This is a common topic when it comes removing orange peel without sanding.
Years ago when the Denim pads were introduced, they were original recommend for use with ROTARY BUFFERS. I tested and proved they could be used with free spinning orbital polishers just to OPEN up the market for the pads and to give people a "hope" for trying without sanding.
NOTE: In this I used Meguiar's M100 not because I thought it would be the best but because,
A: I had it in front of me.
B: It was BRAND NEW to the market so I though I would test it in this application. This was my first time using a denim pad and the date stamp for the below write-up is August 16th, 2013
It was after doing this test that I theorized that a chunky compound would work better than a compound that feels like Jergens Hand Lotion, which is what M100 feels like an MOST of the compounds I use and Autogeek sells.
How to remove Orange Peel using a Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher
Extreme Close-up
And here's an extreme close-up shot I took in the close-up mode on my Canon T5i
One thing I would like to point out and that is anytime you're buffing next to an actual strip of tape on paint, it's harder to remove as much paint right near the tape line as it is a few inches away, even so... you can really see a difference in surface texture in the before and after sections separated by here the tape-line wax.
In this picture below - look at the edges of where you see the overhead light reflecting below the pink line - that's the before.
After this project, (real-world detailing), and after I processed the pictures to document this project, (who else does this today and back then), I simply moved on.....
Here's FULL PHOTO DOCUMENTATION showing before, during and after.
1949 Chevy 5-Window Pickup Extreme Makeover - Pictures & Videos
Frame-up the shot...
Zoom in...
AFTER
For years now I've stated that my
THEORY for making denim pads, basically a FLAT hard cloth work to only abrade or level the tops of the hills for the hills and valleys that make up orange peel, is using the right COMPOUND.
I've stated my theory is and OLD SCHOOL compound, what we call ROCKS IN A BOTTLE would work better than all this new fancy, high-tech compounds that use GREAT abrasive technology that uses MICROSCOPIC grains instead of rocks.
Note: My interest was never great enough, nor does my time allow me to experiment with old school or old technology compounds to find one that works and proves my theory. So I could be wrong but I'll leave it up to someone else to invest their time into finding out for two reasons.
1: I know how to hand sand, machine sand, wet sand and dry sand.
2: I'm the gut that tends to warn people to NOT sand factory paint because of how thin it is.
See these two articles and they are topical for this topic.
Clearcoats are thin by Mike Phillips
Wetsanding - Fresh Paint vs Factory Paint
Wetsanding removes paint - Compounding removes paint - Polishing removes a little paint
I admire your passion to perfect the factory paint and in an effort to help I'd recommend,
A: Try to find some cheap compounds that have bad reputations for micro-marring and test these with the denim pad.
B: Purchase the 3M Trizact #5000 Performance Sandpaper. Use a soft block like the Meguiar's E7200 and some soapy water and carefully and methodically knock down the high spots and then even more carefully, buff out your sanding marks.
C: Cross your fingers that at some point you don't turn your buffing pad over and see the color of the basecoat on the pad.
Here at Autogeek we don't carry a lot of sanding supplies because they are SLOW MOVERS. These items are usually expensive and they get a DUST BUILD-UP on them because they are slow movers. It's a normal practice to simply discontinue carrying things people (That's you folks reading this), don't buy from us. This is just how things work.
Here is some info on this product by the maker.
3M™ Trizact™ Performance Sandpaper
Here's the link to the Meguair's E7200 band backing pad
https://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-sanding-pad.html
And there's also now 3M Trizact #8000 grit but I was having trouble finding it in SHEETS of paper. Easy to find in sanding DISCS. I've never used this, might be so safe that it won't be effective? Plus the reality is, to knock down orange peel, hand sanding with a sanding block with a flat face works best.
