Benefits of taping, polishing around edges

[wicius]

I'd be happy to read about polishing edges and between panels and all that... all instructional videos I found here only show polishing a test spot, usually a part of a flat hood... nothing about curves, places where panels meet etc.

 

[Bert31]

Just a heads up...the fine line tape is a joy to work with vs. normal blue painters tape, but it is also much more expensive and I only use it when normal painters tape isn't cutting it. The fine line will bend around sharp corners with ease!

Looks like I may have to start looking around for some. If I can't find it localling I guess it could be found online, just need to find a part number.

 

[cincibcat9]

I'd be happy to read about polishing edges and between panels and all that... all instructional videos I found here only show polishing a test spot, usually a part of a flat hood... nothing about curves, places where panels meet etc.

:iagree:

 

[jbond007]

Also what techniques are used to polish around panels which have creases or raised edges? Also how do you avoid noticeable spots which have not been polished?

I'd be happy to read about polishing edges and between panels and all that... all instructional videos I found here only show polishing a test spot, usually a part of a flat hood... nothing about curves, places where panels meet etc.

I've been waiting for the answer to this question as well. It seems that the periphery of a panel will still have need for correction and/or cleanup and will look odd at the line the tape created??? How to clean up the edges and curves on panels. My X5 seems to be nothing but concave surfaces and curves

 

[RaskyR1]

I'd be happy to read about polishing edges and between panels and all that... all instructional videos I found here only show polishing a test spot, usually a part of a flat hood... nothing about curves, places where panels meet etc.

Give me some time to write something up.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I don't like to tape, it just makes a sticky mess, IME. I'm very careful, If I get polish in some edges, I just clean it asap.

 

[RaskyR1]

Alright, I'm not the best at explaining things with a keyboard but I'll give it a shot...


IMO you really only need to tape off panel gaps when you are doing heavy correction work. If there is a noticeable offset in panel height it may be a good idea to tape them off as well. If I do actually taped off any raised edges and panel gaps, it will only be for the initial cutting step, and I will remove the tape for the finishing steps. This will help eliminate seeing a hard line of where the tape was and you are basically blending to the edge.


Since paint will tend to flow off edges more than a flat surface the paint is typically thinner in those areas. It’s not that you can’t buff over an edge, you simply don't want to apply a lot of heavy pressure or sit on them very long. When working on the panel I will typically make 4-8 section passes, but for most of those passes I simply go as close to the edge as possible and then I will actually only go over the edge on a couple of them.

With a rotary you can actually use the tool in a way that you only buff away/off of an edge by slightly tilting the pad. An example would be this 2010 528i that had etched in water spots all over the hood. I taped off the edge on the adjacent panel and then by slightly tilting my pad I was able to buff over the edge of the hood, only using the side of the pad that is spinning away or off of the edge.

Hope this helps and makes a little more sense.




Rasky

 

[DARK HORSE]

Thanks Chad for a very well explained and detailed summary, great job rops:

 

[Kurt_s]

Looks like I may have to start looking around for some. If I can't find it localling I guess it could be found online, just need to find a part number.

You may be able to find it at a local auto paint supply store. It's pretty easy to find on line as well.

 

[wicius]

Thanks for that RaskyR1, and to you all guys!