Paint Correction
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 4
From: Ponte Vedra Beach / London State: Dazed and confused
Paint Correction / Restoration
Paint renovation detailers can restore the finish on a car with paint correcting polishes or compounds; however there are some defects that are too deep to be safely removed.
Types of paint renovation;
Enhancement- a single stage machine polish that will remove light surface scratches and paint blemishes
Renovation- a two or three stage machine polish that will remove 85 – 90% of surface scratches and will render a ‘showroom finish’.
It’s difficult to qualify a percentage of correction but this is what is strived for- 95% considered show quality, 98%, I considered Concours d’élégance vehicle preparation or even just re-painted fresh out of the paint booth.
Detailers strive for 90% +/- of the visible imperfection in the paint; swirls, scratches, etching, etc, which are legitimately, removed without compromising the clear coat thickness. Paint correction involves many different techniques; not limited to; wet-sanding, compounding,
polishing and burnishing the paint surface to achieve a near flawless finish.
Paint renovation detailers can restore the finish on a car with these paint correcting techniques; however there are some defects that are too deep to be repaired.
This type of paint renovation should only be needed once in a car's lifetime; maintaining the integrity of the vehicle's original paint should be relatively easy provided the paint surface is correctly maintained; using the proper technique, and quality tools and car care products for washing and drying there should be no reason (barring an accident or vandalism) that you would inflict surface scratches or swirls.
Repainting will negatively impact a vehicles resale value, especially on Antique or Classic vehicles as well as affecting its ‘as original’ finish, its future resale value depends on its all round condition, including the original paint. The proper use of a paint thickness gauge (PTG) is highly recommended
Can all sub-surface defects be corrected by polishing? The answer is no as the criteria to this issue is the depth of the defect in relation to the paint system and the relevant paint thickness available. A surface scratch that will `catch' your fingernail is approximately 0.04 Mil (1.0 µ) deep will usually require wet sanding and refinishing
.
Paint renovation detailers can restore the finish on a car with paint correcting polishes; however there are some defects that are too deep to be repaired. There comes a point when you must judge wither removing a scratch will compromise the clear coat (> 0.1 µ) and if so you’ll have to ‘live’ with the imperfection (these can be aesthetically masked by using a Glaze)
Paint Correction Process
1. Wash
2. Detailer’s clay (surface contaminants) or
a) Chemical Paint Cleaner
3. Paint Decontamination (below surface contaminants)
4. Dry paint surfaces
5. Tape protection (edges, emblems, panel edges, etc)
6. Check paint thickness (PTG)
7. Test Panel Process, dependent upon results proceed to (a) or ( b)
a) Compound
b) Polish
8. Final polish
9. Paint inspection wipe down
10. Apply paint protection
Paint renovation detailers can restore the finish on a car with paint correcting polishes or compounds; however there are some defects that are too deep to be safely removed.
Types of paint renovation;
Enhancement- a single stage machine polish that will remove light surface scratches and paint blemishes
Renovation- a two or three stage machine polish that will remove 85 – 90% of surface scratches and will render a ‘showroom finish’.
It’s difficult to qualify a percentage of correction but this is what is strived for- 95% considered show quality, 98%, I considered Concours d’élégance vehicle preparation or even just re-painted fresh out of the paint booth.
Detailers strive for 90% +/- of the visible imperfection in the paint; swirls, scratches, etching, etc, which are legitimately, removed without compromising the clear coat thickness. Paint correction involves many different techniques; not limited to; wet-sanding, compounding,
polishing and burnishing the paint surface to achieve a near flawless finish.
Paint renovation detailers can restore the finish on a car with these paint correcting techniques; however there are some defects that are too deep to be repaired.
This type of paint renovation should only be needed once in a car's lifetime; maintaining the integrity of the vehicle's original paint should be relatively easy provided the paint surface is correctly maintained; using the proper technique, and quality tools and car care products for washing and drying there should be no reason (barring an accident or vandalism) that you would inflict surface scratches or swirls.
Repainting will negatively impact a vehicles resale value, especially on Antique or Classic vehicles as well as affecting its ‘as original’ finish, its future resale value depends on its all round condition, including the original paint. The proper use of a paint thickness gauge (PTG) is highly recommended
Can all sub-surface defects be corrected by polishing? The answer is no as the criteria to this issue is the depth of the defect in relation to the paint system and the relevant paint thickness available. A surface scratch that will `catch' your fingernail is approximately 0.04 Mil (1.0 µ) deep will usually require wet sanding and refinishing
.
Paint renovation detailers can restore the finish on a car with paint correcting polishes; however there are some defects that are too deep to be repaired. There comes a point when you must judge wither removing a scratch will compromise the clear coat (> 0.1 µ) and if so you’ll have to ‘live’ with the imperfection (these can be aesthetically masked by using a Glaze)
Paint Correction Process
1. Wash
2. Detailer’s clay (surface contaminants) or
a) Chemical Paint Cleaner
3. Paint Decontamination (below surface contaminants)
4. Dry paint surfaces
5. Tape protection (edges, emblems, panel edges, etc)
6. Check paint thickness (PTG)
7. Test Panel Process, dependent upon results proceed to (a) or ( b)
a) Compound
b) Polish
8. Final polish
9. Paint inspection wipe down
10. Apply paint protection
Last edited by TOGWT; Jun 1, 2012 at 06:59 AM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 14,104
Likes: 244
From: South Florida
often called "polishing" but other areas of correction exist ...
http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html
http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html
