I don't have the equipment (or experience) to do this, but I've watched a number of videos, and so I'm thinking about investing in a DA polisher and the needed pads and compounds; but before I do, I have a question about the DA use.

I know that when polishing a fresh paint job that body seams, peaks and sharp edges are masked off to prevent burning through the paint. Is similar masking needed for paint correction? I know that the pads and compounds used are different from those used in polishing, but I haven't seen masking used in the videos I've watched, so I'm wondering if there's no risk involved with paint burn-through. I don't want to experiment and damage the paint. The car in question is a torch red 2015 with minor swirl marks/scratches.

When any of you that have done this, have you masked? Or is this something best left to someone comfortable with the process?

TIA,
Larry

 

Not sure which videos you watched, but you won't see any professionals NOT using tape to keep the pads and polishes from messing up trim and emblems. I use tape on every paint correction I do. It is the only way to protect the trim AND your pads.

I recommend following better detailers on YouTube, as you will learn better techniques. Here is just one of the guys I follow regularly. Check his tape job out starting at 19:50 into the vid...

 

Thank you! I couldn't tell you which videos I've watched, only to say I guess I need to broaden my viewing habits. I'll make it a point to check out your recommendations.

 

I am self-taught, and learned everything from online pros. I highly recommend these channels...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqZ..._ro_Q/featured

https://www.youtube.com/c/Esotericdetail

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...4mUqaB4UuPQ91m

https://www.youtube.com/c/CarCraftAutoDetailing

 

Car Craft is a great detailer!

 

Tape is, as mentioned above, mainly for preventing polish from getting on trim. It can be difficult (or impossible) to get polish off trim. Side note, though - be careful about using tape - leave it on too long or in too warm weather and you will have an even bigger disaster on your hands trying to get the adhesive off the trim. Ask me how I know.

You're generally not going to see people tape high spots or edges that don't have plastic/rubber trim. You certainly could do so if you want to be ultra-safe, but it's really mainly for avoiding staining trim.

With a DA polisher you're very unlikely to burn the paint. If you had a long throw or forced rotation DA with a heavy cut pad on it and just blasted on a painted crease in the body work you could burn it, but as long as you keep the machine moving, be reasonably careful not to just wail on an edge, etc. you should be fine. You can use the machine on a lower speed setting or a less aggressive pad if you're nervous. Another thing you can do is use faster speeds in the middle of the panel, and slow it down when you get close to an edge or other danger zone. The likelihood with this being your first time is that you won't be aggressive enough and it will take forever or leave some swirls behind.

I've burned paint twice. Both times were with a rotary, not a DA, and both times I was being very aggressive.

EDIT: You mention a fresh paint job. Make sure you are waiting for the paint to fully cure before you do this. Usually you're just going to have a body shop glaze on there until the paint fully cures.