I've retired my PC, 'cause I like my Dewalt 849 rotary buffer so much. The problem is I've accumulated a confusing array of polishing compounds (or whatever their correct name is), and I'd like to trim down to a few I can depend on and understand.
I currently have all three of the Griot machine polishes, 3M PI-II Rubbing Compound Fine Cut, and Meguiar's Diamond Cut 2.0.
I've searched the archives, and I couldn't find a concise recommendation for an arsenal of compounds to use with a rotary which would cover most situations I'd encounter. I know the Diamond Cut is the most aggressive I've got, but beyond that I'm lost.
Going to Meguiar's description of products on their site was somewhat confusing, and 3M's was too. Neither of them (especially Meguiar's) are very good laying out the aggressiveness of the products on a linear scale, and there is obviously a reasonable deal of product overlap.
Let's say I'm just going to stick with Meguiar's products (although a 3M suggestion would work). Which three or four rotary polishes would I want to have to cover most every situation? And, assuming I start with an aggressive one, how many finer ones would I need to use after that to prep the finish for an application of AIO? Can I just skip from Diamond Cut (or some other aggressive one) to a super-fine one, or will eliminating the other couple intermediate polishes really show?
Assuming I'm looking at a badly abused finish, if I started off using Diamond Cut 2.0 (or #4), which are the next polishes I'd want to use after that? Meguiars website sort of indicates that their #4 (heavy cut) followed by #1 (medium cut) followed by #2 (fine cut) followed by #9 might be a way to go. But they don't indicate how Diamond Cut 2.0 compares to #4.
Is #9 a good idea before AIO, or can I just go from the #2 to the AIO? I'd like to use only what I need, and avoid any in-between steps which don't clearly add anything.
Also, I've been using Meguiar's SoftBuff foam cutting pads for most of the process, until the very end. At which point or with which compound should I switch to using their less agressive polishing or finishing pads?
Sorry for the long post, but I'd appreciate whatever advice you can muster.
I currently have all three of the Griot machine polishes, 3M PI-II Rubbing Compound Fine Cut, and Meguiar's Diamond Cut 2.0.
I've searched the archives, and I couldn't find a concise recommendation for an arsenal of compounds to use with a rotary which would cover most situations I'd encounter. I know the Diamond Cut is the most aggressive I've got, but beyond that I'm lost.
Going to Meguiar's description of products on their site was somewhat confusing, and 3M's was too. Neither of them (especially Meguiar's) are very good laying out the aggressiveness of the products on a linear scale, and there is obviously a reasonable deal of product overlap.
Let's say I'm just going to stick with Meguiar's products (although a 3M suggestion would work). Which three or four rotary polishes would I want to have to cover most every situation? And, assuming I start with an aggressive one, how many finer ones would I need to use after that to prep the finish for an application of AIO? Can I just skip from Diamond Cut (or some other aggressive one) to a super-fine one, or will eliminating the other couple intermediate polishes really show?
Assuming I'm looking at a badly abused finish, if I started off using Diamond Cut 2.0 (or #4), which are the next polishes I'd want to use after that? Meguiars website sort of indicates that their #4 (heavy cut) followed by #1 (medium cut) followed by #2 (fine cut) followed by #9 might be a way to go. But they don't indicate how Diamond Cut 2.0 compares to #4.
Is #9 a good idea before AIO, or can I just go from the #2 to the AIO? I'd like to use only what I need, and avoid any in-between steps which don't clearly add anything.
Also, I've been using Meguiar's SoftBuff foam cutting pads for most of the process, until the very end. At which point or with which compound should I switch to using their less agressive polishing or finishing pads?
Sorry for the long post, but I'd appreciate whatever advice you can muster.
-)