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Bunch of questions !

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  • #1

    Bunch of questions !

    1. Regarding masking, what's the big deal about cracks if right after you polish and/or wax you can just use a q-tip and clean out all the cracks?

    2. Regarding masking again, I saw pictures of tires being covered up , is that necessary?

    3. What is the worst that could happen if you do not clean your pad on the fly when polishing and/or waxing your entire car? ( what can the build-up on the pads do to your car? Does it just make it inefficient or does it damage your car? )

    thanks in advance!
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  • #2
    Re: Bunch of questions !

    1. masking is a preference, not a requirement but it's used to help save what can amount to a fair amount of time in "clean-up" after your done compounding, polishing, and/or waxing.
    yes, you can go back with a small detail brush or Q-tip to get excess product out of panel gaps, etc bu a lot of people finds it's faster to simply mask off first ad save the trouble.
    Additionally, masking off certain areas can help avoid damage or other issues. It's better to mask off plastic trim, headlights, chrome trim, glass edges, emblems, etc so that they don't get scratched or marked up with the buffer. It's a lot better to take the time and mask them off first than deal with problems or issues afterwards....

    Masking is not just for panel gaps - it's for ANYPLACE on the vehicle you don't want to get splattered, scratched, rubbed, get product onto to, etc.
    Even during applying LSP masking can be good to avoid getting hard to remove white stains from trim parts that some waxes can leave behind.

    2. Tires are like any other part of a vehicle. Masking them off isn't "REQUIRED" , but it can save you clean-up time afterwards from splatter, etc - same as laying a sheet over the windshield while polishing, or masking off any other part of the vehicle.
    5-10 minutes masking off areas may save you an hour of going back to clean up splattered areas.

    3. the LEAST than can happen is the pad and product become much less effective creating more work for you. The WORST that can happen is built up and dried product could create as many issues on the paint that you are trying to correct .
    Imagine a product as aggressive as M105 for example that you let get built up and overloaded on a pad. The far edge of the pad get dried up and now you are rubbing very dry, abrasive product against the same paint you are trying to correct but now you are instilling your own swirls, scratches, etc.
    This is an extreme example but you get the idea.
    The build up would have to be extreme and really dried to cause this but you get the idea.
    Mostly, the problem comes down to the overloaded pad being significantly less effective while trying to make corrections in the paint.

    Bottom line comes down to 'Working Smart". Find techniques to help you with the detailing - not only in your technique of using a buffer, or cleaning glass, etc, but in your overall workflow from beginning to end of a detail job.
    Working Smart means finding and perfecting ways/techniques to work efficiently and productively without having to waste tim going back over the same areas again, finding ways to save needless work and effort, etc

    It used to take me, on an average sized car, 8-9 hours for a full detail. not a multi-step paint correction job, but just a "standard" full interior/exterior detail that involved wash, clay, wax (or AIO cleaner wax like #6 or AIO polish wax like D151), tires/rims, all trim, interior, trunk, etc.
    It took e al day because I hadn't learned to "Work smart".
    I now use techniques such as masking off areas of car i don't want to worry about and other techniques and even with the time spent on masking I typically get a car done in 5-6 hours rather than 8-9 hours AND the results are MUCH better and i didn't have to spend an hour or more going back over areas cleaning up splattered product on tires, inbetween panel gaps, trying to get stains off plastic trim, etc.

    Sorry, I know i got a bit long winded but i hope it answers your questions
    What am I, fly-paper for morons?

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    • #3
      Re: Bunch of questions !

      I thought masking was kind of weird and time consuming too. But it sure does help keep molding, trim etc clean. In order to get the edges of doors etc clean, you have to run the buffer right to the tape, I even went over the tape. If those areas were not taped, they would be white.

      I still have white areas from last time I didnt tape and no dressing has been able to cover them up for more than a few days. I also have scrubbed them while washing and the white wont come off

      I would suggest covering windshields, the cowl or grill between the windshield and hood as well. Mine got splatter all in it and I plan on removing it to clean it good. a towel or newspaper would have prevented 30-60 minutes of work

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      • #4
        Re: Bunch of questions !

        great answers!! thanks for the response. I want to try to do a car without masking and post the pics to show the problems but I'm afraid that might leave scars on the car haha!

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