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A super busy TNOG this time around, with a couple of very interesting projects.
First up, a Lexus with non metallic black paint, loaded with swirls and other defects.
Because of the level of defects we decided to start with Ultimate Compound on a DFC5 burgundy foam cutting pad.
We then followed with Ultimate Polish on a DFP5 yellow foam polishing pad.
Houston, we have a problem. Haze. Lots of haze. Which means that this is one of those cars with really goofy paint that is super touch sensitive and a royal pain to deal with. We actually got more haze after Ultimate Polish than we had following the compounding step!
The swirls were gone almost immediately, we just weren't happy with the finish we were getting.
For fun, we decided to see what the DAMF System would do for the paint. We were expecting more haze, and we certainly got it.
So, how do you solve the super soft paint conundrum? You throw out the text book and go for what seems like a totally backwards process: get more aggressive. We went back over the area with Ultimate Compound on the DFC5 cutting pad, but we increased our tool speed a bit (from 5800 OPM to about 6500 OPM) and really increased our pressure. But we also buffed for a very, very short period of time. In a typical 2' x 2' area we moved side to side and top to bottom just once, then shut off the tool and wiped off the residue. We also made sure the pad was very clean, that it was primed, and that we used just a couple small drops of product for the area.
Yes, it sounds crazy and totally counter-intuitive, but we've seen that process work wonders on a huge variety of paints, both new and old, OEM and aftermarket. We've gotten the same result using microfiber pads, and with a variety of SMAT abrasive compounds. It just plain works. But the tricky part was getting the car owner, who had never used a DA before, to feel comfortable putting down that much pressure on that second step. He finally got the hang of it though!!
While the Lexus was being worked on, we moved to a silver Honda Fit with really dull paint that totally lacked any clarity of reflection at all.
No, that is not a wet sanded surface you're looking at. It's one of our over head lights reflecting in the paint!
We've seen this before, and we know what the DAMF System can do for the situation, so that was our plan of attack.
A quick pass with D300 on a DMC5 microfiber cutting disc and look at that!
Back to the Lexus and making sure the pad is clean.....
....while the owner of the Honda finishes off the hood.
Next, a C6 Corvette roof panel in need of some refinement before a show. Lots of microtexture in this aftermarket paint, so a quick once over with a 3000 grit finishing disc on a pneumatic DA was called for.
All kinds of action going on simultaneously!
Sanding marks on the Corvette roof were removed with M100 on a DMC5 microfiber cutting disc.
"Hmmm...."
The Corvette owner finishes off his roof panel.
The Lexus hood, all waxed up.
With the wax wiped off, the hood is looking fantastic!! Now the owner just has to replicate his efforts on the rest of the car.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the garage, the Honda is out and a Nissan 300ZX is in.
Kyle dove right in with some instruction on using M100 and microfiber to bring back the glow to aged, dull, swirled paint.
We moved the first Corvette out and brought in a second one!
I almost decided to go home early since Kyle was doing such a great job with the Nissan owner. But, he doesn't have keys to the building nor a passcode to set the alarm, so I decided against it!!
First up, a Lexus with non metallic black paint, loaded with swirls and other defects.
Because of the level of defects we decided to start with Ultimate Compound on a DFC5 burgundy foam cutting pad.
We then followed with Ultimate Polish on a DFP5 yellow foam polishing pad.
Houston, we have a problem. Haze. Lots of haze. Which means that this is one of those cars with really goofy paint that is super touch sensitive and a royal pain to deal with. We actually got more haze after Ultimate Polish than we had following the compounding step!
The swirls were gone almost immediately, we just weren't happy with the finish we were getting.
For fun, we decided to see what the DAMF System would do for the paint. We were expecting more haze, and we certainly got it.
So, how do you solve the super soft paint conundrum? You throw out the text book and go for what seems like a totally backwards process: get more aggressive. We went back over the area with Ultimate Compound on the DFC5 cutting pad, but we increased our tool speed a bit (from 5800 OPM to about 6500 OPM) and really increased our pressure. But we also buffed for a very, very short period of time. In a typical 2' x 2' area we moved side to side and top to bottom just once, then shut off the tool and wiped off the residue. We also made sure the pad was very clean, that it was primed, and that we used just a couple small drops of product for the area.
Yes, it sounds crazy and totally counter-intuitive, but we've seen that process work wonders on a huge variety of paints, both new and old, OEM and aftermarket. We've gotten the same result using microfiber pads, and with a variety of SMAT abrasive compounds. It just plain works. But the tricky part was getting the car owner, who had never used a DA before, to feel comfortable putting down that much pressure on that second step. He finally got the hang of it though!!
While the Lexus was being worked on, we moved to a silver Honda Fit with really dull paint that totally lacked any clarity of reflection at all.
No, that is not a wet sanded surface you're looking at. It's one of our over head lights reflecting in the paint!
We've seen this before, and we know what the DAMF System can do for the situation, so that was our plan of attack.
A quick pass with D300 on a DMC5 microfiber cutting disc and look at that!
Back to the Lexus and making sure the pad is clean.....
....while the owner of the Honda finishes off the hood.
Next, a C6 Corvette roof panel in need of some refinement before a show. Lots of microtexture in this aftermarket paint, so a quick once over with a 3000 grit finishing disc on a pneumatic DA was called for.
All kinds of action going on simultaneously!
Sanding marks on the Corvette roof were removed with M100 on a DMC5 microfiber cutting disc.
"Hmmm...."
The Corvette owner finishes off his roof panel.
The Lexus hood, all waxed up.
With the wax wiped off, the hood is looking fantastic!! Now the owner just has to replicate his efforts on the rest of the car.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the garage, the Honda is out and a Nissan 300ZX is in.
Kyle dove right in with some instruction on using M100 and microfiber to bring back the glow to aged, dull, swirled paint.
We moved the first Corvette out and brought in a second one!
I almost decided to go home early since Kyle was doing such a great job with the Nissan owner. But, he doesn't have keys to the building nor a passcode to set the alarm, so I decided against it!!
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