Polishing alleviates a myriad of paint
surface problems. But use abrasive polishes wisely to maintain paint condition
and to resolve surface damage problems. But know when to seek alternative
methods of damage control and avoid over polishing with harsh, abrasive
polishes.
Modern clear coat paint
finishes are so good today that they lull people into thinking that vehicle
paint has protection and shine when in reality there is not really much there,
other than the clear coat that has a thickness of ~25.4 µ. As a point of
reference a sheet of copy paper is 89 µ.
The clear coat provides gloss
plus physical protection from the elements, including ultraviolet (UV)
radiation, which is in the upper level of a cured clear coat. Most car
manufacturers will only allow ~ 25% of the clear-coat thickness to be removed
without voiding the paint warranty and long-term durability problems becoming
an issue. That means that if you started off with 50µ of clear coat
(this will vary by vehicle mfg.) you would only be able to remove 12µ without voiding
the paint warranty and possibly having a re-paint (Note: this may vary by vehicle mfg.).
There is ultra violet (UV)
protection all the way through the paint, but the majority of it migrates to
the top of cross-linked clear coat along with the thinner solvents and
particles, the paint is also less dense (softer) below this level. Therefore, removing clear coat ultra violet
protection is not a linear process; by removing a small percentage of the clear
coat paint tends to remove a larger percentage of the ultra violet (UV)
inhibitors.
With a clear coat thickness
of ~49µ and knowing that most of the ultra violet protection is in the
top 50% (~24.5µ); therefore, limiting UV protection removal to ~25 % means that approximately
6.125µ< can be removed before the ultra violet protection is
compromised. Once you remove too much clear coat you'll have no paint
UV protection other than what you apply with a LSP (providing
it contains UV protection.
Be cognizant that clear coat
removal is not a liner process; and the first paint renovation will remove the
most UV protection, therefore the above are probably conservative estimates.
Two variables need to be established; how much clear coat is available and how
much clear coat can be removed without compromising the paint systems long-term
durability / paint warranty
·
200µ (micron) + can be expected on older cars that have
been hand painted or a re-painted vehicle
·
100 – 200µ 4 – 8 mil - normal paint thickness
·
80 – 100 µ - 3 – 4 mils, thin paint
·
80 µ < - less than 3 mils, very thin paint
These numbers are offered as a guide
only, as there are too many variables to provide any more than an approximation.
Ultra
violet protection (UV) a clear coat paint (isocyanate polyurethane) provides
the colour and base coats with protection, and usually has ultra violet (UV)
protection added in the final coating; this tends to migrate towards the upper
level of the clear coat (this is why it’s important to check how much of the
paint surface you are removing with an abrasive polish)
Removing more than 0.5 mil (12µ) of clear coat
will cause premature paint film failure UV protection is a sacrificial /
renewable component; this is due to the UV protection layer being degraded by
exposure to the elements (sun, sand, road or sea salt, and etc.) it is also
water miscible, so it is imperative that you renew it and needs to be
re-applied on a regular basis (dependent upon location climatic condition)
Alternatives to abrasive machine
polishing
Swissvax Cleaner Fluid Professional Finish - its cut and gloss characteristics make it ideal for
removing wash marring and faint swirl marks on all paint types, and its
filler-free formula also makes it a great choice for refining out machine
holograms after heavy compounding. Add to the equation the fact that it's easy
to use, generates no dust and laughs in the face of sticky paint, and it's easy
to see why it is a must-have product for minor enhancement duties on all modern
Porsches and Range Rovers.
Swissvax Cleaner Fluid Regular - advanced chemical cleaning agents strip away any residual grime and
old protective layers, while kaolin clay particles and heavy glazing oils
visually reduce the extent of wash marring and minor swirl marks by filling such
defects and robbing sunlight of sharp edges off of which to reflect. In short,
Swissvax Cleaner Fluid Regular is a great product that effortlessly cleans and
transforms the appearance of well-maintained paint in no time at all, which
makes it ideal for enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Other Relevant Articles
1. Clear Coat and UV Protection Removal- http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/clear-coat-and-uv-protection-removal.html
2. The Physics of Polishing - http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/the-physics-of-polishing.html
3. Basics of abrasive polishing - http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/basics-of-abrasive-polishing.html
4. How to determine the least aggressive polishing method? - http://togwt1980.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/how-to-determine-least-aggressive.html
I would like to
think that these articles become an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and
to professional’s alike, as well as industry experts who seek to advance their
knowledge.
I hope the above article was informative. By having some
understanding of the ‘What’ and ‘Why’ as well as the ‘How’ along with a little
science to help you understand how the chemicals we use react, you can achieve
the results you desire.
I would appreciate it if you
would share this article as it helps other detailers further their knowledge.
Questions and/ or constructive
comments are always appreciated.
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1980) all rights reserve
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