Question about compounding/polishing under areas that have been taped off

[Mantilgh]

Just a question I have had in my head and can't remember reading an answer anywhere.

What is the process for removing defects that remain under taped off areas like raised body lines?

Does the tape stay on until after you have finished polishing, then remove tape, and then use the same polishing machine/polish/pad that you just used and gently go over these areas?

Or, with pad off the machine or microfiber applicator and by hand?

Or, does the tape come off after you have compounded, then the same as above with pad or machine? Then not tape for the polish step, or re-tape for polishing step.

Do you tape if you are only doing light correction, or AIO?

 

[Don M]

Just a question I have had in my head and can't remember reading an answer anywhere.

What is the process for removing defects that remain under taped off areas like raised body lines?

Does the tape stay on until after you have finished polishing, then remove tape, and then use the same polishing machine/polish/pad that you just used and gently go over these areas?


Or, with pad off the machine or microfiber applicator and by hand?

Or, does the tape come off after you have compounded, then the same as above with pad or machine? Then not tape for the polish step, or re-tape for polishing step.

Do you tape if you are only doing light correction, or AIO?

The SAFEST way to deal with body lines is to leave the tape on them until the majority of the heavy compounding/polishing is done, then remove the tape and lightly polish those areas. It may not come out as perfect as the flat panels, but you won't burn them either.


If you are only doing a light correction/AIO then I personally wouldn't tape them UNLESS you know or have reason to suspect the areas to be super thin and close to breaking through and in those cases, I would only use a polish like Meg's #7 to "polish" the paint and a non-abrasive wax/sealant.

 

[Mantilgh]

Thank you for the info Don. Sounds reasonable to me, was just unsure of they where normally handled.