Answer
1000 grit may be too fine to remove deeper swirls quickly. Go back to 800 or 1000 only as needed to level the marks, then refine through 1200, 1500, 2000, and 3000.
Why it happens
Swirls can remain when the previous scratch pattern or contamination marks are deeper than the current grit can remove efficiently.
Recommended grit
Use 800 only for deeper swirls, 1000 for normal leveling, then refine with 1200, 1500, 2000, and 3000.
Wet or dry
Use wet sanding on fully cured clear coat or water-safe surfaces, with clean water and light pressure.
Success check
The swirl marks are gone and only a uniform fine sanding haze remains before polishing.
What to do
- Clean the surface and inspect the swirl depth.
- Use 1000 grit if the swirls are light.
- Use 800 only when 1000 does not level the swirls.
- Sand until the swirl pattern is replaced by an even sanding haze.
- Move to 1200, then 1500, 2000, and 3000.
- Rinse before each finer grit.
- Polish after the 3000 grit pattern is uniform.
Avoid: Do not keep sanding with a dirty or worn 1000 grit sheet. It can add new swirls while failing to remove old ones.