Orange peel

[techaview]

Can expert here confirm this is orange peel from my grey audi? If so can this be perform by PC DA using wet sanding? Seem like all my door panels are like this....

19973

19974

[JHL88]

looks like orange peel to me. before you decide if you want to wet sand make sure you buy a paint depth gauge esp. if you haven't done it before...

[af90]

There's definitely some orange peel, look at the irregularities on the edges of reflection. Pretty common in production cars nowadays. But I'm on the side that says trying to get it out with a Denim Pad or something is too much risk of thinning the paint out too much. Over time correcting defects will cut down the orange peel and level out the clear coat.

[techaview]

There's definitely some orange peel, look at the irregularities on the edges of reflection. Pretty common in production cars nowadays. But I'm on the side that says trying to get it out with a Denim Pad or something is too much risk of thinning the paint out too much. Over time correcting defects will cut down the orange peel and level out the clear coat.

can i know what do you means by "Over time correcting defects"?

something like using cutting compound polish over time will level out the clear coat?

[Theostoubos]

There's definitely some orange peel, look at the irregularities on the edges of reflection. Pretty common in production cars nowadays. But I'm on the side that says trying to get it out with a Denim Pad or something is too much risk of thinning the paint out too much. Over time correcting defects will cut down the orange peel and level out the clear coat.

+1
Agree.

Sanding on factory clear coat is a "dangerous sport" especially if you haven't done it before. Any compounding stage will reduce the orange peel, eventually to a level that you can live with it.

As mike says use the least aggressive method...

Sanding is definitely on the aggressive side of life...

[af90]

can i know what do you means by "Over time correcting defects"?

something like using cutting compound polish over time will level out the clear coat?

See Below


+1
Agree.

Sanding on factory clear coat is a "dangerous sport" especially if you haven't done it before. Any compounding stage will reduce the orange peel, eventually to a level that you can live with it.

As mike says use the least aggressive method...

Sanding is definitely on the aggressive side of life...

What they said ^

Using compounds won't correct orange peel anywhere near as fast as wetsanding or denim pads but if you haven't done a paint correction on the car before it'll need to be compounded anyways. So that correcting will reduce orange peel, but without a paint measurement tool I think it's just too risky and could cause a problem if you thin out the paint too much. Where this comes in to play is correcting down the road since you'll have less paint to work with when correcting defects and can easily burn through the paint. I know the rough reflection bugs me on my vehicles too but it's one of those things I accept.

[techaview]

thank guys! guess i will just have to live with it....

will just do my polishing regime and hopefully it will level out one day.... :P

[Christopher.Brown]

Can expert here confirm this is orange peel from my grey audi? If so can this be perform by PC DA using wet sanding? Seem like all my door panels are like this....

19973

19974


DEFINITELY ORANGE PEEL

common thing to see from new vehicle, even 'high end' types

[hernandez.art13]

From my experience orange peel is normal on a stock car, can it be removed? Yes

But the risks are to high and the cost of burning through the paint outweigh the stock orange peel. IMO

If you do want a true smooth Mirror Finish then IMO you'll have to add more layers of CC to compensate the CC you will be removing while wet sanding and buffing it off to get the smooth mirror finish.

But again I don't recommend practicing on your vehicle.

Again this is just my opinion

Art

[techaview]

Have been doing some reading. Apparently carpro demin peeling pad is considered to be a orange peeling step during polishing.... And the result looks good but I have no rotary to perform it.... It can be polished off with m105 or FG400.... Hence run the risk of performing wet sanding

Autopia Forums - Auto Detailing & Car Care Discussion Forum (http://www.autopiaforums.com/forums/paint-...pad-review.html)

[Mike Phillips]

Just keep in mind, factory clears are thin...

Explains everything you need to know first about wetsanding...

Wetsanding - Fresh Paint vs Factory Paint (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/wet-sanding-cutting-buffing/21471-wetsanding-fresh-paint-vs-factory-paint.html)


Covers how the actual "UV inhibitors" degrade over time.

Beginning Clearcoat Failure (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/29197-beginning-clearcoat-failure.html)


Both links are in my article list...


:)

[erichaley]

I have been slowly working to remove orange peel panel by panel from my black 2013 Honda Accord sedan over the past few months.

I started by using the denim orange peel removal pads with FG 400 on a DA (though they're designed for a rotary), and have had great results.

As others have said, there are risks with any sort of orange peel removal, especially on factory paint.

Despite taking precautions by taping off body lines and using a PTG, mistakes can happen.

While working on my left rear door, I for some reason didn't tape off a line and I paid dearly for that oversight by burning through the paint.

Then, after I touched it up and was sanding it down, I sanded through the tape just above the door handle. Yeah, dumbass move...

I repainted part of the door using factory-matched PPG Deltron 2000 DBC in an aerosol can, recleared the entire door using SprayMax 2K clear in an aerosol can, and then wet sanded with 1000-5000 grit sandpaper. It turned out perfectly.

Since then, I have been wet sanding other panels with 1500-5000 grit instead of using the denim pads, and I have found that the process is much faster and removes far less clear.

Removing orange peel from factory paint is not for the faint of heart. Be prepared to screw up and have a game plan in place for when you do. I was planning on having the car repainted when I started this process, I was that unwilling to live with the orange peel. I decided that i wanted to see just how much orange peel i could remove without a repaint.

When I did screw up, I had already prepared for it by doing research on repainting (something I had never done before) and had the materials on hand.

In other words, prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

If you have the time, patience, and guts to undertake this process yourself, go for it. Otherwise, live with it or have it repainted.

I personally have no regrets, despite the mistakes I've made. It's truly a labor of love.

There are some pictures of my car on my gallery, and I'll post up more both there and on this thread later.

[erichaley]

Here are some photos of recent work I did on the trunk:

Before:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0622PM.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0627PM%20%281%29.jpg

The holes are from where the Honda emblem attaches...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0624PM%20%284%29.jpg

Measuring with a PTG before getting started...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0623PM.jpg

First pass with 1500 grit on a DA. Now you can really see the orange peel...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0655PM%20%281%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0656PM.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0658PM%20%282%29.jpg

Second pass. Make sure you pause frequently to inspect your progress...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0658PM%20%284%29.jpg

Third pass...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0703PM%20%281%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0703PM%20%284%29.jpg

Wet sanding complete...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_17__2013_at_0722PM%20%281%29.jpg

Finished product:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_18__2013_at_0717AM%20%283%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_18__2013_at_0717AM%20%284%29.jpg

Final measurement...
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/Trunk/July_18__2013_at_0718AM.jpg

[erichaley]

And here are some photos of the door I partially repainted and fully cleared:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/LR%20Door/July_16__2013_at_0415PM%20%281%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/LR%20Door/July_16__2013_at_0415PM.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/LR%20Door/July_16__2013_at_0416PM%20%281%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/LR%20Door/July_16__2013_at_0416PM%20%282%29.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/2218087/Detailing%20Purchases/2013%20Honda%20Accord/LR%20Door/July_16__2013_at_0416PM.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Dang nice work Eric!

Nice write-up and over the top photography capturing before, during and after.


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