polishing small areas

trhland · 10-26-06, 06:15

how do you guys compound and polish those small contured areas on cars were you cant get a buffer to fit? thanks

Accumulator · 10-26-06, 11:01

Number of things that'll work: you can use the edge of a large pad (be very careful doing this with a rotary, it's not too risky by PC), you can use a small pad if it'll fit, or you can do it by hand. Gotta use the right product when doing stuff like this by hand though, and it can take a very long time (ever spend an hour doing the area behind *one* door handle

).

Zrex61 · 10-26-06, 11:07

Use 3in pads on a mini buffer...

PaintPolisher · 10-26-06, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zrex61

Use 3in pads on a mini buffer...

Mini buffer and 3inch pads, make of machine, where, cost.
Quality of buffer and pads?

Time and finger saver.

Eliot Ness · 10-26-06, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibstoney1

Mini buffer and 3inch pads, make of machine, where, cost.
Quality of buffer and pads?......

Autogeek sells a spot buff kit that comes with 4" pads and a 2 3/4" BP that can be used with a drill, PC, or rotary:

http://www.autogeek.net/4inch-spot-buffs.html

The kit is made by LC so the pads seem pretty good, but the only one I have used from that kit is the finish pad and it performed as I expected. I haven't used these pads on a drill yet, but I have used something similar from Eastwood to polish out a brake booster after I painted/wet sanded it, and it worked great.... so I expect these pads to work even better on a drill than what I used from Eastwood.

BigAl3 · 10-27-06, 01:03

patrick at exceldetail has some 4" pads and backing plate as well! http://www.prestostore.com/cgi-bin/s...etail&ct=56101

Accumulator · 10-27-06, 10:45

IIRC Griot's has a pneumatic buffer and 3" pad setup, which means somebody else probably has it cheaper.

smprince1 · 10-27-06, 11:01

- 4" pads, either with PC or by hand
- for very tight or highly contoured areas, by hand with terry covered foam pad/applicator

Zrex61 · 10-27-06, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

IIRC Griot's has a pneumatic buffer and 3" pad setup, which means somebody else probably has it cheaper.

Astro....

www.autobodytoolmart.com

direct link:
http://www.autotoolmart.com/cgi-bin/...93&p_catid=225

also:
http://www.autotoolmart.com/cgi-bin/...84&p_catid=225

or Chicago Pneumatic:
http://www.autotoolmart.com/cgi-bin/...35&p_catid=322

Accumulator · 10-28-06, 10:35

Zrex61- Ah, good find

Now I wonder where one might find an assortment of pads. The 1.5" plate that comes with the one unit would open up even more possibilities. I suppose cutting up larger pads is an option (the way some of us used to do for the Cyclo), but a range of smaller ones would be good..

I generally don't like pneumatic polishers, but this might be handy.

Zrex61 · 10-28-06, 03:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Zrex61- Ah, good find

Now I wonder where one might find an assortment of pads.

http://www.buffandshine.com/

I have the small backing pad, sheepskin & 2 foam pad kit from them..... that cost about $28.00....
They also do all the usual pads etc....

Accumulator · 10-28-06, 04:27

Am I missing something

the ones I see at that link are 6" and larger.