Alternating Horizontal/Vertical Section Passes?

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JayG30

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Alternating Horizontal/Vertical Section Passes?



Hey Mike,

Perhaps you have a good explanation to the following question.

DA polisher techniques state that a section pass is a series of overlapping horizontal or vertical passes that cover the entire section.
It is commonly mentioned that a horizontal section pass be followed by a vertical section pass and vice-versa.

Visual representation:
twopass.jpg


The only reasoning I've seen to why horizontal and vertical passes should be alternated is that it helps aid in uniform material removal.

My question is how important is this really? I pose this question because in certain areas I find that it is much easier, usually due to body panel shape, to make only horizontal or vertical section passes. Would I be doing a tremendous wrong if I did not alternate direction?

Thanks.
 
Personally, I never get lost in the "pattern of polishing". I do what needs to be done to achieve the goal I've set for a particular car and it's paint.

The opposing passes is good for the newb, but for people who already know what they're looking for, I HIGHLY doubt they're using that same pattern over and over again on the cars they're detailing.

Just do what needs to be done to achieve your goal. Don't get lost in patterns.
 
JayG30 said:
Hey Mike,


The only reasoning I've seen to why horizontal and vertical passes should be alternated is that it helps aid in uniform material removal.

My question is how important is this really? I pose this question because in certain areas I find that it is much easier, usually due to body panel shape, to make only horizontal or vertical section passes. Would I be doing a tremendous wrong if I did not alternate direction?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


First, if you're removing below surface defects, that means you're trying to remove a little paint in an effort to level out or flatten out the surface, then overlapping motions in two different directions does help to insure uniform material removal over an area.

Second, because some panels are not large and flat, especially on modern cars which are aerodynamic and for this reason very curved, then you use what I call the Yoda Technique, that is you,


"Let the panel be your guide"

yoda.jpg

(When you read the above sentence, use your best Yoda impersonation)


So of course, if you're working a long, thin panel then you might best work that panel by only going in one direction and doing your best to overlap your passes.

Basically whatever it takes to get the job done.


Third, another good reason to use a pattern, when possible, is to have a "procedure" that you can duplicate from panel to panel from car to car so you have the best chance of always getting consistent results and of course the bigger goal would be professional results, as in the paint looks marvelous....


Does that all make sense?


Good question.



:xyxthumbs:
 
O.C.Detailing said:
The opposing passes is good for the newb,


I do what needs to be done to achieve the goal I've set for a particular car and it's paint.
Click to expand...


If you read your post above, I reversed the order to make a point...

A lot of what I post to a forum, write in an article or teach in a class would be targeted at a person new to detailing, and/or superficially new to machine polishing and when teaching people new skills it is helpful to make everything as easy as possible to help guarantee they will be successful with their first attempts...

You usually don't have to teach them to modify their style as most people do this without thinking about it as they grow and become more experienced and because they figure this stuff out by doing...


:)
 
On a side note...

I try to give credit where credit is due, if for no other reason because I tire of seeing my own work stolen and reposted or paraphrased and posted as original thought...

I've seen that criss cross or cross hatch picture before and I know it's not mine...

I'll see if Yancy can make one better than the one I created in my first article about using the DA Polisher in 2006... these ones...

DampSanding32.jpg


DampSanding33.jpg


DampSanding34.jpg



I made the above in MS Paint, I've never claimed to be a "graphics guy"


:D
 
Thanks guys.

Everything you said makes sense and is in line with what my intuition was telling me.
As always thought, it's nice to hear it straight from the experts.
That way I know my intuition isn't causing me to make a mistake I would otherwise not notice.
I have a "man's intuition", which we all know isn't quite on par with a "woman's intuition". :D

I will continue to try and use the pattern where applicable, while not "forcing" it into areas that it doesn't fit.

I'm glad you liked the question Mike. :xyxthumbs:


PS: With some photoshop (or equivalent) skill you could make some very cool graphics for this. The use of transparency would certainly help visually drive home the overlapping process.
 
I'm also no graphic designer (Computer Engineer actually). I do know my way around Photoshop and Gimp somewhat. But since I'm only on a tiny netbook right now I actually removed Photoshop and Illustrator a while back, and Gimp takes some time to load. So instead I tried something in Word 07.

Don't know what I think about it, but figured I'd share:

34ovl8z.jpg


Feel free to use it if you like.
 
Pretty steady hand (straight lines) on that spray can Mike :)

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
On a side note...

I try to give credit where credit is due, if for no other reason because I tire of seeing my own work stolen and reposted or paraphrased and posted as original thought...

I've seen that criss cross or cross hatch picture before and I know it's not mine...

I'll see if Yancy can make one better than the one I created in my first article about using the DA Polisher in 2006... these ones...

DampSanding32.jpg


DampSanding33.jpg


DampSanding34.jpg



I made the above in MS Paint, I've never claimed to be a "graphics guy"


:D
Click to expand...
 
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