Polishing Info Request

[vanbuskirk]

Thanks in advance. I must polish the P-15 for a car show in August. Can someone direct me to a web site that discusses polishing cars? My main problem is that when I sprayed the Scotty on a windy day, overspray speckled the P-15. I 2000 sanded the specks off, but now the finish is dulled. I have a polisher with a wool buffer and 3M polishing materials. Bob

[greg g]

Bob, the wool polisher is probably more abrasive than you need. Go to a body shop supply store and ask for a couple of foam pads. These are less agressive than the wool and come in different levels of agressive surfaces also. They will also have several different abrasive levels of compound. The stuff from the Auto parts store likely is more gritty than you need. Probably the counter guy can talk you through the process.

The common mistakes people make is using too much compound, to much pressure/speed, and using the edge of the pad to work the panel. Excess compound builds up and glazes on the pad, to much speed and pressure puts excess heat into the finish, and using the pad ledges leaves the signature used car lot swirl marks.

Also make sure your panel is clean and dust free before you start the process. Try your technique on a low panel first where mistakes are less likely to show. Also tape off areas you don't need to process as rubbing coumpound can be as difficult to remove as overspray. Tape seams so the goo doesn't get into door seams and the hood to fender interface. Also tape your trim. You be amazed how much damage a buffer can do to a piece of stainless or chrome trim, and how far it will fly if it gets grabbed just right. also watch seams, and the curves on hoods and fenders.

If you are doing the hood, mask the windshield and trim.

It might even be worth while to go to a bodyshop and get an old hood, fender or door, and practice there instead of going directly to your car.

[Tony_Urwin]

http://autopia.org/forum/index.php

Quite a bit of info here, Bob.

[250440ND]

If you have overspray on the car the best method is 3M clay bar w/a little water it will remove overspray, tree sap and any other paint contaminents. Do that first before you do any polishing. Wizard makes a yellow compounding foam pad for aggresive buffing and a white foam pad for final polishing works excellent.

[Suddensix]

I bought a clay bar a few years ago coz all my old car pals told me how great they were. I have yet to find anything the darn thing will take off. Must be doing something wrong!

[D25_Steve]

If its just dull you may want to go out an grab some Meguiars.

#1 is a paint cleaner, #2 a polish, and then #3 is wax.