A Few Observations from Today

It depends on the car and paint, I used IP today with a green wool pad and nothing else need for follow up. I applied some PB black hole and was finished.

 

I will have to dis-agree with this, there should have been a final polish after IP especially since you used wool.

 

I think this discussion boils down to what is "acceptable" and this varies from person to person.

Using wool automatically means a second step is needed (at least in my experience).

A finishing polish and finishing pad is the way to go after correction when the customer is willing to pay for it or when it is your personal vehicle.

When you use a finishing pad the lack of mechanical abrasion coupled with the fine abrasives from the finishing polish allows the final imperfections that may not be able to be seen with the human eye to be removed - it also burnishes/jewels the paint. This further allows the light to be reflected back to you instead of refracted and thus, provides better optics

 

I'm sure this has been mentioned in the detailing annals somewhere, but why does freshly polished paint bead almost like an LSP has been applied?

 

It probably beads because of the polishing oils left behind on the paint's surface but that's just my guess though.

 

Because you have a very clean surface and some of the polishing product are left behind.