How do I remove Pigtails?

Re: Removing Pigtails

Cool!

There are a lot of Internet flame wars regarding feathersanding using the DA. This article may neutralize the debate and lessen the tension somewhat.

:)

And just to note, this article is more specific to the topic of wet-sanding, not Feathersanding.

Feathersanding is a subset procedure of Wet-sanding so the same principals apply.


:)
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Apologies Mister B, I'm about half way through with it, should have ti done by tomorrow.

:xyxthumbs:

No problem Mike. I won't be working on the pigtails until next week at the earliest anyway. I have to wait for the M105 and Unigrit sand paper to get here.

I hope that file utility that I sent you is at least saving you a little time with your photo renaming.
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Awww, dang it. heh Was hoping I was the inspiration for an AG in-shop test, but it's cool. I look forward to the full write-up. I still have a ton to learn and I'm sure you're the man to teach the proper way to do things. Hope I didn't come across as rude as that wasn't my intention.

Can't wait until I get home tonight to read your articles. Thanks for your hard work. :D
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Hey Mike,

I know unexpected things come up during the day and you may not always be able to finish some things as soon as you would like to, but do you think you will have the wet sanding article finished before you guys head out to SEMA? I would just like to read it over before I try anything on those pigtails next week.

I know your busy, not trying to push you or anything.

Thanks
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Hey Mike,

I know unexpected things come up during the day and you may not always be able to finish some things as soon as you would like to, but do you think you will have the wet sanding article finished before you guys head out to SEMA? I would just like to read it over before I try anything on those pigtails next week.

I know your busy, not trying to push you or anything.

Thanks

Hi Mister B,

I'm just about finished with it and it came out very nice. Here's the deal though, I'm leaving for SEMA early tomorrow morning and wont' be in a position to monitor and answer questions that will come up in the thread so I'm thinking it's going to be best to wait till after SEMA is over and then post it.

I think you'll like it when it's posted though...


WetSandingExperiment1096.jpg



For what it's worth, the pigtails in your truck's paint aren't going anywhere...

:laughing:
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

:dblthumb2:

The only people that will not like it are skeptics that preach "rotary-only" for wetsanding haha

Just to note, I was never a skeptic about what a DA polisher can and cannot do, in fact you might have a hard time finding someone who's written more on the subject at least in the online world. That said, for years I've cautioned people against the idea of sanding paint with the idea of removing the sanding marks using only a DA style polisher because of the lack of ability for first generation DA style polishers to rotate a pad under pressure.

Paint is removed best by a pad rotating over the surface, not merely vibrating or jiggling against it which is what can happen with a DA style polisher if you apply too much pressure, use too large of a pad, hold the polisher in a way so that more pressure is applied to only an edge of the pad, or if you're buffing on a high point of any type.

The new generation of DA style polishers offer more power and can do a better job of keeping pads rotating, this would include the PC 7424XP, the Griot's Garage ROP and my guess is the new version polisher Meguiar's will introduce at SEMA next week.

Without typing any longer on this subject because I address this in my forthcoming article, suffice to say, sanding down an entire car and using a rotary buffer to remove 100% of the sanding marks is already hard enough and takes a lot of time. Trying to do this with a tool that the pad will stop rotating for a number of different reasons will just make the job even harder and take longer.

I'm not sure anyone that's ever used both tools and has also sanded down an entire car would argue with this?

At the same time because sanding marks can be removed using a DA style polisher, it is possible for enthusiasts to tackle some wet-sanding projects and successfully remove the sanding marks as long as they have the right tool, the right pads, the right chemicals and use good technique.

How's that?

:)
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Hey Mike,

but do you think you will have the wet sanding article finished before you guys head out to SEMA?

Thanks

I'm writing the summary right now and in thinking about it, since I want to include a list of all the new generation PC style polishers with enough power to remove sanding marks, I've come to the strong conclusion that it will be in fact better to wait till we see what Meguiar's unveils at SEMA this year.

I'll have my camera with me at SEMA and I have a couple of friends at Meguiar's so if they do in fact launch a new, bigger, badder, faster, stronger model that will give the XP and the ROP a run for their money then I'll want to include it in my summary.

I"ll also want to get my hands on one and take it for a test drive.


:D
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

I went out into the garage tonight and played around with camera and flash settings and these are the best I could do for capturing some close ups of the pigtails.

Pigtails_1.JPG


Pigtails_2.JPG
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Hey Mike,

I went out into the Garage the other day to work on those pigtails.

I feather sanded them with some 2500 and 3000 Unigrit paper like you suggested and then removed the sanding marks with my G100 on speed 6 with M105 on a 5.5" orange CCS pad and then followed up with M205 on the white pad and I was able to completely remove the pigtails as well as the sanding marks. It looks great now.

I'll try and post up a couple pictures tomorrow.

Thanks :xyxthumbs:
 
Re: Removing Pigtails

Here are the pictures.

Here you can see the the pigtails near the top of the bed reflecting in the sun.

800_Pigtail_1-1.jpg


Close up.

800_Pigtail_2-1.JPG


Close up in the garage under the halogens (before feather sanding)
It was tough to capture the pigtails inside the garage.

800_Pigtail_4-1.JPG


After feathersanding the pigtails with 2500 Unigrit and 3000 Unigrit Sandpaper

800_Pigtail_5-1.JPG


After polishing the sanding marks and remaining pigtails out with G100 and M105 followed by M205

800_Pigtail_6-1.JPG


800_Pigtail_8-1.JPG


Zoomed in on the one Halogen's reflection.

800_Pigtail_7-1.JPG


Outside afterwards. Unfortunately there was no sun.

800_Pigtail_9-1.JPG


That's the best I could do for pictures. I know some of them are not that great, but I can't figure out how to take any better pictures with my Canon A560.
 
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