Need some help with somewhat basic questions.

[Da Fats]

So I know how to use the PC and Rotary well enough to get the results I want given I take the time double and triple check my work and redo areas where I may leave some hazing or halograms. My issues I am having are the tight spots and overly curved panels.

I am trying to finish up my 04 tacoma tacoma and am wondering what the pro's do to be time effective when dealing with the 2 inches (or less) between the door handel and pin stripe and stripe and window trim. Is it really a matter of using 4 inch pads and polishing over the taped up pin strip and then move the edge of the tape to tthe top side and doing it again?

Areas like around the door handle the B pillars and curves at on the lower panels...

I think we have beaten the work small, stay flat, check your work in sunlight after IPA horse to death. I am looking for tips tricks and techniques for tight areas (less then 3 -4 inch) sized areas to and tight curves where trying to get a 4 or 5 inch pad inside the curves causes contact with he oppostie side of the curve.

Thank you in advance

Chris

 

[MrHandWash]

This isn't always advised... but you could do what I do (it's a sin, so be careful) I will just take some application by hand and do in small under mirror areas and hard to get to places. or, you could wrap a MF towel around the head of your DA so rubbing it against tight spots doesn't do anything by touching the finish. :xyxthumbs:

If you do go by hand and it's a machine application only, make sure you rub ever so gently and light pressure as to avoid finger marks.

You could also dremel down your backing plate and use smaller pads that way, granted you had a couple backing plates. Not sure how other people handle it, but that's how I do it. Good luck!

 

[Rsurfer]

So I know how to use the PC and Rotary well enough to get the results I want given I take the time double and triple check my work and redo areas where I may leave some hazing or halograms. My issues I am having are the tight spots and overly curved panels.

I am trying to finish up my 04 tacoma tacoma and am wondering what the pro's do to be time effective when dealing with the 2 inches (or less) between the door handel and pin stripe and stripe and window trim. Is it really a matter of using 4 inch pads and polishing over the taped up pin strip and then move the edge of the tape to tthe top side and doing it again?

Areas like around the door handle the B pillars and curves at on the lower panels...

I think we have beaten the work small, stay flat, check your work in sunlight after IPA horse to death. I am looking for tips tricks and techniques for tight areas (less then 3 -4 inch) sized areas to and tight curves where trying to get a 4 or 5 inch pad inside the curves causes contact with he oppostie side of the curve.

Thank you in advance

Chris

This is where the new LC pads will come in handy.
Lake Country 1 Pad Polishing System, Single Use Pads, One Pad System, one time use buffing pad, Lake Country buffing pads

For the tight areas besides doing it by hand you could use 3" pads. If you use a DA you will need an adapter as the backing plate is for a rotary or you can just use a rotary.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi Chris,

I have moved this thread out of Tips, Techniques and How-to Articles for Interacting on Discussion Forums and moved it into Detailing 101

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I think we have beaten the work small, stay flat, check your work in sunlight after IPA horse to death.

:laughing:

I am looking for tips tricks and techniques for tight areas (less then 3 -4 inch) sized areas to and tight curves where trying to get a 4 or 5 inch pad inside the curves causes contact with he opposite side of the curve.

Thank you in advance

Chris

Here's one way...

Work on these area by hand using something like ScratchX or Ultimate Compound, and then shmoo them over as best as you can by machine for a more even, uniform and high gloss appearance.


If this is daily driver detail work then major on the majors and minor on the minors...

If this is a show car for a famous person and you need to do the absolute best that you can then break out a 3" Griot's Garage Orange foam polishing pad like seen is this thread,


Pictures + Video of 1932 Ford Highboy Extreme Makeover

The Flex 3403 with a Griot's Garage 3" Polishing pad comes in so handy for working on thin panels and there were plenty of thin panels on this car to buff out.

Being very careful, it was possible to run the thin, Flex 3403 in-between the side of the grill and the headlight bucket.

We could even work on the hairpins for the front suspension...

Top of the frame rail needs a little amping up of the gloss...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKDmRrRoZCE]YouTube - 1932 Ford Highboy Burnout[/video]


:dblthumb2: