Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

[Malakite]

Hi guys - I am new here and wondered if you could help…I really want to get this right ….

So I have a car I have resprayed a couple of panels (the wing, door and plastic bumper)…I used 2k primer, then base coat, then a couple of layers of 2k clear.

I have also had to lightly sand out scratches from the original paintwork off the other panels. I used 1000 and 1,500 grit to do this. They seem light areas after sanding in that once water is on, the scratches disappear, so it must be the clear scuffed and luckily not the base coat.

I have purchased a Meguiar’s DA polisher with three different pads (The red, yellow and black buffing pads).

My questions are:

What should I use to sand and buff and polish the orange peel from the clear coat?

What should I use on the 1,000+ sanding marked areas?

What should I use to polish up the rest of the unscratched original paintwork?

Should be using my Rotary polisher on some areas, and the DA on others?

What Meguiars compounds I should be using for each job?

Should I also be using some finer sanding discs before buffing with polish/compound? If so should that be on a DA or a rotary, or even by hand and as wet anding rather than dry??

This is a huge minefield to me and I have watched heaps of videos online and read so many articles, but all seem to contradict each other, so ANY help would be SO great appreciated.


Thank you SO much :-)

[Nick Winn]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

My questions are:

What should I use to sand and buff and polish the orange peel from the clear coat?

You are probably going to want to try to match the existing orange peel on the panels which have not been repainted. If you flatted the orange peel completely on the areas you repainted it is going to look uneven. Our Unigrit Sandpaper cuts very quick. There are so many variables you ideally would want to have several options on hand, to start mild. This is a good video especially if wanting to work by hand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TtbGb0bVGI&t=3301s

Regarding removing of the sanding marks, it depends on if you sand by hand or d/a, and also how aggressive you get. The more aggressive you get, which in this case it sounds as though you are not going to have to or should not, the more aggressive the approach will require to remove the marks. May take a compound & a rotary, may take a compound on a d/a, but if trying to remove with a d/a a microfiber cutting disc will likely be best.

What should I use on the 1,000+ sanding marked areas?

Our M100 Pro Speed Compound following by M205 Ultra Finishing Polish would be a great combo for this task, regardless if using on a rotary or d/a, and also regardless of what pads you use.

What should I use to polish up the rest of the unscratched original paintwork?

Depends on the condition of the paint, you can try a finishing polish like 205 first & work your way up from there.

Should be using my Rotary polisher on some areas, and the DA on others?

Possibly, like we mentioned above.

What Meguiars compounds I should be using for each job?

I would say M100 & M205 would be good for this job.

Should I also be using some finer sanding discs before buffing with polish/compound? If so should that be on a DA or a rotary, or even by hand and as wet anding rather than dry?? I am personally not a fan of dry sanding due to the mess it makes with dust. Regarding use of finer sandpaper yes this is a good idea, a foam finishing disc like our S6F3000 backed with a S6FIS on a d/a would be a great idea.

This is a huge minefield to me and I have watched heaps of videos online and read so many articles, but all seem to contradict each other, so ANY help would be SO great appreciated.


Thank you SO much :-)

[Malakite]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

Hi Nick - firstly thank you SO much for your response - I really do appreciate it like you cannot imagine! ..

Just a couple of additional questions for you please if I may;-

So I only have orange peel on the panels I have repainted - the other panels I have just used wet sanding to remove some additional scratches. Based on this are you saying that I should still get some 'Unigrit' sandpaper? If so may I ask what are the best grades to get? Also should I be doing this by hand or by the brand new Meguiars DA that I now have (but am yet to use!).

Re: the scratch removal/s, what WOULD be the best way to do so - by hand, DA or Rotary?.. Also should the polish be applied on a rotary after the compound is applied via your DA, or vice versa? Or does it make no difference?...

I have three three coloured pads that came with the polisher - should I be using these, or purchase separate microfibre cutting discs/cloths/soft buff disc/foam??

Finally, should I use say 2,000 then 3,000 grit wet sanding over the 1,000grit buffed areas before using the M100 etc, or go straight to the compound?

Once you let me know I will get ordering ASAP. Is it worth sending you some pictures of the bodywork for advice at all, and if so, can I do this on here?


Again thank you SO much for your help so far...

[Old Bear]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

I would definitely look at wet sanding with higher grade papers like 2500, 3000 before buffing.

Actually, if using a machine or hand, I would recommend starting with 2500 and not 1,000 to do test spots. If it is not enough, then try test spots with the 1000 grit.

If hand sanding be sure to keep the pressure even on the pad/block. You do not want finger tip gouging or cheetah spots.

[Old Bear]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

Do consider Michael Stoops online class Introduction to Wet Sanding coming up on August 19th.

Meguiar's August 2021 Training Webinars (meguiarsonline.com)

[Malakite]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

I would definitely look at wet sanding with higher grade papers like 2500, 3000 before buffing.

Actually, if using a machine or hand, I would recommend starting with 2500 and not 1,000 to do test spots. If it is not enough, then try test spots with the 1000 grit.

If hand sanding be sure to keep the pressure even on the pad/block. You do not want finger tip gouging or cheetah spots.

Thank you for your advice Old Bear, that's great to hear. The issue I have, is that I have used 1000 & 1500 grit first... I have removed the scratches now, and so perhaps I now need to use the 2500 & 3000 grit, then the 100 compound and then 205 to finish? I have the new Meguiar's DA so was going to use that on slow setting... what do you think??

[Malakite]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

Thank you for your advice Old Bear, that's great to hear. The issue I have, is that I have used 1000 & 1500 grit first... I have removed the scratches now, and so perhaps I now need to use the 2500 & 3000 grit, then the 100 compound and then 205 to finish? I have the new Meguiar's DA so was going to use that on slow setting... what do you think??

Any ideas guys?

[Old Bear]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

If you have used 1,000 grit, you should have very small residual scratches from the sandpaper.
Light sanding with a finer grade can reduce the 1,000 grit scratches to 2,500 or 3,000 making them easier to compound away.
So I do not understand your comment "I have removed the scratches now", unless you have done a process to remove them (like compounding).

Mike Stoops presentation is local time 4PM on Thursday. What time will that be for you in your timezone (CT or UK)?

Meguiar's August 2021 Training Webinars (meguiarsonline.com)

[Malakite]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

Hi old bear thank you. Yes I have managed to remove most of the scratches now. I used 3,000 3M discs which seemed to work well. I then used my Meguiars DA with 100 compound to buff up... I will then use the 205 after. Should I then use a wax after the 205 at all, or stop at that?

Finally, I have noticed that although I used a 1,500 and then 2,000 sanding of the orange peel, I could not remove it all. I then used the 100 with the DA and although its really come up well, there are still large parts of Orange Peel. Should I just use 1,500 all over again and keep on on sanding until the orange peel has all gone, then re apply the 100?

If you have used 1,000 grit, you should have very small residual scratches from the sandpaper.
Light sanding with a finer grade can reduce the 1,000 grit scratches to 2,500 or 3,000 making them easier to compound away.
So I do not understand your comment "I have removed the scratches now", unless you have done a process to remove them (like compounding).

Mike Stoops presentation is local time 4PM on Thursday. What time will that be for you in your timezone (CT or UK)?

Meguiar's August 2021 Training Webinars (meguiarsonline.com)

[Malakite]

Re: Meguiar's DA questions! (I am new here!)

Hi Old Bear - I had replied to this nut for some reason I can't see the reply so here goes again:

The scratches have come up well wit the 100 compound. The orange peel has not all gone, so even though I have used the 1,500 then 2,000 grit on it before using the 100 compound, I am wondering if I should do it all ver again - if so, any recommendations what 1,500 to use specifically? I don't want to cut too seep but despite sanding and sanding, I could not remove all the orange peel sadly.

Also, after the 100 compound, I have the 205 to use, then I am wondering if I should finish off with a wax of some form, and if so, what one would you recommend?

Thank you kindly as always :-)

If you have used 1,000 grit, you should have very small residual scratches from the sandpaper.
Light sanding with a finer grade can reduce the 1,000 grit scratches to 2,500 or 3,000 making them easier to compound away.
So I do not understand your comment "I have removed the scratches now", unless you have done a process to remove them (like compounding).

Mike Stoops presentation is local time 4PM on Thursday. What time will that be for you in your timezone (CT or UK)?

Meguiar's August 2021 Training Webinars (meguiarsonline.com)