Bumpers and smaller Areas

buffer · 08-04-07, 08:44

If you look at this post here and scroll down a bit you'll see a shot of someone detailing a front bumper. You'll notice that he has half the pad on the bumper. I thought that was a no no. Can this be done without damaging the paint. Is there anything I should keep in mind when trying this?

Thanks

smprince1 · 08-04-07, 09:25

I agree ... that's how I would polish that area too. I would just go light on the speed and pressure, try to buff off the edge instead of onto the edge and and just pay close attention.

buffer · 08-05-07, 04:37

I was just interested to know if this was how it was suppose to be done. I always thought that is how you would do it but I was always told to keep the pad flat on the panel.

Thanks

Vicman17 · 08-05-07, 08:29

Use a 4" spot pad and backing plate. Works wonders not just on small and tight spots, mirrors but also good on concentrating the DA on heavily scratched ares.

Puckman · 08-05-07, 08:57

I've also used that approach as well as the 4" spot pads. If the tight areas are worse than the majority of the vehicle I'll use my 4" spot pads and my rotary on those areas. For me this is applicable for lower tight areas that seem to get the most road abuse and are typically the front and rear bumpers, grill, bottom of hood, rocker panels etc. When I use the 4" pads I slow down the speed and lighten the pressure a bit. 4" pads can really focus some heat!

salty · 08-06-07, 03:05

On occasion i have used the reverse lip of a foam pad. Well lubed and light pressure, it can work without harm. Also remember that plastic bumpers have softer paint than sheet metal, so a lighter pressure is required.

SR77 · 08-06-07, 05:58

What do you guys actually mean by "polishing off the edge"? And are you talking about the edge of the fender or all the egdes forming the shapes of the fenders? thanks

dinesh7 · 08-07-07, 01:43

go to you tube and type in wetsanding, meguairs, I think buffing OFF the edge means as the pad spins clockwise, you use the 12-0 clock to 4-o clock quadrant to do small areas, so this quadrant is spinning off the edge, while the other quadrant, 9-12 oclock is spinning onto the edge, visualize it for amoment as you picture a circle spinning...one side is always going opposite the other, so use the side that runs OFF the surface and not meet the surface. Sorry if I sound confusing.

SVR · 08-07-07, 02:31

Yes that is ok. I have however switched to the 4 inch pads and plate now as I feel that I can burnish and polish it with even 1400 grit polish/compound without hassle and finish with 3000 grit blackfire and ultra gloss every time.

The 2000 WRX I'm doing today got polished with prima swirl, menz 91L & 106FF by machine and finished with soft 99 blue colour evolution (non abrasive), ultra gloss superpolish and a little toughseal step 1 cleaner with sonus microfibre pad on all areas including the bumpers

Bodykit has crappy acrylic paint and damn thin that you can see how thin it is so just toughseal step 1 with LC black 4 inch pad.
Although it's faster with a bigger pad, the safety of the 4 inch plus better burnishing power over a 6 to 8 inch pad is why I made the switch