Question for you compounding experts

BlkSapphire

New member
Two questions, actually:



1) When doing multi-stage compounding, do you try to wipe or wash off the dust between stages, or do you just go straight from one compund to the next?



2) I keep reading different things about 3M Ultrafine/Ultrafina. Some say it contains fillers, others say no. Does anyone know for sure?



Thanks.
 
I always do an IPA wipedown after compounding or polishing just to ensure a properly done surface.



Most polishes have some sort of filler material in their formula, you just have to know how to use it and break it down properly.
 
1) I wipe down as I go, I ONR wash again as needed.



2) Ultrafina probably has some filling capacity. However, if you use it as directed to remove minor holograms from the polishing step (not the compounding step), starting at 1000 rpm to spread, 1800 rpm under enough pressure to compress the Ultrafina pad lightly for a few passes, then ease up and finish out at 1000 rpm for a couple more passes, odds are you will end up with a hologram free finish.
 
Scottwax said:
2) Ultrafina probably has some filling capacity. However, if you use it as directed to remove minor holograms ]from the polishing step (not the compounding step), starting at 1000 rpm to spread, 1800 rpm under enough pressure to compress the Ultrafina pad lightly for a few passes, then ease up and finish out at 1000 rpm for a couple more passes, odds are you will end up with a hologram free finish.



Let's pretend for a moment that I don't quite get the distinction between compounding and polishing. I should probably have just said what I am going to do: I am planning to use my PC with Menzerna SIP/orange, then Nano/gray. From my test panel it seems like this is going to leave some holograms so I have some Ultrafina with a blue finessing pad and that seems like what is going to take care of this.



Am I compounding, or polishing? Am I nuts or is this plan reasonable? What else should I know?
 
In my experience, Ultrafina fills, although not any worse than most of the current generation (106ff, 85rd, etc) out there. I have seen occasionally marring come back from SIP/orange -> Ultrafina on the right paint systems, but never from SIP/white -> Ultrafina.



It seems like I add a new step to my process each year :(, but right now I like M105/foam wool -> SIP/orange -> 106ff/white -> Ultrafina/blue.



Cars in better shape get M105/white -> Ultrafina/blue. I would expect marring to come back with this combo, but so far so good. I'll post an update/warning if I see holograms on one of the cars that I polished with this combo.
 
BlkSapphire said:
Two questions, actually:



1) When doing multi-stage compounding, do you try to wipe or wash off the dust between stages, or do you just go straight from one compund to the next?



Thanks.



I used to wipe down with MF after every step, until I hired DJ (Got_leather) to detail my Dodge Ram in July. He polished with a mixture of Hi Temp EC and Meg's #9, then applied Klasse AIO, and topped with Collinite 845. The only wipedown he did was at the very end, with a little Zaino Z-6. He only used maybe three MF towels total. I have adopted his method of only wiping down after the LSP. It gives great results, and I wash a lot fewer towels these days.
 
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