How hot should the paint be immediately after buffing?

[BenP]

Just so I know how to guage whether I'm using the buffer correctly...

I was practicing on a test panel earlier and after what I thought was a "good buff" with #83 and a W8006 I'd say the paint was as hot as fresh toast. Is this too hot or just about right? I guess it depends on the manufacturer of the paint etc?

TIA,
Ben.

[gbackus]

That depends on how how your toast is :) I always describe the proper heat as being "toasty warm" but not hot.

[Mike Phillips]

The system I use is my built-in system, that is after buffing for what experience tells me is long enough, I place my clean, bare hand on the finish to check how warm the surface is.

If I am able to keep my hand on the finish with no knee-jerk reaction to the temperature, I know I'm not buffing too hot.

If when I place the palm of my clean hand on the surface and my automatic built-in defense mechanism causes me to quickly remove my hand from the surface... then I know I'm buffing to long, or a combination of too long, too much pressure, too small a work area...

It's a kind of a simple system, but it works.

[Ranger72]

I have adopted Mike Phillips method and let me tell you it is the perfect system!

[SpoiledMan]

Yep, what Mike says sums it up.

[BenP]

Looks like I'll adopt Mike's system as well then!

Thanks,
Ben.