Crows Feet - Lacquer Cracking - Paint Checking

[Mike Phillips]

I've updated this article with more pictures and more information.

[Vanquish Auto]

Thanks Mike for the write up. I’ve seen this on a lot of Ford F Series Trucks. I’ve always used a microscope to check for crows feet. It has saved me many times.

By doing any kind of correction it will make them visible like you said. This will automatically make the customer assume that you have destroyed their paint. By making them visible.

[mc2hill]

Thanks for the update Mike!

I have these on my 2000 Frontier. They seem to get worse after polishing, so IMO it is the heat of the polishing that makes them worse. The front quarter panel that has been resprayed looks fine and does not have them.

I have seen them on other older black vehicles, and now I am very leary of compounding older, black cars that have not been maintained. For a friends black Kia I am looking at wetsanding with 3000, 4000, and/or 5000 then finish polish, instead of compound and finish polish.