Meguiars Two-Stage Compounds - To Perfection

Pennington wrapped the flexible block with 2,000-grit wet/dry sandpaper and liberally sprayed it with a mix of water and Meguiar's detailing solution (dish soap with water will work just as well). The solution will lubricate the paper for a smooth sanding action.

Next, he covered the hood liberally with solution. There's no maximum amount sprayed; in this case, more is better. The idea behind using the spray is not only to keep the area lubricated but also to prevent the paper from loading up with paint material and clearcoat. Be sure to sand in the direction of the panel. A hazy color appeared as sanding began and the clearcoat began to wash in with the water. It's OK, it showed that the sanding was working and the very top layers of clearcoat were lifting.

The sanding action was completed, and to get a peek at what was happening, Pennington squeegeed off the water and let the panel dry. It was only then that we could actually see where the sanding still needed to be done. Take the time to fully examine the panel-your hand is a great implement for feeling unevenness. The high spots, like the one shown, will still need more wet sanding until they are flat like the rest of the hood.

After wet sanding and examining the results, all the high spots are smoothed over with the sanding block and the tedious task of cutting can begin. Pennington first laid a strip of Meguiar's 105 cutting compound onto the hood; it's a liquid that contains super-microabrasive technology, which allows for ultrafast cutting-essentially removing the marks caused by wet sanding. He set the buffer to 1,800 rpm (to prevent burning), but not before adding the wool pad to the end. Using minimal pressure, he slowly moved the buffer back and forth over the hood and created an even pattern. Using a high-quality microfiber towel, we wiped the hood clean and examined it again.

Once the cutting was completed, the polishing could commence. The polishing compound from Meguiar's is specifically designed to remove small scratches. Pennington made sure to swap out the wool pad in favor of the polishing foam pad and slowly massaged the polishing cream into the hood. Just as before, with minimal pressure he worked slowly and set the buffer to an unhurried 1,400 rpm-letting the buffer do the majority of the work.

He then wiped down the excess polish with a microfiber towel and again reexamined the hood. Once it was given the seal of approval, we could apply a fresh coat of wax. To our amazement, the orange peel, fisheyes, and imperfections were all gone, and the hood looked show-shine fresh. CHP