Clear coats?

[RIDE3311]

Hey guys,

I have been reading up as much as possible everywhere to learn more about polishing and general detailing techniques. One of the questions out of the long list that I have is how do you know if a car has a soft or hard clear coat? It seems as if you have to really plan how your are going to start polishing (ex: what polish, what pad, etc.) before you just start polishing. Do you have to have a paint gauge to really know or do you just start with a light cutting pad and polish and see how it looks then go from there? Sorry for the nooby question guys. I will have many more to come so bare with me please.

Thanks,
HCP

[94LT1]

Hey guys,

I have been reading up as much as possible everywhere to learn more about polishing and general detailing techniques. One of the questions out of the long list that I have is how do you know if a car has a soft or hard clear coat? It seems as if you have to really plan how your are going to start polishing (ex: what polish, what pad, etc.) before you just start polishing. Do you have to have a paint gauge to really know or do you just start with a light cutting pad and polish and see how it looks then go from there? Sorry for the nooby question guys. I will have many more to come so bare with me please.

Thanks,
HCP

best advice is give urself plunty of time to tinker with certain combinations. Start ur swirl remover or polish with a very light cut pad(i.e. White Lake country CCS pad.)and work ur way to a more abrasive cutting pad.(i.e. Orange CCS pad)

[D]

One of the questions out of the long list that I have is how do you know if a car has a soft or hard clear coat?

Experience.

[RIDE3311]

Thanks for the info guys!

[TOGWT]

Diagnosis is the key; not guesswork; the most important first step in the process of paint surface renovation is diagnosing the paint surface; density of clear coat (hard or soft) or single stage paint, surface condition; severity of the scratches and the paint thickness available will dictate the choice and abrasiveness of polish / compound for correction or renovation level required or indeed possible. Before commencing polishing do a test panel on the car, once you have achieved the desired results with the chosen polish / pad combination proceed always keeping in mind 'least abrassive first'

[RIDE3311]

Diagnosis is the key; not guesswork; the most important first step in the process of paint surface renovation is diagnosing the paint surface; density of clear coat (hard or soft) or single stage paint, surface condition; severity of the scratches and the paint thickness available will dictate the choice and abrasiveness of polish / compound for correction or renovation level required or indeed possible. Before commencing polishing do a test panel on the car, once you have achieved the desired results with the chosen polish / pad combination proceed always keeping in mind 'least abrassive first'

Thank you for the info

[makdaddy626]

Experience.