How to do final polishing of fresh paint for show car results

[Mike Phillips]

How to do final polishing of fresh paint for show car results


After wetsanding by hand and then by machine and then using a rotary buffer with a wool pad with an aggressive compound the next and last step is the final polishing step.


What does the final polishing step do?

Great question. Anytime you cut with a wool pad, the FIBERS themselves from the pad can and will cut the paint and leave in the paint holograms swirls. By re-polishing with a foam pad and an orbital polisher you can remove these holograms swirls and create a defect-free finish perfect for waxing or sealing with a synthetic sealant or a ceramic paint coating after 30 days air cure.


What do you need?

1: Orbital polisher - Any brand, free spinning or gear-driven

2: Foam pad - Try to stick with foam polishing pads. Foam cutting pads may leave their own mark and foam finishing pads may not be aggressive enough to remove the swirls left by a wool pad.

3: Quality polish - The most important factor as it relates to the final results is the abrasive technology used in the last step polishing step. Be sure to use a brand name you trust and always do a test spot to a small section and inspect the results before buffing out the entire car.

4: Lots of microfiber towels - Also be sure to visually and via your sense of touch - inspect your towels before wiping off polish residue. It takes hours to machine polish a car and only seconds to put scratches into the paint using contaminated towels.



The final polishing step...





Glen is using a FLEX 3401 with a Lake Country Hybrid Foam Polishing Pad





Craig is using a FLEX 3401 with a Lake Country Hybrid Foam Polishing Pad





Jordan is using a FLEX 3401 with a Lake Country Hybrid Foam Polishing Pad





Arthur is using a FLEX 3401 with a Lake Country Hybrid Foam Polishing Pad







Here's Steve using a FLEX 3401 with a Lake Country Hybrid Foam Polishing Pad





Here's Frank tackling the tops of the frame rails using the RUPES Nano









You're truly using the RUPES BigFoot 21







Here's the team - a few guys left early and Frank was next door in the lobby picking up an order





Final results...

[dlc95]

Menzerna SF4000, and Lake Country Tangerine Hydrotech make my heart skip a beat....

[wing commander]

I had a great time putting in some work at the show car garage.Detailing is something that people with 60 years of age difference can share the same passion! Not to many places that are hands on like this anymore.

[SWETM]

Awesome work everyone! Nice to take the step back and take all in that you have done.

Thanks for shareing this with us.

Regards Tony