PC for narrow areas??

jedi_force · 04-03-06, 02:52

I haven't used PC before so I need some advices.. what pad size do people use
for polishing narrow areas like winshield frames and bumper edges? Is 4"" pad
appropriate? Or I should polish it by hand?

JF

Accumulator · 04-03-06, 09:36

Sometimes even the 4" is too big. Then I'll either do it by hand (most often) or I'll use the edge of a larger pad (the part that overhangs the backing plate). The PC is so gentle that using the edge is OK if you apply a little common sense.

Edison_Chen · 04-03-06, 07:26

bit OT: would we PC around the rear emblem/badges?

Accumulator · 04-04-06, 05:52

I generally just run the PC right over them but I still have to do the tight spots around the emblems by hand. There's a limit to how often you oughta do this though, the emblems on my Jag are worn down around their edges from being polished so many times over the years. Hindsight being 20/20, I should've taped them. So if the car's a real keeper, I'd tape off the emblems and just do those areas by hand.

White95Max · 04-04-06, 05:55

I move right over my emblems with the PC. The only problem I've noticed is that occasionally the product gets pushed between the letters, and it's a bit of a pain to remove it.

As for the original question, I use 4" pads on narrow areas. If it's really narrow (<2") I'll just do it by hand.

BigO · 04-04-06, 08:13

While we're on the subject of emblems, any tips on cleaning the residual polish out of all the nooks and crannies?

mshu7 · 04-04-06, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigO

While we're on the subject of emblems, any tips on cleaning the residual polish out of all the nooks and crannies?

How about a soft toothbrush? That's what I normally use for removing wax in tight cracks and crevices (sp?).

Accumulator · 04-04-06, 04:21

I dunno...any toothbrush I've ever seen with synthetic bristles would mar automotive paint. I have some natural bristle toothbrushes that aren't as bad when they're wet, but I still don't use them on the good cars.

I'd either use a lot of buffing with a very plush MF or pull the cotton wadding off a Q-Tip (or use a makeup ball) and work it into the tight spots with a sharpened toothpick. I "flag" the end of the toothpick to make it a little safer (in case it pokes through) and I also soak it with #34 to soften it some more. We've had some detailed threads on this that might be worth a search.