Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 17
  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    8
    Post Thanks / Like
    I was thinking about some of the things I`ve read about micro-marring and how some mildly abrasive compounds can reduce the appearance of the swirl and I started wondering something:



    Ready, here goes - I`m sure this will make some people laugh but I don`t understand:



    When I wax/polish my car, how am I polishing my paint if there is a layer of clear coat over it? Am I really just polishing the clear coat?



    Ok stop laughing and school me!
    2002 Camaro Z28

    www.mako22.homestead.com

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Stevens Point, WI
    Posts
    7,046
    Post Thanks / Like
    Yes you`re polishing the clear coat unless you have a single-stage paint.



    BTW, noob posts like this are supposed to be in the Autopia University forum.
    Paul...

    `13 Mazda3i P21S/WG sealant/Paste Glaz/QD+
    `99 Mazda Protege LX - highlight silver - RIP
    `95 Nissan Maxima SE - white - slathered with Pinnacle Paste Glaz - RIP

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    cali
    Posts
    1,452
    Post Thanks / Like
    Yes you polish the clear coat, which is also a type of paint.
    A day without a scrub busting my chops is like a day w/o sunshine. :grinno:

  4. #4
    JasonD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Louisiana
    Posts
    4,196
    Post Thanks / Like
    This is a good question. No laughing here.



    This actually depends on if you have what`s called basecoat-clearcoat paint or single stage paint. Base-clear is painted in two stages, the color stage first and then sealed with a clear for the second stage. If this is what you have, then yes, you are polishing the clearcoat, not actually the paint.



    Now, if you have single stage paint then you don`t have a clearcoat and you are atually polishing the paint itself and you will know this by some of the color coming off and onto the pad after aggressive polishing.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Posts
    324
    Post Thanks / Like
    You are polishing your paint, it just so happens that the blemishes are not in the color (base coat), but in the clear, which is also paint but without any pigment.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Posts
    1,277
    Post Thanks / Like
    Being a noob, the only questions that are dumb are the ones you DON`T ask.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Lubbock, TX
    Posts
    4,354
    Post Thanks / Like
    Glad to see you come over from LS1Tech



    The above answers are correct...you are washing/drying/polishing/protecting the clearcoat.

  8. #8
    Pre Med Student NavindraLR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Long Island
    Posts
    1,083
    Post Thanks / Like
    what kinda question is that? are you serious? why would you ask that?



    .. just messin with u.. dont run away



    thats a good question though.. many have asked it before, as have i. kinda weird when you think about it right? but yeah, the scratches usually are in the clearcoat (hopefully), so when you are polishing, you are in fact polishing the clearcoat. nothing wrong with that either.



    someone else prob said what i just said, but i didnt feel like going through the other posts

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    8
    Post Thanks / Like
    wow thanx for all the responses guys - kind of what I figured but needed a confirm...



    this site is great - to think all the money I`ve been spending on appearance mods and meanwhile my bad detailing techniques are ruining them!!! so much to learn....
    2002 Camaro Z28

    www.mako22.homestead.com

  10. #10
    JasonD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Louisiana
    Posts
    4,196
    Post Thanks / Like
    That`s right buddy, stick around and we`ll teach you a thing or two!

  11. #11

    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Republica Filipinas
    Posts
    242
    Post Thanks / Like
    And it`s pretty cool the pro`s here in Autopia would have the courage to answer most of the NOOB questions wholeheartedly... Somewhat a praise
    I don`t go by REFLECTIONS, but the WET-LOOK factor. If reflections coincided with my end-result, it`s merely INCIDENTAL... - JMGarcia

  12. #12

    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Arlington, TX
    Posts
    34,077
    Post Thanks / Like
    The color coat doesn`t have much shine anyway, the clear coat is what gives the car the gloss.
    www.scottwax.com

    Certified Opti-Coat Pro/Pro 3 installer

  13. #13

    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    8
    Post Thanks / Like
    ok I get it - but a logical follow up question to that would be:



    If we are polishing/waxing clear coat, why are some products marketed for "dark cars" and some not??? We aren`t actually touching the paint right?
    2002 Camaro Z28

    www.mako22.homestead.com

  14. #14

    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    NE Ohio
    Posts
    86,972
    Post Thanks / Like
    Originally posted by mako22

    ok I get it - but a logical follow up question to that would be:



    If we are polishing/waxing clear coat, why are some products marketed for "dark cars" and some not??? We aren`t actually touching the paint right?


    Remember that the clearcoat *is* the paint, it`s just the top layer of paint and it doesn`t happen to have any pigment in it (though there are some "tinted" clearcoats that do have some color to them).



    IMO most of the light/dark color products are sorta crappy (as is the logic behind light/dark/red/black paint-specific waxes), but that`s beside the point so I`ll resist the temptation to digress.



    When you have scratches in the clear, a filler-type product will work better if it resembles the underlying color coat. For instance, scratches on a black b/c paintjob often look light colored and scratches on a white b/c paintjob can sometimes look dark. Filling these scratches with a product that mimics the look of the underlying color helps with the hiding. Or at least that`s the theory behind it...

  15. #15
    The Old Grey Whistle Test togwt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Florida, USA - London, England
    Posts
    5,464
    Post Thanks / Like
    Quote: Being a noob, the only questions that are dumb are the ones you DON`T ask. Gonzo :xyxthumbs



    Quote: IMO most of the light/dark color products are sorta crappy (as is the logic behind light/dark/red/black paint-specific waxes), but that`s beside the point so I`ll resist the temptation to digress. Accumulator :xyxthumbs
    What gets overlooked too often is that one must be a student before becoming a teacher.

 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Possibly dumb pad backing plate question
    By 88911coupe in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 08-15-2012, 01:41 PM
  2. quite possibly the most n00b question
    By highlandarx in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-30-2008, 04:22 AM
  3. Single dumbest question...
    By jared6180 in forum Professional Detailer General Discussion
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 05-05-2007, 09:30 PM
  4. Possibly a dumb question.
    By ProStreetCamaro in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 04-09-2005, 02:27 PM
  5. Dumbest question ever! NXT vs. Klasse
    By vaca222 in forum Car Detailing
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 01-21-2005, 06:24 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •