Learning the hard way - screwing up

C

cshorey

New member
Ok,



So this weekend I finished polishing my wife's Legacy. For the most part it went pretty well, I did uncover lots of scratches that I didn't get out. Before tackling the newly discovered scratches I tried tackling my original scratch again. Well I screwed up. I am trying to figure out what exactly I did wrong.



My guess here are all the factors:

- "The just one more time" or a "little longer"

- I never stopped moving the PC, but I believe I didn't move it enough. As you see in the picture the spot I created I think was always being contacted by the pad

- I did try applying a little pressure, but I didn't practice with a scale with that pad and it was a lot softer then the one I did practice with (and I am still not consistent applying pressure anyway, I didn't bother applying any the rest of the day)



- What I didn't know is if I ran out of lubrication on the pad. I don't remember how long I was working that spot. I don't remember it being that long and I don't remember the pad being dry, but is it possible to have dried out he polish. Also I don't remember the car nor the pad being vary hot, maybe a tad warm, but the PC itself was warmer.



So are there any other factors I am missing so I can learn from this mistake (and make sure it doesn't happen again).



Also is this damage correctable? or does it need to be repainted?



Pick of damage:

1578027101_470f784e9b.jpg




My other screwup on this day (wasn't a good day):

1578934744_9940d1b0d5.jpg




This one was my pad rolling and the backing touching the paint when I was working in the door handle. I had no problems with the other three, just that one curled on me and in an instant rubbed off the paint. sigh (drivers door too)



Also for the scratches I uncovered, should I try for correction, or should I go for a filler? Most of the scratches I did not catch my finger nail on, but they look pretty bad. Glazes are fillers correct? would that help hide them?



chris
 
Further details:



- PC with a 3.5" backing plate

- 4" Green LC CCS pad

- 1Z PP

- PC Speed set to 6

- Pad already primed as other areas were polished and two pea sized drops of polish added to pad before working area.



chris
 
cshorey said:
..I screwed up. I am trying to figure out what exactly I did wrong.



My guess here are all the factors:

- "The just one more time" or a "little longer"

- I never stopped moving the PC, but I believe I didn't move it enough. As you see in the picture the spot I created I think was always being contacted by the pad

- I did try applying a little pressure, but I didn't practice with a scale with that pad and it was a lot softer then the one I did practice with (and I am still not consistent applying pressure anyway, I didn't bother applying any the rest of the day)



- What I didn't know is if I ran out of lubrication on the pad. I don't remember how long I was working that spot. I don't remember it being that long and I don't remember the pad being dry, but is it possible to have dried out he polish. Also I don't remember the car nor the pad being vary hot, maybe a tad warm, but the PC itself was warmer...
Click to expand...



Ah jeez, sorry to see that. And people say you can't mess up paint with a PC....



I suspect you just did a bit too much polishing in that area (where the paint was already thin from the damage). The rocking of the pad that you mentioned in you PM probably contributed to this...not a good idea though I know it *is* tempting to do it.



I doubt that you applied too much pressure, but it's possible.



I doubt you ran out of lubricationon the pad as the PP is mighty good in that regard and shouldn't have such problems unless you work it all the way dry (and you can often get away with that too).



.. is this damage correctable? or does it need to be repainted?
Click to expand...



As best I can tell you'll need to get the spot repainted. A good shop should be able to spot it in without repainting the whole panel. I had this done on the MPV when I got too aggressive with a PC/4" combo. It's not a huge job, I'd just get it fixed and get over it.







This one was my pad rolling and the backing touching the paint when I was working in the door handle. I had no problems with the other three, just that one curled on me and in an instant rubbed off the paint. sigh (drivers door too)..
Click to expand...



I'd touch that one up by hand. And ixnay on that pad rocking/rolling ;) You might consider taping off the edges of such pieces so you just don't have to worry about them.



Also for the scratches I uncovered, should I try for correction, or should I go for a filler? Most of the scratches I did not catch my finger nail on, but they look pretty bad. Glazes are fillers correct? would that help hide them?
Click to expand...



IME glazes only hide very, very minor marring. I'd round them over a bit more with more polishing (while knowing when to say "good enough") and then live with them. With all the stuff 1Z PP leaves behind, I dunno if a glaze would hide things any better and I'd sorta doubt it.
 
Thanks for the replay Accumulator.



I have been thinking about this no stop since I did it. I am pretty sure it was that rocking motion I was doing which caused me to not leaving that stop. Sucks having the learn the hard way, it was only my third time running the PC on a car and my 2nd using polish, and the other times went so well I guess I did fall into that trap of feeling too confident and listening to everyone on the boards saying PC's can't cause damage. The PC never stopped moving and I didn't hold it in one spot, I just realized I didn't move it out of that area and well subaru's I guess do have very thin paint so it didn't take but a few seconds.



Oh well. For the time being I have to live with it. I will finish up the car. I am happy with the rest of the polishing I did on the car. I didn't bother posting the polishing results. I still need to add my final LSP layers, do the glass, plastics and trim. I will post once I get the whole car done.



At least this was my wife's car. I would be killing myself if I did it to mine.



chris
 
4" pads make the PC a much more dangerous tool. I've definitely built up heat with the machine when using pads of this size.
 
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