multiple polishing passes.QUESTION

[ygo55]

when polishing with machine,do you need to step down the pads or just repeat process over? ofcourse Ive clayed,polish and seal,but im trying to hone my skills. On good paint is it better to polish 1 time and wax 3 times or the opposite? I get good results but i know better is possible lol.

[Nowhereman]

Final process should always be wax.
Polishing with one additional step down is preferred if possible but, that will depend on the paint's quality at that specific time.
I polish twice with the same step pad, then do a manual swirl mark polish by hand, then wax.
When I do this, the paint ends up looking 3 ft. deep.

[pbguy357]

I mix mine up, started with wax, got 10 coats of that then put some polish on it, then one coat of wax, but I'm ocd when it comes to this, sometimes I was/polish it 2 to 3times a day haha

[2002ssslp]

Hey pbguy357. You want to do my car ? How much ?

[ygo55]

why do the swirl remover by hand?

[third_shift|studios]

this thread is filled with WTF all over the place.

first pass is your 'cutting pass' this is your most aggressive pass which will remove all of the swirls. I don't know what machine you're using but i'll figure its an R/O so get a purple foam wool pad and some M105. I always run the buffer @ top speed, make 4 passes per each 2x2 foot section (up/down, then left/right). Do the whole car and wipe away your compound (spray some alcohol diluted 50/50 with water to remove stubborn compound). 2nd pass is your refining pass-this pass will clean up the micro marring created because the first pad is so agressive. I would go with either a MFDA finishing pad and D301 or a tangerine pad and M205. D301 is an all-in-one polish/sealant so you have the advantage of skipping an LSP.

[2002ssslp]

Wow, and I thought I was doing a good job with a bottle of New Finish and a hand full of rags.

[Nowhereman]

why do the swirl remover by hand?

Because I do not use swirl remover over the whole car, just where it's needed.
You can get a lot of information coming through your hand on the finish that is not possible through a polisher.