Ok, So I did a full exterior detail this weekend. About half way though the swirl removal process, I realized that autogeek had accidentally sent me Perfect-IT II rubbing compound instead of the F-I 2 (yes stupid me for not checking when I recieved it or even before I started using it). So I finished up with it anywase hoping it would work all the same, only to be dissapointed with the finishing results after the klasse aio and sg. There still appeard to be a fair amount of swirl marks. So the question is, which is more abrasive? the P-I 2, or the F-I 2? I also had trouble applying the sg. I read the thread by dave and thought I followed the steps exactly but once I had finished a panel, I couldn't get it off and it looked like streaks all over the panel. Was the pad too wet?

PI is more abrasive than FI I believe. If you still have swirls, than chances are you didn't work it enough.

SG Streaking is usually too much product, but it does seem to be affected by humidity. Usually use a quick detailer and a MF and you can get rid of it.

Here's a scale for abrasiveness for most common products (1 being the mildest)

COMPOUNDS, POLISHES AND GLAZES SORTED BY CUTTING ABILITY

10 – MOST AGGRESSIVE - COMPOUNDS
3M SUPER DUTY RUBBING COMPOND HEAVY CUT 39004
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL DIAMOND CUT COMPOUND 2.0 VERY HEAVY CUT #85

8
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL COMPUND POWER CLEANER HEAVY CUT #84
3M PERFECT-IT III EXTRA CUT RUBBING COMPOUND 05936
MEGUAIR’S MIRROR GLAZE HEAVY CUT CLEANER #4

7
3M IMPERIAL MICRO FINISHING COMPOUND MEDIUM CUT 39001
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE MEDIUM-CUT CLEANER #1
3M PERFECT-IT III RUBBING COMPOUND 05933

6
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL DUAL ACTION CLEANER POLISH MEDIUM CUT #83

5
3M PERFECT-IT II RUBBING COMPOUND FINE CUT 39002
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE FINE-CUT CLEANER #2
3M ONE STEP CLEANER WAX, MEDIUM OXIDATION REMOVER 39066
MENZERNA INTENSIVE POLISH
3M PERFECT-IT SWIRL MARK REMOVER DARK CARS 39009
3M PERFECT-IT SWIRL MARK REMOVER LIGHT CARS 39109
MEGUIAR’S MEDALLION PAINT CLEANER #97
MEGUIAR’S SCRATCH-X #108

4 - POLISHES
MEGUIAR’S BODY SCRUB A10
MEGUIAR’S DEEP CRYSTAL PAINT CLEANER #30
MEGUIER’S QUICK DETAILER #66
MEGUIER’S SPEED GLAZE #80
BLACK FIRE DEEP GLOSS POLISH

3
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL SWIRL FREE POLISH LIGHT CUT #82
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE SWIRL REMOVER #9
3M FINESSE-IT II MACHINE POLISH 39003
3M FINESSE-IT II FINISHING MATERIAL 05928
MENZERNA FINAL POLISH

2 - GLAZES
MEGUIAR’S BODY SHOP PROFESSIONAL HAND POLISH VERY LIGHT CUT #81
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE MACHINE GLAZE #3
3M PERFECT-IT III TRIZACT MACHINE GLAZE 05930
3M PERFECT-IT III MACHINE GLAZE 05937
3M IMPERIAL MACHINE GLAZE 05991
3M ONE STEP CLEANER WAX, LIGHT OXIDATION REMOVER 39006

1
MEGUIAR’S MIRROR GLAZE SHOW CAR GLAZE #7
3M PERFECT-IT III FINISHING GLAZE 05941
3M IMPERIAL HAND GLAZE 39007
BLACKFIRE ALL FINISH PAINT PROTECTION

When you say I didn't work hard enough does that mean I didn't use enough pressure, enough rubbing compund, enough speed on the polisher? I went over every section for probably 5-10 min w/ minimal pressure. The polisher started at 2.5 for two passes over section, then 3.5 for 1 pass, and up to 4.5 for 3-5 passes. Did the product dry before I got to a high enough speed? I was also expecting to experience some hazing but didn't have any at all.

Its a little aggravating when you spend 3 days working on it and it doesn't turn out like you'd hoped :mad

Damn Hal, nice list. And yeah, I'd recommend working the product a bit more. Are you doing it by hand? If so you may be just wasting your time... you may need to get a PC buffer and a cutting pad (with some FI-2) and go to town with that.

I was using what was posted as #5 - 3M PERFECT-IT II RUBBING COMPOUND FINE CUT 39002 with an orange Lake country cutting pad.

When you say I didn't work hard enough does that mean I didn't use enough pressure, enough rubbing compund, enough speed on the polisher? I went over every section for probably 5-10 min w/ minimal pressure. The polisher started at 2.5 for two passes over section, then 3.5 for 1 pass, and up to 4.5 for 3-5 passes. Did the product dry before I got to a high enough speed? I was also expecting to experience some hazing but didn't have any at all.

Its a little aggravating when you spend 3 days working on it and it doesn't turn out like you'd hoped :mad

Not enough speed, probally not enough pressure. You want to allow the PC to sit on the paint, and let the weight of the machine work the compound. For swirls and PI2, I've been known to go at 4 to 5 and 8 passes ///\\\|||---
before checking the results. You'll probally have to repeat that at least once, as many as 3 depending on how bad the swirls are. I'm also guessing you got some caking on the pad probally from the compound drying before you worked it.

How big of a section are you working?

Sounds like you needed to go over the P-i-2 with some 3m Fi2 as the Fi2 is less abrasive and would remove the swirls. I used the Fi2 to remove swirls but it was not strong enough to remove the oxidation. I'll have to try out some pi2

1 trick i learned is to make sure you do everything evenly...pressure, speed and coverage. That is the only way to guarentee that it will look right. Go over it again, put a little more pressure on it and go slow. Bet it comes out great. :)