How does water make polishes more aggressive?

beanbag

New member
So I've heard that occasionally spritzing the pad with water during polishing keeps the polish from "breaking down" and makes it more aggressive. I wonder how adding water achieves this effect. Is it coz it keeps the temperatures lower? But a PC doesn't get very hot in the first place. Is it coz it keeps the polish from drying out? But why would a polish break down faster if it is dry? Is it coz adding water makes more of the polish stay on the paint instead of caking up in the pad? I guess that makes sense. And how would adding water affect non-drying, "lotion-like" polishes like Poorboy's SSR line?



Anyway, I think I was able to make 3M Machine Polish "cut for longer" by keeping the pad moist during the early part of polishing. I think once it breaks down into more of an oily film, spraying with water doesn't help that much anymore.
 
(Most) Polishes suspend the media in lubricating oils, which allow them to work across the surface.



Water dilutes the oils, meaning less lubrication and more "bite" for the media.
 
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