Ready to Paint Correct my Tesla

soapboxpreacher

soapboxpreacher

New member
Feb 9, 2014
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Ok, so I have washed and clayed, now I am ready to correct. Paint is not very bad but needs to get some of the very fine spider web swirls, they are hard to see but they are there. Once again, very faint. I have some BF One-Step and a Griots DA polisher to work with. My question is what pads (cut weight) and what settings for the Griot should I do? Let me know. If I missed something let me know. More detail the better. This is my buffer kit: Griot's Garage 5.5 inch FLAT Pad Complete Kit
 
Try white pads first, if they’re not cutting enough go to orange. Hopefully you bought more pads, 2 of each color is not even close to enough pads to do a whole car.
Speed 4.5 to 5 on the G9 should be plenty to keep pad rotation without excess heat.
 
Set your polisher to speed 4.5 and do a test spot with the Blue pad applying medium pressure, nothing hard, just medium arm speed and smooth pressure easing along. If that removes the swirls and leaves the paint to your satisfaction then continue as long as you can with the 2 blue pads.

If you find that the blue pads didn’t quite remove the swirls to your satisfaction try the white pads.. Repeat the steps until you’re done with the car. Most likely you’ll find yourself using up at least 4 pads [blue & white]
 
BSoares said:
Hopefully you bought more pads, 2 of each color is not even close to enough pads to do a whole car.......
Click to expand...

^^This^^

Plan on at least 1 pad per panel. Sometimes 2 per panel if it very large (like a hood).
 
Ive done a 12 Model S and an 18 Model 3. S was tan 3 was black both with similar sounding swirls. I also used my GG6 and white wouldnt touch either one of them, I ended up using orange and my polish of choice was M205. I would bet a one step polish would for sure take orange but try the white first as suggested.
 
I am not familiar with Tesla paint. Is it generally hard or soft? Either way, plan on at least 1 pad per panel.
 
I'll chime in,

Here's what's in your kit,

Kit includes:
  • Griot’s Garage G9 Random Orbital Polisher
  • Griots Garage 5 Inch Vented Orbital Backing Plate
  • 2 qty. Buff and Shine Orange Foam Medium Cutting Pad - 5.5 Inch
  • 2 qty. Buff and Shine White Foam Polishing Pad - 5.5 Inch
  • 2 qty. Buff and Shine Blue Light Foam Polishing Pad - 5.5 Inch
  • Buff and Shine Red Foam Ultra Finishing Pad - 5.5 Inch
  • 3 qty. Forrest Green Edgeless Microfiber Polishing Cloths, 16 x 16 inches


I'm actually impressed with this kit, someone at Autogeek must be reading my recommendations? I always recommend people to get the 5" backing plate as it not only fits modern body panels better it enables you to take better advantage of the power provided by the G9, (it has a lot of power), AND gets you investing your PAD DOLLARS in the right direction.


Normally you do a Test Spot using the least aggressive process. This would mean using the blue pads with the BF One Step. The red pads might work if the paint is stupid soft but I don't think the paint on Tesla's is that soft.

My guess is it will take the white pads and possibly the orange pads.

So do some testing with the blue pads first and then inspect your results, this will guide you as to how to proceed.

And I think you'll be good on speed 5 - this tool really has some power for a free spinning random orbital polisher.


:)
 
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