might help others help you.

Can you tell us what sandpaper and grit you used to sand down the area?
Did you use a hard or soft backed sanding block, or just fingers?
Did you dry sand or wet sand?

1,500 grit wet sanding marks will normally require a compound to remove the scratches and then polish to refine the finish.
You may be able to wet sand with 3,000 grit (or higher) to reduce the effort needed for compounding.

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Here is a good article by Michael Stoops:
The Power of 3000 Grit. https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...r-of-3000-Grit
Note that he mentions that hand sanding with 1500 can be more agressive than machine sanding.
Don't worry when reading about not having a D/A, the ideas will still come across.

[Houranis]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Possibly I can ask some questions that might help others help you.

Can you tell us what sandpaper and grit you used to sand down the area?
Did you use a hard or soft backed sanding block, or just fingers?
Did you dry sand or wet sand?

1,500 grit wet sanding marks will normally require a compound to remove the scratches and then polish to refine the finish.
You may be able to wet sand with 3,000 grit (or higher) to reduce the effort needed for compounding.

I used 3M 3,000 grit (which is very soft). I wet sanded.
I used my fingers to wet sand a small area around 1x1 inch, then polished a larger area around 5x5 inch. Swirl marks appeared in the whole 5x5 inch area.

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Here is another thread on M105 by hand vs 2500 grit wetsanding marks
https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...tsanding-marks

Also can you describe how you cleaned the area before and after sanding?

It is important to keep the sanding residue from getting caught in your hand polishing pad and inflicting scratches.

[Houranis]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Here is another thread on M105 by hand vs 2500 grit wetsanding marks
https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sh...tsanding-marks

Also can you describe how you cleaned the area before and after sanding?

It is important to keep the sanding residue from getting caught in your hand polishing pad.

Before sanding, I cleaned with alcohol, clay bar, then soap with water. I did soap with water after sanding and before polishing.

[Houranis]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

What should I do now to remove these swirl marks?
I read that I can do UC then UP. Are these easy to apply by hand on an area with 5x5 inch?

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Do you have an image you can post?
If you have trouble, send me a PM.
Old Bear

[Houranis]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Do you have an image you can post?
If you have trouble, send me a PM.
Old Bear

Here it is:



I already bought UC but I have not opened it yet. Is it worth trying?

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Here is the best thread that I find for uploading images.

Thanks RoushStage2
How to upload and insert an image into your posts

https://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?24941-How-to-upload-and-insert-an-image-into-your-posts

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Here it is:



I already bought UC but I have not opened it yet. Is it worth trying?

Ultimate Compound is absolutely worth trying, and follow up with Ultimate Polish.

Looking at your image. There are lines that appear to be in arcs.
Thinking these could be your sanding marks? If so, Ultimate Compound may remove them. Then follow up with Ultimate Polish.
Or they could have been inflicted by contaminants getting into the polishing pad. If it is these, you may be able to clean the area again and use a fresh clean pad with Ultimate Polish.

[Houranis]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

Ultimate Compound is absolutely worth trying, and follow up with Ultimate Polish.

Looking at your image. There are lines that appear to be in arcs.
Thinking these could be your sanding marks?
Or they could have been inflicted by contaminants getting into the polishing pad. If it is these, you may be able to clean the area again and use a fresh clean pad with Ultimate Polish.

I believe that you are right that these could be sanding marks.
I will wash the pad and the area, and apply UC then UP tomorrow. I will post the result here.
Thank you for your advice.

[Old Bear]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

You will either need to wash the pad or use a different one for the UC and UP. Otherwise, some of the Ultimate Compound particles might slightly scour the surface id left in the pad when polishing.

[Nick Winn]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

What type of applicator pad are you using? Microfiber or Foam?

[Houranis]

Re: Swirl marks after applying Ultimate Polish

What type of applicator pad are you using? Microfiber or Foam?

Foam