How to achieve a sharp finish ?

[Styka]

Hello everyone, Im quite new here in autogeek, and mostly have been a silent reader, since most of the articles covered most of all the questions and troubles I have on tackling things around detailing.

But I have a few questions, on how to achieve a sharp mirror like finish on a paint, I can get it to look deeper and swirl-free, but cant get the hold of getting a true sharp finish, the paint itself is quit blurry, but I thought I can get it to finish at least more sharp, or what i currently did is the best I can get.

Im doing this on a friends CRV, which is quite untreated.
I only have a DA Polisher, I used the 105/205 and couldnt reach a sharp finish.

Is my technique wrong or theres something Im missing ?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

What color is it?


Factory paint tends to have some level of orange peel, this can range from slight orange peel to extreme orange peel.

The worse the orange peel the more blurred images wil be reflected from the paint.

The lighter the color the car the less seen reflection of an image.

The darker the color, the lower the orange peel level the crisper, more defined reflected images will be.

Because factory paint is very thin, it's very risky to to wetsand.

Also keep in mind, if this car is exposed to a lot of sun, and my guess is that's the case, (unless it's garage parked a lot), then the UV Rays from the sun are a huge enemy to the paint and for this reason, sanding THIN factory paint is even a worse idea.

 

[lawrenceSA]

Just thinking out loud here, but I believe that on some paints, 205 does not finish down 'perfectly' (can't remember where on here I read that and have no personal experience with the product - literally just re-hashing what I remember seeing in a post of 2 here?) and perhaps what you are describing as a 'not sharp' finish may be some slight micro marring from the 205?

So maybe you could look at something like Menz SF4000 on a finishing pad?

Also, if you added some pics and to show what you are seeing it may enable more people to accurately respond?

What pad did you use for the 205?

And were you using a DA or rotary?

 

[zmcgovern45]

M205 finishes down very well on the majority of paints if used with a finishing pad, however there are instances in which the paint is super soft and even M205 leaves behind a good amount of marring. As stated previously, it may be worth looking into an ultra-fine polish such as Menz SF4500 if you determine that your current process is leaving behind some marring.

More likely though is Mike's response - It is probably orange peel that is causing this blurry looking reflection that you are describing.

Photos would be helpful!

 

[Styka]

What color is it?


Factory paint tends to have some level of orange peel, this can range from slight orange peel to extreme orange peel.

The worse the orange peel the more blurred images wil be reflected from the paint.

The lighter the color the car the less seen reflection of an image.

The darker the color, the lower the orange peel level the crisper, more defined reflected images will be.

Because factory paint is very thin, it's very risky to to wetsand.

Also keep in mind, if this car is exposed to a lot of sun, and my guess is that's the case, (unless it's garage parked a lot), then the UV Rays from the sun are a huge enemy to the paint and for this reason, sanding THIN factory paint is even a worse idea.

Hi Mike, the car paint is black.

Well actually you're 100% percent right, it is exposed to a lot of sun, and its crazy hot here in jakarta, he rarely parks his car inside his garage. And he rarely gives any protection on his paint, Im doing this just because I cant stand the car paint getting worse and worse.

Just thinking out loud here, but I believe that on some paints, 205 does not finish down 'perfectly' (can't remember where on here I read that and have no personal experience with the product - literally just re-hashing what I remember seeing in a post of 2 here?) and perhaps what you are describing as a 'not sharp' finish may be some slight micro marring from the 205?

So maybe you could look at something like Menz SF4000 on a finishing pad?

Also, if you added some pics and to show what you are seeing it may enable more people to accurately respond?

What pad did you use for the 205?

And were you using a DA or rotary?

I dont think its micro marring, I will post the pics tomorrow.

Im using a DA polisher, I used Menzerna's compounding and polishing pad, on different parts of the car depending on it's scratches.

Maybe I should try using the finishing pad with a SF4000.

Thanks.

 

[c8n]

Once the defects on the finish is taken care of, which is #1, I find that in general, sealants gives off a sharp look, mirror like shine. Carnauba is rounder with more depth in my humble opinion.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

And he rarely gives any protection on his paint, Im doing this just because I cant stand the car paint getting worse and worse.

Nothing wrong with doing a buddy a favor but if he doesn't care about the maintenance of his car then all your time, energy and even investment is for nothing as the finish will eventually return to the state in which it was before you started.


Good for practice though...