I my opinion the Trizac pad is what really makes the 3M work so well. It will take any sanding scratches out much faster than the compounding cream.
The cutting cream isnt the problem. That rubbing compound you use SHOULD get your part to a high gloss finish. I know because I use it. I have a spare bottle I wont finish. I use another brand now.
What you want to do is wet sand up to at least 1500. As you go up the grits of sand paper, (800 -> 1000 -> 1500) make sure you go twice as long with the next step up in order to fully remove the sand marks previously.
Once you are fully sanded then use a orbital buffer with a wool cutting pad. Don’t use a foam pad, it wont do as well as fast. A wool pad cuts harder, finishes quicker, and won’t heat up the finish as much.
DO NOT heat the panel up too much. If you heat the panel up too much you will soften the clear coat and you will notice it either loses shine or won’t get shinier. Remember, you can’t polish soft. If you feel it is heating up move to another section and come back to it later.
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgK04cn_Teg”]This video may help.[/ame] It’s the instructional video for using the 3M Perfect-It finishing system.
If you don’t want to invest in a DA sander and polisher you can get an smaller 4" mandrel unit that can be chucked in a low speed drill. You don’t want a high speed drill.
With some parts I find it easier to chuck the polisher/drill in a vice and hold the part.
Also, after the Presta cutting cream you want to polish the part with a swirl mark remover and a soft foam pad.
thanks alot 2talljohn, i was wondering what i was going to do with the bug tub of Presta ultra cutting cream :), i think the issue as u have mentioned is to not use a foam pad which is what i was using, since i dont have a polishing machine yet i was using a drilling machine which has a variable speed from 0 to 3000rpm , not sure if this could have also caused the issue i had.
thanks
Well unless you have lots of time and patience, the drill will not do anything good for you. You need to use a high speed orbital polisher with a wool pad. You can get a good polish for less than $100 at pep boys or home depot. Then you can get a pad attachment and a pad for about $25 at any automotive paint supply place.
The drill isnt fast enough and you arent able to put enough pressure onto your part by using the drill. If you are using that red mother ball let me know so I can slap you with it haha!
If you want a cheaper rout and your parts arent big. Go to harbor freight or home depot, get yourself an economy version angle grinder, and then go to harbor freight, (if you went to Home Depot originally) and get the mini buffer kit. Its about $20 - $25. The entire setup should run you between $40 - $80. All you need is a compressor that is suited to run such a tool.
Correction… $30.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-pneumatic-polisher-kit-99934.html
If you want to go a much higher end rout. Snap-On sells the same tool but with a lithium ion battery. Its around $300 but its worth it. I’ve used it before. I love it. I wish I can afford it.