Polishing question , when no correction achieved, are we still removing clear?

TrustJesus

TrustJesus

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Hey Guys,
So I’m still learning and had this question.

For the pros, here it goes.

If I pickup a polisher and go to polish and see no results, does that mean that I didn’t remove if (any) clear coat?

In other words do we remove clear coat when we don’t remove scratches?

Yes I know my sentences are bad, English is my second language.



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My gut tells me the answer is no, if you’re unable to remove the swirls then you aren’t able to remove any clearcoat with whatever method you’re using.

There’s also rare oddball situations where the scratches you’re looking are underneath the clearcoat and that could be the reason you can’t remove them. We ran into that @Meguiars Garage when a few of us tried to fully correct the trunk of my 97’ Cadillac with a rotary and M105, M100, M101, nothing would touch the scratches until we declared they had to be underneath the top layer. It was wierd.

Another situation that makes me think is when I polished this car.. To this day this is the only vehicle with paint so hard that I couldn’t correct it.

6de3316e3e1ec9dc3d3bdafde88f8ef5.jpg



Custom paint job and the owner did say that it had an upsurd layers of clearcoat on it, something like 7 layers of more... I’ve always figured whatever paint on it was hard as hell. But could it be that the reason I couldn’t correct it was because the scratches were actually underneath the layer I was polishing? I’ve never thought about that until now.

Maybe Mike Phillips can chime in with his thoughts on this.

Btw the swirls in that paint weren’t all that bad.. But my goal was full correction and it simply wasn’t happening that day.
 
Assuming you have a decent pad/polish combo and are practicing the proper procedure with the machine ie machine speed,arm speed and working selected polish correctly yes you are removing clear coat.
 
Ric,
Interesting, I’m hoping others will comment on this. I’m curious now about your story.


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I ran into a black Audi a few weeks ago where the sanding scratches were deep in the clear on the hood. It was repainted. I told the owner they were too deep to safely go after and moved on. He knew the repainted parts were iffy
 
@ Vobro
So it is possible that we remove clear coat without removing imperfections?


Billy, so the scratches were beneath the new clear coat?
 
^
Perhaps the way to answer your question, would be to use a paint depth gauge before and after your attempt at correction. Otherwise, most of us are just going to be guessing at your situation.

Your thoughts?
 
True, and I appreciate your response

To be honest, I don’t have money to buy one. There expensive
 
First off, you are not removing defects. You are removing clear around them to minimize the appearance. If you use an abrasive on your paint , you are removing material.
 
Ok, yes abrasives will remove clear coat.

Will light polish (complete polish GG) also remove any clear if you see no correction being done?
 
TrustJesus said:
To be honest, I don’t have money to buy one. There expensive
Click to expand...

What do you mean? They’re like $10 bucks. Go on Ebay and get yourself this 1 if you want 1. It comes with a steel plate and several paint slides to calibrate the meter, so you know it’s accurate. Once it’s calibrated it’s pretty much set for good. [meaning you don’t have to re calibrate it every time you use it]

aacced8733f55e869d6a7fe37f20f5f7.jpg
 
TrustJesus said:
Hey Guys,

So I’m still learning and had this question.

For the pros, here it goes.

If I pickup a polisher and go to polish and see no results, does that mean that I didn’t remove if (any) clear coat?
Click to expand...


That's a very open-ended questions. Lots of factors, simple things like,

You, your technique your experience, tool, pad product, paint hardness, depth of scratches.


TrustJesus said:
In other words do we remove clear coat when we don’t remove scratches?

Yes I know my sentences are bad, English is my second language.
Click to expand...


Anytime you abrade the paint you remove paint.


:)
 
Thanks Mike, being that clear coat is delicate wanted to make sure.

I really was curious tho, I know the question seemed stupid.






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Eldorado2k said:
What do you mean? They’re like $10 bucks. Go on Ebay and get yourself this 1 if you want 1. It comes with a steel plate and several paint slides to calibrate the meter, so you know it’s accurate. Once it’s calibrated it’s pretty much set for good. [meaning you don’t have to re calibrate it every time you use it]

aacced8733f55e869d6a7fe37f20f5f7.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow, looks like I’m get one.

Guys you have to remember I’m new to all this.

Every question I ask, is because I really don’t know but want to learn the right way.

Thanks Ric




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Mike, I’m curious to know your advice on why Ric’s car wouldn’t allow for correction?

If you get a chance, I’d like to hear your advice. It’s the second post on this thread.
 
Yes sir like I said it’s a dumb question but I am curious to avoid damage.


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Anytime you rub one surface against another friction occurs. That friction will wear one surface or the other. The only time I don't think you removing a minute amount of clear would be when using a product that doesn't have any abrasives by hand.
 
Thank you Dub, does polishing like a complete polish by Griot count as abrasive?


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