Difference between buffer trails and burn?

[jw]

what exactly is the difference? I'll try to post pictures later tonight. From my understading you can get rid of buffer trails with a PC but for Burn you'll have to repaint.

[themightytimmah]

Buffer trails are just marks that you see in the sun or artificial lighting. They're usually easily removed with a PC, although really terrible ones might require a rotary to fix. They're in the very upper part of the clearcoat.

Burn is when an edge or other area of the panel is literally "burnt" through the clearcoat. You'll notice it as a lighter patch or a patch with no gloss. It cannot be repaired without paint.

[Setec Astronomy]

A burn is where the heat generated by the rotary has burned through the paint. This could be through the clear to the color or through both to the primer.

[jbone]

Is it possible to burn through with a pc?

[the other pc]

You hear the term “burn through” used a lot when people are actually talking about “cutting through,” which is basically polishing/compounding/buffing too far.

Yes, it’s possible to cut too far with a PC but it’s not something to worry about unless the paint is super thin (like from previous heavy compounding), you’re working on edge that’s already thin, you’re using 4” pads aggressively or some other extreme situation.

It’s possible to truly burn paint, as in altering it chemically due to extreme temperature, with a rotary.


PC.

[David Fermani]

Keep in mind that real minor paint burns in the outer edge of the clear *can* be removed. I'm not saying this is the case in most scenarios, but I've been able to repair/fix "burns" on occasion.