How do I buff and polish new paint?

[Guest JAMIE T]

I don't even know how to search for this topic.

 

I just purchased a new Porter Cable buffer/polisher. It came with two pads. One looks like a carpet and the other is a wool pad. I have done this on a small scale with smaller units and the orbital type units. The things I've buffed and polished have not been nearly as important as an all-over paint job on a nice car. I need to be able to buff and polish an entire car after wet sanding. I think my main question is which pad is used for what? And, on new paint, what type of compound should be used and in what steps? I have used 3M Finesse-it and Perfect-it products on the smaller projects.

[Guest ON3GO]

after wetsanding (finish with a 3000 wet on a DA) i would use the egg crate looking pad.. looks like those pads that goes on a bed.

i always use 3M rubbing and polishing compounds.

start in small sections, do it at a slow rpm and dont build up so much compound.

you can use the wool pad also, i just never used it AS MUCH as the other pad.

 

you wont get the scratches out if you stop at like 2000 grit, i always do 1500 wet, 2000 wet, then 3000 wet with a interface pad on a DA.

 

good luck!

 

mike

[Mike kZ]

Use the wool pad for the rubbing compond, and a foam pad for the polishing compound.

[Guest JAMIE T]

I don't have a foam pad. I have seen the ones you're talking about with the egg crate shape. I'll look into it. I hope they make it for my hook and loop backing pad. My unit is a nice professional grade polisher. It is NOT the orbital type.

[Guest ON3GO]

ya i have the snapon one like yours, they make hook and loop pads for our types.

 

mike

[MatMan]

I like to follow this page, it has proved well for me.

 

http://www.carcareonline.com/viewarticle.aspx?art=5

[staledale]

Here's a link

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=105466

scoll down to Racerx, lots of info here

[Guest JAMIE T]

Thanks for the link. It should probably be stickied! Yesterday afternoon I stopped by my paint store and talked to a guy whom has given me good advise in the past. I ended up buying a couple of 3M foam pads. The softer balck ones. Before painting Mikes car I've been painting all sorts of things around the garage. Here is the valve cover on my Integra.

 

 

I wet sanded it with 1000 grit and buffed it with 3M Perfect-it ll Fine cut rubbing compound. Number 39002. I used the wool pad for now. That's all I've done to it. Honestly, the pic doesn't do it it justice. The thing is so slick right now that I don't see the need to go any further to polish it. I probably will though just to see what it can do. I also have some 3M Finesse-It that I'm going to try. It is super fine and may not be abrasive at all. Thanks guys for your help. I'll be posting many pics of my projects so keep a look out.

[OlderThanMe]

cool! another nomination to stickify!

[ZR8ED]

I think I should add one caution here.

 

Becareful, and test a small area, or practice on something less valuable.

 

Not all polishes work with all paints. I have seen polishing compounds that work with one brand of paint, and yet leave swirl marks, hazing, dulling etc on others. If you know what brand of paint you are using, make sure you get a recommendation on what works with that type/brand of paint, if they say "its all the same"....go somewhere else.

 

Now take what I have to say with a grain of salt, because I have little experience with aftermarket paint, but I do have experience with OEM baked automotive coatings. Most car companies test different brands of polishing systems and chose one typically based on compatability with the type of paint, and paint application system they are using in that particular plant. Ie Not all GM plants use the same polishing sytems, because they do not all use the same application process, and paint products.