Can 3M SMR be used by hand?

I

imported_rachelanne16

New member
I haven't posted in a while and I have not been giving my ride an Autopian level of care lately (wash and Sonus spritz every week, but SG is long gone), so I need to do a complete exterior detail. It is not driven very much, but it's parked on the street with Pine trees overhead. I washed and clayed the entire vehicle. Paint was smooth (but not slippery). I started on the hood with SMR. It was near dusk, but it looked pretty good, so I washed, dried and AIO'd the hood.



Now I see that there are some hazy patches. AIO will not remove them, so I know it is the SMR. I did a search here and several threads mention the need for SMR to break down properly and that can be really difficult to do by hand. I thought that SMR was pretty much a consumer product (with the fillers) and meant to be used by hand, but I am obviously not using it correctly.



Should I switch to Perfect-It III Machine Glaze? I am just trying to take off light oxidation and minor swirls and I think I need to start with something more aggresive than AIO.



Thanks much.
 
yeah, i tried SMR by hand and had a not-so-decent experience. i do think that it needs to be broken down carefully and needs more patience than i gave it. I think MachineGlaze would def. get rid of any slight hazing left by the hand-applied SMR.



You can always go small at first in regards to the abrasiveness of the product then work up as you need "more power".



good luck



alex
 
how about a paint cleaner...

sounds to me like megiuars paint cleaner might just fill your bill.

and machine app is best, but it can be done by hand.
 
hallo gallo said:
I thought that SMR was pretty much a consumer product (with the fillers) and meant to be used by hand, but I am obviously not using it correctly.
Click to expand...
Well, most 3M products and beige "pro" Meguiar's products are not meant for the average car owner who doesn't know much about detailing. That's why they are harder to find most of the time, and sold more widely in specialty stores.



Ease and simplicity of use is one big thing that differentiates "pro" from "consumer/retail" level products. You can't just apply and wipe off something like SMR or PI-III.



It sounds like you didn't work the polish long enough (assuming you used a "safe" applicator) so you can try doing it again, taking time to rub it in more thoroughly and longer, or you can try to use a paint cleaner (or maybe a scratch remover) like wanabe suggested. Good luck.
 
I spent yesterday redoing the afflicted areas with Perfect-It III Machine Glaze (using a Handi-Grip Foam Applicator from the Autopia store). I did smaller sections and worked it until it was almost gone.



It looks like the SMR hazing has been removed, as well as the swirls that the SMR could not get! Although "Machine Glaze" is meant to be applied by machine, it seems to break down easier and is generally easier to use by hand than the SMR was.



You make a good point about these are not easy on/off consumer products. You really have to be willing to work with them (my shoulders are killing me at the moment).



I intend to apply AIO, then SG, and maintain with Sonus spritz. Since the Machine Glaze is a little more aggresive than the SMR, can I do AIO next, or should I get some P-lll Finishing Glaze first?



Thanks everyone for the help!
 
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