Compounding and polishing

mengele

I bought 3m heavy cutting compound and 3m polish for afterwards as suggested by my local motor factors. I was also given the correct polishing head for the compound and another for polishing

Now I'm trying on a scrapped car first. When I do the compound how soon after do I wait until I start polishing ? Will I need to clean off any excess compound before polishing ?

PsychoPete

3m compound can be a bit of a pain, you might need to give it a light mist of water if it's dries too quickly. Compound the whole car section by section, work the compound in till it's clear on the paintwork then wipe off as you go then go over the whole car with he polish section by section. If you can clean out the pad every so often

mengele

I tried a bit last night on one section and it did a great job on bringing up the colour but then this morning there was also a residue of compound left on the metal. Did I just use too much compound ?

Titzon Toast

Are you going to go over the car with a clay bar first?

mengele

I thought the cutting compound would do that job?

PsychoPete

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122121944#Comment_122121944

A good rule of thumb is 4 to 5 pea size drops of compound or polish on the pad. Sounds like you used too much and didn't wipe it off properly. Look up a few videos on YouTube

Stallingrad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122121975#Comment_122121975

You want the car as decontaminated as possible before polishing otherwise your pads will get embeded with crap that will mar of the paint. So wash, de-iron, de-tar, clay, then start on your paint correction.

Titzon Toast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122121975#Comment_122121975

I'd always recommend going over the car with a clay bar first. They do a great job.