The first step of the buffing process is using a quality wool pad and heavy cut compound. The goal of this step is to remove all wet sanding scratches and texture. The ‘texture’ looks like a grain in the paint. After the wool step is complete, there should only be ‘swirl marks’ remaining from the buffing pad: no grain, and no scratches. There are a few things to note in the video below.
- Buffer speed is low, about 700-800 rpm
- Paying attention
- Always looking at the reflection of the light in the paint, this is showing the texture of the paint.
- The changes of direction. The majority of the buffing is done so that the pad is turning against the grain from the sanding.
- A different direction. There are a few areas where I change the direction I’m buffing. This is because I saw some grain going at a different angle. To get rid of it, the buffing pad has to be turning against it.
- Buffing off of the edges.
- Cleaning the compound off at the end with a water borne cleaner. This shows you how the paint looks with no polish on it.
- If there are any trouble areas, you would continue buffing after wiping the panel down.