Over polishing

[lord melch]

Been reading up (dangerous I know)

http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...ing-paint.html

Over on Autopia they recommend NOT polishing too much i.e. with too an abrasive polish - make sense you may eventually literally polish the paint off (well clearcoat anyway)

So what about say the Sonus Pre Wax Cleanser with an SFX3 pad ? Would that me perfect to keep the paintwork spot-on before her monthly wax ?

Or maybe just SFX3 as I have that anyway..

Any tips as always appreciated...

[Dave KG]

You are right, you dont want to be polishing with abrasives any more than you have to really as it is reducing the amount of paint on the car every time you do it...

Very light finishing polishes used to burnish the finish remove very little paint, you could safely do this once every six months or so throughout a cars life just to liven and deep the gloss and remove old wax layers before applying some new wax. But heavier polishes and compounds are something you want to avoid doing more than you have to - so once defects are removed, careful washing is the key to ensure that serious correction work is not needed again.

Cleansers are good for removing old wax layers and freshening up the finish this way, but if light swirls are inflicted I would favour a six monthly burnish with a light finishing polish instead. Cleansers may fill marks, but while you have the option of the machine and plenty of paint, I'd go with the finishing polish which only removes very little paint and will give the sharper clearer finish.

[ahaydock]

I'm with Dave, something like Dodo Lime Prime on a SFX2 would be a good a choice, or maybe Megs 80 on a SFX2 depending on the swirls.

	Dodo Juice Dodo the British Manufacturer.

[lord melch]

Dave KG / Ahaydock,

Thanks Gent's

Dave KG is SFX3 what you call a "Very light finishing polish" ?

Isn't Lime Prime on a SFX2 pad a little harsh ?

After 9 months SFX2 and the 2 pad seemed a good combo, so I'd hope after 6 months SFX3 and maybe a 2 pad.. would work.
I presume Lime Prime is equiv to SFX3, more or less ?

[Dave KG]

Originally Posted by lord melch

Dave KG / Ahaydock,

Thanks Gent's

Dave KG is SFX3 what you call a "Very light finishing polish" ?

Isn't Lime Prime on a SFX2 pad a little harsh ?

After 9 months SFX2 and the 2 pad seemed a good combo, so I'd hope after 6 months SFX3 and maybe a 2 pad.. would work.
I presume Lime Prime is equiv to SFX3, more or less ?

SFX-3 is a very light finishing polish, as is something like 3M Ultrafina or Menzerna PO85RD Final Finish.

Lime Prime does contain abrasives and although they are capable of marring if not worked correctly, they are still not aggressive in the paint they remove. They can achieve notable correction on softer paints, but are still pretty mild.

I'd say SFX-3 is slightly lighter than Lime Prime personally, as SFX-3 is very very light cutting indeed, practically a glaze.

[lord melch]

Dave KG,

Thanks. Sounds like every 6 months maybe SFX-3 with a 3 or 2 pad, and see how I go ?

Sounds like a plan to me

May I ask how you recommend cleaning pads ? I tend to put them - only cleaned them once - (as I do with MF's) in the washing machine with NON-BIO washing powder..

I know Sonus and CG do a special cleaner..

Originally Posted by Dave KG

SFX-3 is a very light finishing polish, as is something like 3M Ultrafina or Menzerna PO85RD Final Finish.

I'd say SFX-3 is slightly lighter than Lime Prime personally, as SFX-3 is very very light cutting indeed, practically a glaze.

[Dave KG]

Originally Posted by lord melch

Dave KG,

Thanks. Sounds like every 6 months maybe SFX-3 with a 3 or 2 pad, and see how I go ?

Sounds like a plan to me

May I ask how you recommend cleaning pads ? I tend to put them - only cleaned them once - (as I do with MF's) in the washing machine with NON-BIO washing powder..

I know Sonus and CG do a special cleaner..

SFX-3 every 6 months on an SFX-3 pad would be good, as this will remove next to no paint and will freshen up the finish nicely.

Re: cleaning pads, some fairy liquid and a basin of water for me to clean, and then thoroughly rinse and allow to dry naturally.

[ahaydock]

I clean mine in exactly the same way as Dave

I do find sometime a spurt of fairly directly on the pad can help...

[minimadgriff]

Originally Posted by Dave KG

.

Lime Prime does contain abrasives and although they are capable of marring if not worked correctly, they are still not aggressive in the paint they remove. .

could you elabourate on that point dave please dave.......

[lord melch]

Originally Posted by minimadgriff

could you elabourate on that point dave please dave.......

I'm sure Dave KG will chime in here if I am taking total nonsense..

I haven't used Lime Prime BUT..

IMVHO I would think the Lime Prime's abrasives would have to be "worked in" properly.

Typically this means keep going with the G220 on 4 ish speed until all the abrasives are worked out of the polish/lime prime, - i.e. broken down, and the product becomes clear / hazy...

If you read Dave KG's article here :
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/foru...ad.php?t=63859

it talks about how marring can be caused by not using the PC to break down the abrasives correctly in the polish/fluid/whatever..

What happens - I believe is the abrasives don't get broken down as they are intended and thence can cause damage to the clear coat - hence marring.

I would think most abrasives - read polishes/cleaners etc are potentially harmful to paintwork, by the simple fact of what they are, IF you don't use them correctly.

But hey if I can get the hang of it anyone can

Also a good vid which explains this is the here :

YouTube - Meguiar's Dual Action Cleaner Polish