Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
How to divide larger body panels into smaller sections for machine buffing
How I would section any body panel would be easier to figure out if I were standing right in front of the vehicle, that said, here's how I would probably divide the hood of a 2007 Tahoe into smaller sections to polish with a Porter Cable type dual action polisher.
If using a more powerful tool, rotary , Flex 3401 or Rupes, you could take the small section I've outlined and tackle more of them at one time. I'd still divide the center large mass of the hood into at least two section and possibly 4 sections depending how much correction is needed.
These, longer, THINNER sections of a body panel are the norm for a lot of cars, trucks and suvs and this is why I like 5.5" pads on tools like the PC and even 4" Spot Repair Pads and that's because smaller diameter pads fit modern cars better than large pads.
As far as the raised body lines go, for the soft rolling body lines I wouldn't bother taping off these areas. Just don't hammer on them when buffing over them.
For any SHARP raised body lines, get some painter's tape and cover these to avoid any risk as paint tend to be thinnest on sharp raised body lines. You can also bet the 1/4" or 1/8" 3M Blue Vinyl Tape.
3M Vinyl Tape 1/4 Inch - 06405
3M Vinyl Tape 1/8 Inch - 06404
The big picture idea is...
Avoid trying tackle too large a section at one time when using tools like the PC/Megs/Griot's polishers or you'll end up with shiny swirls.
That is, you'll feel like you're getting a lot of work done because you're knocking out larger sections but at the end of the day, when you do the final wipe-off of wax the swirls will still be in the paint, (because you didn't remove them), they'll just be shiny.
How I would section any body panel would be easier to figure out if I were standing right in front of the vehicle, that said, here's how I would probably divide the hood of a 2007 Tahoe into smaller sections to polish with a Porter Cable type dual action polisher.
If using a more powerful tool, rotary , Flex 3401 or Rupes, you could take the small section I've outlined and tackle more of them at one time. I'd still divide the center large mass of the hood into at least two section and possibly 4 sections depending how much correction is needed.
These, longer, THINNER sections of a body panel are the norm for a lot of cars, trucks and suvs and this is why I like 5.5" pads on tools like the PC and even 4" Spot Repair Pads and that's because smaller diameter pads fit modern cars better than large pads.
As far as the raised body lines go, for the soft rolling body lines I wouldn't bother taping off these areas. Just don't hammer on them when buffing over them.
For any SHARP raised body lines, get some painter's tape and cover these to avoid any risk as paint tend to be thinnest on sharp raised body lines. You can also bet the 1/4" or 1/8" 3M Blue Vinyl Tape.
3M Vinyl Tape 1/4 Inch - 06405
3M Vinyl Tape 1/8 Inch - 06404
The big picture idea is...
- Break larger panels into smaller sections.
- Try to use natural edges, raised body lines and segmented panels as natural dividing lines for the smaller sections.
Avoid trying tackle too large a section at one time when using tools like the PC/Megs/Griot's polishers or you'll end up with shiny swirls.
That is, you'll feel like you're getting a lot of work done because you're knocking out larger sections but at the end of the day, when you do the final wipe-off of wax the swirls will still be in the paint, (because you didn't remove them), they'll just be shiny.
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