POLL - What's the number one most important factor when it comes to polishing paint?

What's the number one most important factor when it comes to polishing paint?

  • Total voters
    336
I picked Techique #1, but then contemplated between technique and tool. So Tool would be my strong #2 or could even be #1 if i can pick two. I feel for the most part, someone doesn't need to be an expert on technique. Just someone with experience under their belt can get the job done w/ the right tool. Their technique may not be flawless. Also, technique can change depending on the tool or technology or body shape you're working on. A perfect example would be the tried and true up down, left right section pass when buffing. But, there was a video from Ammo that for cars w/ rounder or challenging body shapes, this method may not work well. Instead, you would go along the body of the panel.
 
TiredOfPaintStains said:
I picked Techique #1, but then contemplated between technique and tool. So Tool would be my strong #2 or could even be #1 if i can pick two. I feel for the most part, someone doesn't need to be an expert on technique. Just someone with experience under their belt can get the job done w/ the right tool. Their technique may not be flawless. Also, technique can change depending on the tool or technology or body shape you're working on. A perfect example would be the tried and true up down, left right section pass when buffing. But, there was a video from Ammo that for cars w/ rounder or challenging body shapes, this method may not work well. Instead, you would go along the body of the panel.
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Technique rules the day,IMHO all the things described here fall under the technique category,the technique of knowing when to change technique is still technique.
#2 for me is a tie for pad and abrasive technology mainly because the must both work in unison to create the desired results
#3 is paint,,do test spot and that automaticly sets you up pad and abrasive technology
4 would be tool,, like post 2 said,,Tiger Woods could whip most os with Walmart clubs,,but I am of the opinion of all of these used together is also technique
 
I recently tested 6 products with abrasive technology in them for other companies.

5 out of 6 failed. Out of the 6 products, one of them worked pretty well.


I get that most of you guys "think" that technique trumps all but I'm telling you straight-up, the most important factor is abrasive technology. It is the abrasives that are TOUCHING the paint first, not you and your technique.


The picture in this article tells the story...

Abrasive Technology - THE most important factor when it comes to polishing paint


FWIW


:)
 
It has to be #1 because if you don't know what or how to do the job the tools don't matter

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 
Klasse Act said:
It has to be #1 because if you don't know what or how to do the job the tools don't matter
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I'll stick to the opinion I've expressed here and over and over on this forum.

There are compounds, polishes and cleaner/waxes that simply don't use great abrasive technology and it doesn't matter how talented or experienced a person is - no amount of technique thrown at a product is going to make it stop scratching the paint as you work any buffer over a body panel.

But as the poll shows - most people disagree with me. So according to the consensus of others - I'm wrong.



:)
 
Here's a video Elliot shot while we were at Barrett-Jackson this year.


I get asked to TEST new compounds and polishes for outside companies. Sometimes I give them a good report and sometimes I have bad news for them. I have a protocol I follow that has "controls" in place so all of the results are based upon the abrasives in the product.


I only show products I trust in all my classes and when I play Demo Boy at car shows, like I recently did at Barrett-Jackson, I always use a black demo hood and I only demo products I know and trust 100% have great abrasive technology. Thus I'm able to demo and demo and demo the product and the results are always 100% flawless.


I don't recommend this to others but here LIVE I'm pulling #2000 Grit Sanding Marks out of the factory black paint on a rental car using what I would consider a relatively weak tool. The Finisher is NOT called the BEAST for a reason, it's for FINISHING. I did counter the less aggressive free spinning action by using a foam cutting pad, (broken in), and did this LIVE over and over again for 3 days.


https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2291788487546629


BLACKFIRE uses GREAT abrasive technology.



:dblthumb2:
 
I agree. Its the polishes that have made this easy enough that anyone can polish a car now. I can remember when your compound choices were rocks-in-a-bottle type from 3M, Meguair's and Presta. Then Menzerna PowerGloss came around and that was a huge improvement. I still have a 1/2 a liter of PG, but I think it is terrible now compared to the newer compounds.
 
Agreed mike, imagine giving giving da Vinci a kids 8 color water color set. Although he might paint to best of his abilities, none would know him as the artist today.

The best mechanic in the world with a 20 piece tool kit from the dollar store? If you had a lift, air compressor and proper tools you would do a better job yourself with a couple of you tube videos.

The “tools” are absolutely more important. Now when you have access to all same tools then the “person/knowledge/experience come into play.

Give Mike some new finish, a sears bonnet polisher and some otc polish or someone less “polished” with a Rupes, boss compounds and polished, clay, iron x, and black fire ceramic coating.... who’s car looks better and more protected?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mike Phillips said:
The thing about technique is if a person is using inferior abrasive technology all the technique in the world won't change the abrasive technology and make it good.

I've been answering questions in the forum world as long and in most cases longer than most. I can't count how many times someone has joined the forum seeking help because they're not getting good results.

What I normally ask them is a series of questions and ar some point as them what they are using and if it's a brand not known for producing great results then the first thing they need to do is change products.

Technique is important but the process starts at the surface and you can't assume every product is as high of quality as you might use. The question isn't about you... it's "generally speaking".

:)
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I think I get it now.

If you have the correct polish/compound the other choices can be tweaked. Technique will not make M105 finish the same as M205.
This thread just eats at me because I equate technique with knowledge and experience.

I suppose compounds these days can make bad technique shine.
 
I think that it's not so black and white with abrasive technology vs technique. Most is which person who does the polishing. It's on what person and their experience before they polish. If Mike Phillips would take in a random person with no experience at all. And don't explain how he or she would do. But they are on their own. And read only the product description of the tools and products they have to chose from. They have great abrasive technology at hand and many polishers and pads to chose from.

Then you take in a good detailer with the eye for polishing great results. Same options and then an older compound and polish with not so good abrasive technology.

I don't think it's many that will get better results than the experienced detailer. This is like someone does it own research and buy tools and products by reading about them. Most will be leaning at the cheaper alternatives of products. And the chance is very big that they buy a compound and polish with not so good abrasive technology. The experienced detailer know about doing the test spot. They know what tool and if compound or polish is going to be needed on the paint they are trying to correct. The detailer will be faster to dial in what he would use for this test. Now both would not get any amazing results as they are hindered from as the random person would be no assist in what to use and the detailer by not so good abrasive technology.

Take the same situation but give the detailer access to the great abrasive technology. You know who to bet on. Know ad Mike Phillips in to assist the non experienced person with knowledge and how he will do and help with tuning the persons technique. Now you have both the person and the detailer to be doing some great results. The experienced detailer may do it in a shorter time.

What my point is that with bad technique and how great the abrasive technology and tools are. It's more how talented the unexperienced is at snapping up how polishing works. But with education and help at getting a good technique it goes quite fast to getting good results from polishing and even awesome results with a great teacher.

Some things is hard to stand to each other and rate the most important. As if you take one of these out with a bad or wrong result. It won't be any good results from it. In the case of polishing you need both good abrasive technology and a good technique to get god results. If bad or wrong abrasive technology for the paint you are polishing. You will not get good results even with good technique. With bad or wrong technique you will also not getting any good results how good of abrasive technology you have at hand. And I have not even takeing the other options in the poll to consideration. As you would do the polishing with only a rotary polisher. Or you have a very finicky sticky paint. Even the quality of the pad if you use a bad quality pads that are prone to micro marring.

All is important to have a good quality on the products and how you use them and what you are useing them on. To be able to get good results from polishing. Then it's also important which talent the person have. To see what happens and understand what to do to make the most out of the products and tools.

Okay I stop now LOL. Just some thoughts about polishing paint. And that's a process that goes hand in hand to get great results when polishing.
 
SWETM said:
I think that it's not so black and white with abrasive technology vs technique. Most is which person who does the polishing. It's on what person and their experience before they polish. If Mike Phillips would take in a random person with no experience at all. And don't explain how he or she would do. But they are on their own. And read only the product description of the tools and products they have to chose from. They have great abrasive technology at hand and many polishers and pads to chose from.

Then you take in a good detailer with the eye for polishing great results. Same options and then an older compound and polish with not so good abrasive technology.

I don't think it's many that will get better results than the experienced detailer. This is like someone does it own research and buy tools and products by reading about them. Most will be leaning at the cheaper alternatives of products. And the chance is very big that they buy a compound and polish with not so good abrasive technology. The experienced detailer know about doing the test spot. They know what tool and if compound or polish is going to be needed on the paint they are trying to correct. The detailer will be faster to dial in what he would use for this test. Now both would not get any amazing results as they are hindered from as the random person would be no assist in what to use and the detailer by not so good abrasive technology.

Take the same situation but give the detailer access to the great abrasive technology. You know who to bet on. Know ad Mike Phillips in to assist the non experienced person with knowledge and how he will do and help with tuning the persons technique. Now you have both the person and the detailer to be doing some great results. The experienced detailer may do it in a shorter time.

What my point is that with bad technique and how great the abrasive technology and tools are. It's more how talented the unexperienced is at snapping up how polishing works. But with education and help at getting a good technique it goes quite fast to getting good results from polishing and even awesome results with a great teacher.

Some things is hard to stand to each other and rate the most important. As if you take one of these out with a bad or wrong result. It won't be any good results from it. In the case of polishing you need both good abrasive technology and a good technique to get god results. If bad or wrong abrasive technology for the paint you are polishing. You will not get good results even with good technique. With bad or wrong technique you will also not getting any good results how good of abrasive technology you have at hand. And I have not even takeing the other options in the poll to consideration. As you would do the polishing with only a rotary polisher. Or you have a very finicky sticky paint. Even the quality of the pad if you use a bad quality pads that are prone to micro marring.

All is important to have a good quality on the products and how you use them and what you are useing them on. To be able to get good results from polishing. Then it's also important which talent the person have. To see what happens and understand what to do to make the most out of the products and tools.

Okay I stop now LOL. Just some thoughts about polishing paint. And that's a process that goes hand in hand to get great results when polishing.
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The question implies all things being equal. If you are going to throw out all these different scenarios then there can be no 1 answer.
 
fightnews said:
The question implies all things being equal. If you are going to throw out all these different scenarios then there can be no 1 answer.
Click to expand...

And that's what I also wanted to point out. Even with great abrasive technology that seems to be the 1 answer.

If you don't have the technique you will not be getting any good results when polishing.

If you have a polisher that is not good you will not have any good results.

If you don't have a good polishing pad you will be not get a good result.

If you have a paint that is off low quality and can not be finished. Yeah there is those repaints.

If you don't have a good abrasive technology you will not get any good results.

If all is equal as good you will have good results. So my answer is that all is as important factor to get good results. Since if 1 factor is not good you will have not have good results. Without tune it to a good technique or change to a good product. Take one out and it fails without changing it.
 
spazzz said:
I think I get it now.

If you have the correct polish/compound the other choices can be tweaked. Technique will not make M105 finish the same as M205.
Click to expand...


Um... no.

Abrasive technology is the actual "abrasives" in a bottle of products. Some work, some don't. There is no grey area.

All the technique in the world won't make bad abrasives work good. It's really that simple. My guess is most people only know what they know, this means they've only used a few products in their lives and if what they use works it can be easy for them to think that all products work good or great. My knowledge base is much larger and spans a lot more time and I'm telling you - when it comes to abrasive technology, it either works or it doesn't there is no grey area and no amount of "technique" will make bad rocks in the bottle work good.


:)
 
krettas said:
Learned from you a long time ago, technique.
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Of course technique is important and vital. Now days you can learn technique from a single YouTube video as long as the person talking and running the buffer knows what they are doing and can adequately "speak" to explain what to do.

But it ALL starts with what is TOUCHING the paint and technique does not touch the paint.


A few weeks ago I perfected a black demo hood, one that I have painted by the same painter since moving to Florida 10 years ago. The same type of paint that I use to test all kinds of compounds, polishes and cleaner/waxes for other companies and internally, and I'm pretty good at this type of stuff.

Look at the pictures. No amount of technique is EVER going to make the two products I used "work".


Pictures of Micro-Marring - DA Haze - Tick Marks - Compounds - Polishes - AIOs - Clearcoat Paints



:)
 
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