Polishing question for the pro's

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416 Auto

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Got a question for the pro's here on Autopia.



I work at a car dealership and I was talking to the painter in our bodyshop. He said that to remove swirl marks you really only need a soft foam pad and water. He said if you want a super shine use some glaze after using the same actions as with just the water. Then use just water again. He has been doin it for years and it looks awsome after.



He said all the stuff like Mequires is just a waste of money. He said don't get him wrong they do work but there is no point.



If he needs to take a scratch he uses a different compound called G3 and he just puts a tab of this stuff on the area that needs it runs the circular polisher with a wool bonnet to get it out then uses the steps above.



The products used are called "Fereca"(totally spelled wrong).....lol

they are from England. The Glaze/polish is called G10 and the Compound is called G3



Anyways what he is tellin me is that bottom line to remove swirls you can use polishing pad and water, you don't need anything else.



Anyways just trying get some feed back............



Thanks a million..............................Clint..... ... . . .. .. .. . .:nixweiss
 
Don't ever remember hearing about just a pad and water does the trick. Are you aware that polishes contain certain sizes of grit to remove imperfections along with the pad? So, polishes and compounds are like sandpaper. They contain various sizes of grit in the chemical composition of aluminum oxide or silica or both. They have different sizes of grit to make sure the swirls or scratches are removed properly. These substances are what is in polishes and compounds partly. This helps for a faster job and a safer one. Water alone, I am guessing he would have to put a lot of pressure on the buffer to cut through the swirls. Though, even after his best finishing pad he might have swirls. Chances could possibly be greater for burning the paint with no silicone or other lubricant types. The polish with pad helps you get the finest finish available. For example. Let just say you did water and a three pads. Thats only three possible combinations to get the finish correct or at it's best. Now, with three pads and 3 polishes you have nine possibilities to choose from. I say stick with polishes like the rest of the industry, never heard of just using WATER. Wow, that guy scares me.







:up
 
Its a guy who works at a car dealership. Take his advice with a grain of salt (ok, actually a whole saltmine full of grains of salt). Sure, the guys who detail at dealerships don't use polishes and compounds because they cost too much for a dealership to be using. They use a strong glaze such as the product you speak of because thats the most effective way to hide the surface defects which are still there (i.e. the methods which were used before glaze didn't correct anything at all.)



Point is, don't listen to this guy, you'll be much more happy if you spend some money, time, and research to get better advice from us here. :up
 
Good advice thanks guys, what polish/compound do you use most of????



they way i do it now is



wash



clay= mothers(if nedded)



copound (if needed) w/ wool mitt and Farecla g3 regual grade compound=usually leaves swirls



remove swirls(if needed)(usually do) w/ Farecla g10 extra fine grade super finish compound



Then wax





If you could could you recommened or let me know the products you use. Most people use mequires swirl remover and do they have a compound????



What do you guys suggest.



I get really good results and some cars I use Zaino instead of Mequires wax.... What a shine



.....................................thannks Clint...............
 
Never heard of anything so crazy in all my years in this business. Sounds like he was giving you false information on purpose. I have seen people do this in our business, especially at some trade shows. Always beware of what you hear.
 
He may have been referring to using water to re-activiate some polish that was already on the pad. That would produce the finest finish since water would lubricate and dilute the polish.
 
ShineMGood said:
He may have been referring to using water to re-activiate some polish that was already on the pad. That would produce the finest finish since water would lubricate and dilute the polish.
Click to expand...
In that case, water increases the cutting action.
 
Clinton said:
Got a question for the pro's here on Autopia.



I work at a car dealership and I was talking to the painter in our bodyshop. He said that to remove swirl marks you really only need a soft foam pad and water. He said if you want a super shine use some glaze after using the same actions as with just the water. Then use just water again. He has been doin it for years and it looks awsome after.



He said all the stuff like Mequires is just a waste of money. He said don't get him wrong they do work but there is no point.



If he needs to take a scratch he uses a different compound called G3 and he just puts a tab of this stuff on the area that needs it runs the circular polisher with a wool bonnet to get it out then uses the steps above.



The products used are called "Fereca"(totally spelled wrong).....lol

they are from England. The Glaze/polish is called G10 and the Compound is called G3



Anyways what he is tellin me is that bottom line to remove swirls you can use polishing pad and water, you don't need anything else.



Anyways just trying get some feed back............



Thanks a million..............................Clint..... ... . . .. .. .. . .:nixweiss
Click to expand...



I have some experience with the products he is referring to which is Farecla (www.farecla.com). These polishes and compounds are made in England and are top notch for polishing and compounding. The use of these products is a little different than a standard product in that the buffing pad must be kept damp so the polish/compound doesn't dry out - rewetting the pad periodically allows the product to break down finer and finer with use and reduce heat. I know Farecla does have a wool pad but it is only used for aggresive polishing. The standard g-mop polishing pad is a very dense foam pad and works very well with all their polishes and compunds.

Farecla products are geared mostly toward autobody refinish centers but are useful for detailers as well. However, they are quite expensive.

Now to what your body man told you. Swirls by definition are fine scratches left behind by rotary polishing. The only way you can remove scratches is to further polish the paint with progressively finer polishes and/or compounds with use of proper technique and products. Using only a foam pad and water only is redundant because the pad can't function as designed without the polish.
 
Would that be true for all buffing? For all products? Use water periodically to help dilute and make for a finer finish? Or is that just true for certain products? Did you learn that in the AI school?







:up
 
Knight said:
Would that be true for all buffing? For all products? Use water periodically to help dilute and make for a finer finish? Or is that just true for certain products? Did you learn that in the AI school?







:up
Click to expand...



To answer your question: No, no, no, yes and no.
 
What did you learn in the school? Maybe you can share something about the school and the technical information. If you can remember.





:up
 
Knight said:
What did you learn in the school? Maybe you can share something about the school and the technical information. If you can remember.





:up
Click to expand...



To post everything I know and learned would take all day. You can't explain everything by reading about it. Sometimes you have to actually watch and try something before you can understand it.
 
When i am polishing, there are some times when I spray the pad really quick with a light mist of water. I do this to reduce the build up on the pad.



Never heard of using just water though. I don't see how it can even work as there is nothing to the water. It would be like washing your car with the rotary and adding more swirls.
 
I loked into this and tried it. If i Clean the pad really really well than it kinda sorta cleans up the paint a bit. But nothing worth talkin about. When I don't clean the pad to well the remaining product on it (Farecla G10) Actually breaks down some more with the new water so it is like a really light glazing, Sometimes I will do this just before I seal with a fine polishing pad just for some extra shine.







Thanks Clint..........................:bounce
 
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