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Mike Phillips
05-03-2017, 09:31 AM
The Definition of a Section Pass by Mike Phillips (https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-mike-phillips-your-detailing-questions/109747-definition-section-pass-mike-phillips.html)



The definition of a pass
There are two definitions of the word pass as it relates to machine polishing with any type of machine.


Single Pass
A single pass is just that. It's when you move the polisher from one side of the section you're buffing to the other side of the section you're buffing. That's a single pass.


Section Pass
A section pass is when you move the polisher back and forth, or front to back with enough single overlapping passes to cover the entire section one time. That's a section pass.


How many section passes to make to one area of paint
In most cases if you're removing any substantial below surface defects you're going to make 6-8 section passes to the section you’re working before you either feel comfortable you've removed the defects or you're at the end of the buffing cycle for the product you're using.


Years ago, when trying to figure out how to teach a person how to buff out a car using a keyboard I came up with the term Section Pass or Section Passes.

A section pass or passes is the way you move a polisher to buff out a section of paint. You can't buff out entire panels at a time as paint is too hard and many panels are too large to actually buff out an entire panel at one time. So you take larger panels and divide them up into smaller section like you see in this picture.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite015.jpg



Doing section passes is doing a crosshatch pattern over a section of paint.

Polish first going left to right.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/onepass.jpg



Make a second pass over the working area using overlapping “up to down, down to up” strokes.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/twopass.jpg





It's really simple. Watch the video and I'll show you how.


:)

Mike Phillips
05-03-2017, 09:35 AM
And...


Anytime you're buffing out a thin panel or a curved panel and you can't make a crosshatch pattern, it's not that you've been doing it all wrong like some say, it's real simple, if fact I wrote an article about this topic years ago to, back in 2012


Here it is...



The Yoda Technique for Buffing out a Car (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/56165-yoda-technique-buffing-out-car.html)


Because some panels are not large and flat, especially on modern cars which are aerodynamic and for this reason very curved, then you use what I call the Yoda Technique, that is you,


"Let the panel be your guide"

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/787/yoda.jpg
(When you read the above sentence, use your best Yoda impersonation)


So of course, if you're working a long, thin panel then you might best work that panel by only going in two directions, that is from one end of the panel to the other end of the panel and if possible, that is if the panel is wide enough, then overlap a little with your end-to-end passes.

The size or diameter of the pad you're using will of course be a factor for overlapping.


:)

Mike Phillips
05-03-2017, 09:37 AM
There's a LOT of machine polishing articles here,


DA Polisher Articles - Help for Newbies to Machine Polishing (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/questions-about-porter-cable-7424xp-7424-7336-griot-s-meguiar-s-dual-action-polishers/38399-da-polisher-articles-help-newbies-machine-polishing.html)



:buffing:

Upwardly Mobile Detailing
05-03-2017, 12:57 PM
As I read your Yoda quote in his voice, couldn't help to notice that it should be "be your guide, the panel should be"

Mike Phillips
05-04-2017, 07:47 AM
As I read your Yoda quote in his voice, couldn't help to notice that it should be

"be your guide, the panel should be"





That's funny and you're right.


:laughing:

Cruzscarwash
05-04-2017, 10:56 AM
As I read your Yoda quote in his voice, couldn't help to notice that it should be "be your guide, the panel should be"


wouldn't "your guide, the panel should be" work better?

fightnews
05-04-2017, 01:29 PM
What do you call it when you complete the section all 8 passes?

Paul A.
05-04-2017, 04:51 PM
Hopefully done! Good question though. I don't think it really has warranted a name because you are done working that section and time to inspect results. The definition for section passes has helped people just starting out to quantify about how long to work the section and is a common question. While the number of section passes certainly varies based on several factors, it does help to mechanically describe what you should be doing with the machine.

LEDetailing
05-04-2017, 07:17 PM
wouldn't "your guide, the panel should be" work better?

Agree, I do. Better it sounds.

"May the fourth be with you"

Cruzscarwash
05-04-2017, 07:22 PM
Agree, I do. Better it sounds.

"May the fourth be with you"
OMG I've been so busy today that I didn't even realize it was Star Wars Day I feel so ashamed right now and may the fourth be with you as well

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Powerwheels
05-04-2017, 08:58 PM
What do you call it when you complete the section all 8 passes?
Now I think a name has to be invented.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

RPM_BR
05-05-2017, 05:40 AM
Session cycle?

Paul A.
05-05-2017, 06:56 AM
Section cycle? I break most hoods up into 4-6 section cycles!

I don't care what it's called...section cycle, Flezbit, Henry...