Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
Remove swirls scratches by machine in Vinyl Stripes Decals Graphics Corvette
Machine polishing vinyl graphics to remove swirls and scratches
The story...
This 2015 ZO6 Corvette just got out of the body shop after having the entire passenger side re-painted. As a courtesy to the owner, the body shop washed the car.
Now all the graphics on the hood have swirls, scratches and marring. IN the vinyl. Below I'll show how I removed the swirls. scratches and marring.
First I'll photo-document the damage.
Nice.
rops:
Machine polishing vinyl decals
To do this work I used the FLEX PiXie with a FLEX green 3.5 foam polishing pad and Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover.
The Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover is a MEDIUM cut polish. It's also expensive BUT - it's uses great abrasive technology. Otherwise I couldn't do this type of work on such a DELICATE material.
Love these towels
Next I wipe off the polish residue using a Forrest Green Edgeless Microfiber Towel.
Just look at them thar results!
Next I use the Pinnacle Prep Spray to CHEMICALLY STRIP THE SURFACE and after that I applied the Pinnacle Black Label Matte Coating. I applied this to the decals and also the paint. Not sure if it will work on the paint but I think it will be fine.
Here's the final results....
Big Picture
Instead of polishing swirls and scratches out of vinyl graphics it would be much smarter to NOT put them in - in the first place. But it is what it is. Just seems body shops have a history of putting swirls and scratches back into the cars they work on. This really a simple "training" issue. Helps to have clean wash mitts, clean buckets, quality car wash soap, clean drying towels. But I've called on a lot of body shops in my life for training purposes and most don't have these basic essentials so you get what you get.
The good news...
The good news is - if something like this happens to you and your car you can fix it. You'll need GREAT abrasive technology. I used a FLEX micro-tool but you could do this type of polishing with a small pad on just about any tool, it's just easier due to the complex type of work this is to actually have a micro-tool.
Hope this helps others into the future....
On Autogeek.com
FLEX PXE 80 $399.99
Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover $49.99
Forrest Green Edgeless Towels - 12 pack $19.99
Pinnacle Black Label Ceramic Matte Coating $99.99
FLEX Foam Pads Mixed sizes and prices
Machine polishing vinyl graphics to remove swirls and scratches
The story...
This 2015 ZO6 Corvette just got out of the body shop after having the entire passenger side re-painted. As a courtesy to the owner, the body shop washed the car.
Now all the graphics on the hood have swirls, scratches and marring. IN the vinyl. Below I'll show how I removed the swirls. scratches and marring.
First I'll photo-document the damage.
Nice.
rops:
Machine polishing vinyl decals
To do this work I used the FLEX PiXie with a FLEX green 3.5 foam polishing pad and Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover.
The Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover is a MEDIUM cut polish. It's also expensive BUT - it's uses great abrasive technology. Otherwise I couldn't do this type of work on such a DELICATE material.
Love these towels
Next I wipe off the polish residue using a Forrest Green Edgeless Microfiber Towel.
Just look at them thar results!
Next I use the Pinnacle Prep Spray to CHEMICALLY STRIP THE SURFACE and after that I applied the Pinnacle Black Label Matte Coating. I applied this to the decals and also the paint. Not sure if it will work on the paint but I think it will be fine.
Here's the final results....
Big Picture
Instead of polishing swirls and scratches out of vinyl graphics it would be much smarter to NOT put them in - in the first place. But it is what it is. Just seems body shops have a history of putting swirls and scratches back into the cars they work on. This really a simple "training" issue. Helps to have clean wash mitts, clean buckets, quality car wash soap, clean drying towels. But I've called on a lot of body shops in my life for training purposes and most don't have these basic essentials so you get what you get.
The good news...
The good news is - if something like this happens to you and your car you can fix it. You'll need GREAT abrasive technology. I used a FLEX micro-tool but you could do this type of polishing with a small pad on just about any tool, it's just easier due to the complex type of work this is to actually have a micro-tool.
Hope this helps others into the future....
On Autogeek.com
FLEX PXE 80 $399.99
Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover $49.99
Forrest Green Edgeless Towels - 12 pack $19.99
Pinnacle Black Label Ceramic Matte Coating $99.99
FLEX Foam Pads Mixed sizes and prices
