What cars have hard/soft clear coats?

[jimmyjam]

How can you tell what makes, models, and years have what types of clear coats?

[C. Charles Hahn]

By performing a test spot on the vehicle when it comes to you to be detailed.

Even two identical vehicles of the same make/model/year can react very differently to compounds/polishes/etc.

[Dr Oldz]

By performing a test spot on the vehicle when it comes to you to be detailed.

Even two identical vehicles of the same make/model/year can react very differently to compounds/polishes/etc.

I agree 110%! I have seen that more than a few times!

[jimmyjam]

By performing a test spot on the vehicle when it comes to you to be detailed.

Even two identical vehicles of the same make/model/year can react very differently to compounds/polishes/etc.

I agree 110%! I have seen that more than a few times!

Thanks a ton you guys! I thought there was some rhyme or reason to the hard/soft clear coat combinations. Where is the best area to spot test with a compound? I use Megs 105/205, and Menzerna 85. The only difference is basically the pressure/passes you make on different clear coats? The reason I ask is each cars takes different pressure/passes with the trio (Megs 105/205, and Menzerna 85) and I thought it's gonna be a real pain when I hit a hard clear coat.

[Mike Phillips]

By performing a test spot on the vehicle when it comes to you to be detailed.

Even two identical vehicles of the same make/model/year can react very differently to compounds/polishes/etc.

I agree. The problem though is if someone is new to detailing, they don't have much or any experience working on a range of different paints to be able to easily gauge if the paint they are currently working on is hard or soft.

It also means when they do their testing, everything they're using and everything they're doing is correct.

Example: A person can have the right pad, right polish and be using a DA Polisher but all too often a new person doesn't uses too slow of a speed setting, doesn't apply enough downward pressure and moves the polisher too quickly so when they wipe off the residue the swirls are still there, this can lead them to think the paint is hard whereas a seasoned professional can work on the same paint using the correct technique and if the swirls buff out quickly and easily they would understand the paint was not hard but in fact very polishable.

So testing is the way to determine paint hardness and softness but it helps to have some experience working on other paint systems, (other cars), to help them better gauge the hardness or softness.

This article touches on the topic of this thread...

Audi Soft Paint - Making Generalizations about Hardness and Softness


This is also where using a tape-line can help as it can help the person to check their results and easily tell if what they are doing is having an effect and how much of an effect.