Menzerna Polishing Range
The basis of a scratch begins with depth. The depth of a scratch will determine whether it can be simply buffed out, wet sanded or has to be repainted. If you were to examine a scratch as part of a cross-section, you would notice the surface’s different layers: most commonly metal, primer, colour, and clear coat. To remove a scratch requires that it is polished to the base of the scratch. There are many different types of scratches and identifying their differences is the first step to the selection of the pad/polish required for its removal
What polish should I use?
Where do you start with this question and as much as I dislike answering a question with a question; a little more information is required in order to give an even half-way correct answer. Answering this question with ‘use a compound, a rotary action machine and a wool pad, is like the proverbial ‘use an acid on it’, which is probably overkill. The most obvious one is ‘what did the test panel show you’?
The factors that will affect the polish/compound selected
New or Aged Paint
Paint density (hard or soft paint)
Conversely paint colour or vehicle make has no effect on the polish selected (a scratch is a scratch, regardless of the paint colour
It takes many years of experience to be able to judge with any accuracy the abrasive / pad type/ machine action without utilizing the ‘Test panel method’ that will remove the scratches. One of the things I was taught many years ago was to always use the least aggressive/invasive product first.
Select a ‘typical’ area - (one that represents the type of defects that you want to remove) and starting with the least abrasive polish and / pad combination and then proceed until the defects are removed. This is the polish/pad combination you’ll need to use
Abrasive Polishes
Menzerna Heavy Cut Compound
A light cutting compound designed to remove major paint defects
Capable of polishing out 1200grit sanding marks
Cut: 10/10
Gloss: 7/10
Contains fillers
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cutting Pad
Menzerna Medium Cut Polish 2 -200
A light cutting compound designed to remove minor paint defects
Cut: 8/10
Gloss: 8/10
Contains no fillers
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cutting Pad
Menzerna Medium Cut Polish 2 -500
A light cutting compound designed to remove minor paint defects
Cut: 5/10
Gloss: 9/10
Contains no fillers
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cutting Pad
Menzerna Super Finish 3500
Cut: 4/10
Gloss: 10/10
Contains no fillers
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Finishing Pad.
Menzerna Super Finish 3800
Its cut and gloss characteristics make it ideal for removing wash /wiping dry marring and faint swirl marks on all paint types
Cut: 2/10
Gloss: 10/10
Contains no fillers
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Finishing Pad.
Menzerna One Step Polish 3-in-1
A heavy cutting compound designed to remove medium paint defects
Capable of polishing out 3000 grit sanding marks
Cut: 5/10
Gloss: 9/10
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Polishing or Cutting Pad
What about Matte Finish pait?
You cannot polish to remove scratches in matte paint, Polishing matte paint would smooth imperfections in the clear coat that make matte paint non-reflective, and begin to gradually increase the paint's gloss. This irreversible damage to the factory matte finish, caused by polishing, can only be fixed by repainting the panel.
Selecting a suitable polish / Foam Pad
Using Menzerna polishes / Lake County Hydro-Tech foam pads as a baseline; things to consider: type of defect to remove, Cut, Gloss and a suitable pad. Any abrasive polish and pad combination is only as fine as its coarsest component. All abrasive polishes are ‘foam pad and applied pressure dependant’ as far as their paint correction abilities are concerned. Any abrasive / pad combination is reliant upon its most abrasive component.
Lake Country' s Hydrotech Foam Pads are designed specifically for the application of water-based polishes and compounds.These are low profile pad prolong the working time of water-based polishes and compounds. The slim flat profile makes these pads ideal for buffing hard, scratch-resistant paint finishes.
The key to the polishing process is to know how the paint will react with each pad/polish combination you consider using. You must know your product and what its capabilities are before using it. This is why a ‘test’ spot is so important.
The factors that affect the outcome -speed, friction (kinetic energy) applied pressure, foam pad actual surface contact area, pad grit number (abrasive ability) amount of surface lubrication available, the surface area and heat conductivity of material
The abrasive polishing process is one in which larger surface scratches are replaced with finer and finer scratches until they are invisible to the naked eye.Scratches usually have ridges on two sides, this is what catches the light and makes them visible, Removing these ridges makes the paint surface flat and enables light to be uniformly reflected
The key to the polishing process is to know how the paint will react with each pad/polish combination you consider using. You must know your product and what its capabilities are before using it. This is why a ‘test’ spot is so important.
Going through the grits
This is not a southern states detailer having breakfast. Most polishes have a grit number, that’s to say the grit marks left by wet sanding that can be removed by that polish, So a polished rated at 1500 will remove the micro scratches left by 1500 grit finishing paper. So you gradually go through various polishes (1500, 2500, 3500 and etc) until you have the paint surface gloss you desire, These are called polishing ‘Stages’
Diagnosis is the key; not guesswork
Examine the vehicle's bodywork, a ‘bag-test will ascertain the need for detailer’s clay, and a Brinkman light will help you find any evidence of surface blemishes i.e. swirl marks and scratches.
The most important first step in the process of paint surface detailing is diagnosing the paint surface; density of clear coat (hard or soft) or single stage paint, surface condition; ascertain the severity of the surface blemishes with an inspection light and the paint thickness available.
The paintwork should be evaluated with a paint thickness gauge to see what thickness of clear coat remains before you decide how much paint renovation can be safely carried or wither paint preservation would be the appropriate option, before you proceed, measuring with a paint thickness gauge will dictate the choice and abrasiveness of polish / compound for correction or renovation level required or indeed possible
Always follow the rule of starting with the least abrasive combination, i.e. a machine polish and the least aggressive foam or wool pad (working smarter not harder) The most important first step in the process of paint surface detailing is diagnosing the paint surface; density of clear coat (hard or soft) or single stage paint, surface condition; ascertain the severity of the surface blemishes with an inspection light and the paint thickness available.
Measuring with a paint thickness gauge will dictate the choice and abrasiveness of polish/compound for correction or renovation level required or indeed possible. Assess the correction level working through the range of polishes from the lightest abrasive upwards until the desired level of correction is reached. Selecting the correct pad/polish combination for the vehicles paint/defects can take just as long as the paint correction process
Pad Dependency
Any abrasive polish and pad combination is only as fine as its coarsest component. All abrasive polishes are ‘foam pad and applied pressure dependant’ as far as their paint correction abilities are concerned. Any abrasive / pad combination is reliant upon its most abrasive component.
Lake Country' s Hydrotech Foam Pads are designed specifically for the application of water-based polishes and compounds.These are low profile pads are made from European pre-polymer foam that prolongs the working time of water-based polishes and compounds so you have more time to create a better finish. The slim flat profile makes these pads ideal for buffing hard, scratch-resistant paint finishes.
If we consider the Lake Country Mfg (LC) White foam (50 PPI) polishing pad as the baseline; any polish used will derive help from the abrasive abilities of the foam. Then consider the LC Blue (70 PPI) finishing pad has no abrasive ability and will contribute nothing to the cutting capability of a polish.
What is derived from this is that a polishes abrasive ability can be ‘fine-tuned’ by using different combinations (abrasiveness) of polish and foam (the same thing is true of wool pads) and of course differing the amount of downward pressure (10-15 Lbs is the usual range) applied will also have an effect on the abrasives capability
Different pad / product combinations (least abrasive pad / polish first)
Base pad/product (least abrasive pad/product) if this combination does not provide the desired results, increase the aggressiveness of the technique or product selection.
Step-up 1 - using the same pad with a more abrasive product
Step-up II – use a less abrasive pad and the same product as used in step-up I
Step-up III- using the same pad with a more abrasive product
As can be ascertained from the above the total abrasive ability of a polish/foam pad combination is subject to many variables, the polishes abrasive ability is just the starting point.
If you need to be more aggressive, step up from a foam pad to a Foam / Wool hybrid and then Wool then Microfiber, if that doesn't work, go to a SurBuf pad and after that, you’ll need to switch your polish or compounds.
Lake County Hydro-Tech foam
Are made of imported European pre-polymer foam. This long-wearing, high-quality foam is less absorbent in order to keep the majority of polish on the pad's surface. This enables a longer working time with your water-based polishes and compounds, resulting in less product used to achieve the perfect finish.
Hydro-Tech Foam Pads are designed specifically for the application of water-based polishes and compounds. European pre-polymer foam prolongs the working time so you have more time to create a flawless finish
Test Panel
When removing defects from the paint surface, consider not only which polish/compound you'll be using, but how you'll be using it. Your choice of machine speed, pad construction, pad size and applied pressure will all impact the abrasive abilities of the polishing liquid.
After testing a section to confirm this method, select an area of 18 x 18-inches and tape it off with painter’s tape, as this is an optimal working section to perform a product test spot; this will help establish a process that will produce the best possible finish, once this is established repeat the process over the entire paint surface.
Select a ‘typical’ area - (one that represents the type of defects that you want to remove) and starting with the least abrasive polish and / pad combination and then proceed until the defects are removed. This is the polish/pad combination you’ll need to use
Pad conditioning
Spread the polish/compound over the pad evenly and ensure it is absorbed into the foam, then spread that polish onto the pad by hand until it becomes 80% saturated.
By ensuring the pad doesn’t become saturated with polish it allows the inbuilt cushioning effect and the pads designed foam qualities; i.e. density (or rebound), compression (‘hardness or stiffness) and without altering its in-built air-flow, which will decrease its heat dissipating abilities, causing it to transfer more kinetic friction heat to the surface
Polishing process
Place four pea-sized dots of the polish selected and proceed to polish out paint defects. When you are satisfied with the results, clean the surface with OPT Paint Prep so that no silicone oils, surfactants, and etc remain.
Pad conditioning
Spread the polish/compound over the pad evenly and ensure it is absorbed into the foam, then spread that polish onto the pad by hand until it becomes 80% saturated.
By ensuring the pad doesn’t become saturated with polish it allows the inbuilt cushioning effect and the pads designed foam qualities; i.e. density (or rebound), compression (‘hardness or stiffness) and without altering its in-built air-flow, which will decrease its heat dissipating abilities, causing it to transfer more kinetic friction heat to the surface
Polishing process
Place four pea-sized dots of the polish selected and proceed to polish out paint defects. When you are satisfied with the results, clean the surface with OPT Paint Prep so that no silicone oils, surfactants, and etc remain.
Cleaning Pads
All pads have a performance cycle, meaning you will get the desired results only to a certain point on that curve. The point of declining performance is typically reached by polish/compound pad being overloaded with a product; you should always be able to see the individual cells or texture of the pad, with proper, regular cleaning pad overload can be avoided.
Clean and/or replace pads as often as is necessary; a clean, primed and seasoned pad will enhance the abrasive abilities of the compound/polish and make the process not only more efficient but less time-consuming. I would recommend soaking used pads in a solution of Optimum Power Clean™ / water until you are ready to wash them
Hydro-Tech Foam Pads
Copyright © 2010 - 2016 TOGWT® (Established 1980) all rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment