New posts (Nov 2011) on Autopia Detailing Wiki

Surface preparation is one of the most important steps when polishing to achieve a flawless finish. Regardless of how clean you think your paint is, there are still contaminants stuck on the paint that you need to remove before waxing or polishing your paint. Road film, oil, tar, grease, water spots and other environmental contaminants bond to the paint and glass surfaces and are difficult to remove. Glass and especially the windshield and rear window on trucks and SUVs are prone to these surface contaminants.

Before polishing a paint surface ensure the surface is free from both surface and sub-surface contaminants. This is vital; if your car is covered with metallic brake particles you will introduce new scratches in the surface whilst polishing it. Be cognizant that detailer’s clay or a surface prep towel will only remove surface contaminants; sintered brake dust permeates the clear coat facilitating a conduit to the paint system matrix, allowing moisture / corrosion to penetrate. This below surface corrosion should be removed with a sub-surface decontamination system.

Always remove surface contaminants before you polish. One of the easiest methods of ensuring that your surface is contaminant free is the so-called ‘Bag Test’. After washing and drying your vehicle place a plastic sandwich bag over your hand or fingers, gently pass over the surface. Does the surface feel silky smooth or rough and gritty? If you felt roughness and/or grit, your surface is contaminated.

Methodology

Use a Nanoskin surface prep towel (HD Nano Prep) and then a Chemical paint cleaner (Klasse AIO) and / or a Bituminous Asphalt remover (Stoners Tarminator) to remove above surface contaminants. Then proceed to remove sub-surface contaminants with decontamination product (IronX or ValuGuard)

Repeat the ‘Bag Test’ to ensure the paint surface is free from contaminants