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I can't figure out which stage these hazy scratches are coming from, 2 coats of colour, 3 coats of clear, worked all the orange peel flat with 1500 on a 6" disc with Porter Cable random orbit 7424. Then 2000 grit paper then 2000 foam backed pads then 3000 foam backed pads.
Then the orange firm foam pad with compound, then med firm foam pad with finishing polish then purple wool pad with wax.
I'm sure I eliminated all the sanding scratches up to 3000 grit, I'm wondering if my foam pads might be contaminated. Can I do all of this with the Porter Cable 7424 RO?
Thanks

It's a bit hard to see in your pictures but, in a general sense, the first stage of buffing should get out even the scratches down to 1500. But....that does mean that you need to check carefully, from different angles, that you have it all out before you proceed to the finishing compounds.

Generally I prefer to do my first buffing stage with a rotary. Random orbitals, although they will work with the right pads and compounds, are just too slow for this heavy cutting. Proper technique means that you should not get much swirl and the next, finishing compound, stage should be relatively easy, even with an RO.

i wash good between steps, compounds contain fillers that will hide scratches

im gonna say theres a chance its the products being used. they probably dont have the ability to refine. that ultimate compound doesnt have much cutting capability.
the 7424 is pretty good for buffing but for color sanding-no. its has way too much of a throw,imo. i personally dont like electric/air sanding as i cant hear if a piece of grit gets between the paper and paint. but im not a pro- hats off to those that have it mastered but i end up with pigtails.
you could do the work with the 7424 with the right products and pad(s). i use all megs myself. switched to megs m100 for first cut. although designed to be used with a rotary(and i use it with a rotary for initial cut) it works pretty good with an orange lake country pad and my 7424. just not as quick as the rotary.
after im happy with that i move onto megs m205 and same lake country orange pads- properly cleaned from the 100 before using with the m205.
pad choices are up to user but i stick with the orange pads for all of the work. didnt see a difference going to a finishing pad for the 205.

7" rotary buffer, twisted wool pad, Meguairs M-100 compound and you will be amazed.

I spent the day trying to find Megs m100, no luck so ordered it online, a week before I get it. Also I think I will retire those pads and buy some new ones. I hear people saying
" with the right pads" but not sure what the right pads are? A wool pad for the first cut with M100 seems to be the the most quoted that I have read.
The 7424 random orbit goes up to 10,000 at number 6, I tried a small area under the bumper and gave it some pressure with the orange pad and the compound with better results on the shine so the problem does seem to lie with the first cut.
Looking forward to trying the M100.
Thanks

The haze you are seeing is very fine scratches. A rotary buffer with a wool pad is the way to go.

Page 11 in this thread outlines my basic color sanding process.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=22145&start=100

coronet aint lieing about the rotary,wool pad, and m100. it works real quick.good thing about a rotary is ya dont have to start at recommended RPMs for the product. you can start at a lower speed until you get comfortable.
they are different than the 7424 type in that ya dont want to use any pressure- let the pad and compound do the work.

if you plan on sticking with the 7424, the m100 will work with the orange pads. it'll take longer but it will work. i do it when i...welp...id say when i m lazy but if i was lazy id want it done quick and use the rotary so i really dont know why i still use it sometimes!
only do about a 2' by 2' area at a time . also best to have the surface temps cooler- not in direct sun.
and not too much product! more is NOT better.

Oh I would love to get a rotary but it just is not in the budget and there is nothing on Craigslist near me, hell I have already spent close to $3,000 CDN on primer, filler, paint/clear and supplys

68 Coronet R/T, thanks, that's a good pictorial, very helpful.

beings how im just a hobbiest, i prolly wont get crucified for this:
think ive mentioned im just a hobbiest. i picked the old version of this up about 7-8 years ago when my....dammit---i think it was a milwaukee..... took a crap. i have about 30 jobs on it ( new paint and paint correction on older cars) and it still runs great.
https://www.harborfreight.com/7-in-10-a ... 62297.html