Burning Paint with PC 7424

calhoun1 · 07-04-09, 11:22

Is it possible to burn the paint with it?

I was just using it on my black car, and unfortunately it was in the sun.

I was using a blue pad with PO 85RD. I managed to get a quarter size wrinkle/hole in the paint. Is this possible with just the PC, or could a defect in the paint be an issue?

Also as you can see in the pictures this goes all the way down to the primer/plastic. So I am extremely upset at myself. Thinking about going to the dealer and saying I was just washing the car and this happened and having them fix it...

This is a brand new car, had it less than a full week, if that will help...

Pictures:

yo2tup · 07-04-09, 11:35

wow! what kind of car is that?

maarten22 · 07-04-09, 11:44

Is it a bmw???

landcruiser · 07-04-09, 11:50

Hmmm, that looks like some sort of paint flaw? Possibly a re-paint in that area and/or poor surface prep prior to being painted?

08xB · 07-04-09, 11:52

It LOOKS like the paint system failed to properly adhere to the plastic. Look at the wrinkles in it next to the "tear". It LOOKS like the paint "tore" off. Does not look like a burn through, especially with 85RD on blue.

Setec Astronomy · 07-04-09, 12:10

Looks like it got overheated...this is about the 3rd thread like this in the last couple weeks. 4" pad by any chance?

calhoun1 · 07-04-09, 12:12

5.5" pad.

And the car is a Pontiac.

Setec Astronomy · 07-04-09, 12:21

You have to be really careful on those plastic/vinyl panels, especially the bumpers, they heat up really fast.

Legacy99 · 07-04-09, 01:32

Polishing in the sun on plastic bumpers didn't help the situation. Check carefully to see if it was resprayed. You might have a case with the dealer if it was resprayed. If not, no way will washing do that kind of damage.

GoudyL · 07-04-09, 01:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by calhoun1

Is it possible to burn the paint with it?

Yes!!!

Quote:

I was using a blue pad with PO 85RD. I managed to get a quarter size wrinkle/hole in the paint. Is this possible with just the PC, or could a defect in the paint be an issue?

Was that defect there before you started machine polishing the paint?

Quote:

Also as you can see in the pictures this goes all the way down to the primer/plastic. So I am extremely upset at myself.

Why? You did something stupid, and got a plausible result.

Do not machine polish plastic/fiber glass panels. The machine will be putting alot of energy into a very small area, and non-metalic panels do not conduct heat.

In addition the paint on the non-metalic panels is much softer because it contains more "flex agents" which make the paint more resistant to rock chips etc. That's why it wrinkled off, rather than burned through, and of course it's not helpful that you did this with very young paint.

Quote:

Thinking about going to the dealer and saying I was just washing the car and this happened and having them fix it.

That is extremely mature. You damage the car, and then lie to the dealer about how it happened.

Quote:

This is a brand new car, had it less than a full week, if that will help...

Why are you machine polishing a brand new car?

The paint doesn't reach it's full hardness for about 90 days after the build date.

Car Care != Machine Polishing.

SuperBee364 · 07-04-09, 02:59

It's definitely a burn, or more accurately a "melt." The sun heating up the black bumper didn't help any, either. As you now know, the plastic parts of a car are much easier to damage when polishing. They just won't take heat like metal. Make sure you always keep the pad moving across the paint... I'm guessing that you held the polisher stationery for a few seconds with some pressure on it.

What really sucks is there isn't any warning when this is about to happen. You go from happy to sad immediately. Hence the need to be really careful.

Man, I'm sorry about your new car, but I can't get behind the idea of trying to make the dealer pay for something you did.

trippmann · 07-04-09, 03:11

i did the same thing man... with a rotary, and 6 inch pads. so i mean i was a lot more aggressive then you but still the point holds, the poly bumpers just wont take the heat and now i know that first hand. i'm thankful that it was only my car and not a clients. but i made myself feel better about it because a few weeks before it happened some a$$ hole sideswiped my rear bumper when backing out of a parking space so it needs a repaint anyway. its OK man, don't beat yourself up. this isn't uncommon for people just entering the game. good luck mate!