Your reason for being pro or anti fillers...discuss

As to the original question - I think it depends:

#1 - on a Daily Driven Commuter Car - this is a perfect way hide the imperfections that are completely unavoidable in a quick fashion - but it also requires that the car gets regular attention and reapplication (Or at least acknowledgement that it will look good for some time and then deteriorate)

#2 - On a true Show Car - where looks are most important - still may be a good option if the car has damaged paint or needs a quick cleanup in non optimal time - but my opinion is this is where it would be better to actually correct the issue vs. hiding it:props:

But as noted if it's acceptable to the car owner, and the car looks good - doesn't matter that it's a short term solution vs. an actual fix :buffing:Im the MAN
 
Personally I have never had a filler work. Every time I have used something with fillers it looked the same to me after. Maybe I am using them wrong?
 
OCD Detailing said:
Personally I have never had a filler work. Every time I have used something with fillers it looked the same to me after. Maybe I am using them wrong?
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Not too long before my hood was wetsanded and polished out, I was able to achieve what appears to be complete perfection on the left side of my Cadillacs' hood with 5 applications of Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze using my DA on a LC Blue Finessing Pad.

This is just the #7 on clear coat and nothing else

View attachment 39407

Not too bad for some fillers eh?😉

View attachment 39408
 
Some products have DURABLE fillers that won't wash off after the first wash. As long as you're aware which polishes these are, have at it.

Other polishes that fill from the oils that can be easily removed from an IPA or solvent wipe down, if you don't remove them prior to LSP, they'll become visible very quickly. If you don't care and want to send the car off looking shinier than it really is, have at it.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Not too long before my hood was wetsanded and polished out, I was able to achieve what appears to be complete near perfection on the left side of my Cadillacs' hood with 5 applications of Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze using my DA on a LC Blue Finessing Pad.

This is just the #7 on clear coat and nothing else

View attachment 39407

Not too bad for some fillers eh?

View attachment 39408
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That does look better. However, with 5 applications of a glaze, I feel that is quite counter productive. Especially when I can achieve *near perfection with a nice polish and top that with a sealant or coating to preserve it.

I sometimes do use a one coat glaze, poorboys, blacklight, ect. If I'm doing a short term quickie. I still feel that's a waste of time.
 
MikeC78 said:
That does look better. However, with 5 applications of a glaze, I feel that is quite counter productive. Especially when I can achieve *near perfection with a nice polish and top that with a sealant or coating to preserve it.

I sometimes do use a one coat glaze, poorboys, blacklight, ect. If I'm doing a short term quickie. I still feel that's a waste of time.
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Yes I agree, however that paint was beyond a simple compound and polish fix. [I tried that] And I wasn't the 1 who ended up sanding the hood, nor did I own a compressor and sander.

So I was just killing time and having fun with the stuff I had on hand at the time:)
 
I don't see why anyone would care about fillers on a show car or daily driver. If shinyness is what you want fillers can help you get there.

I know it doesn't last long, but I love the way 3m imperial hand glaze looks on paint. Before I bought a da I ised to use it and couldn't complain about its looks at all.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Have you read this article?


High quality production detailing by Mike Phillips



And this article?


A few tips on starting a part-time detailing business
Match your services to your customer



:xyxthumbs:
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I have read the starting a business thread several times, but I believe that's the first time I've read about polishing the Tahoe in 4 hours. That's quite a rhythm to have. I definitely took something away from that thread.

Once I get a couple cars out of my shop that have been using me for storage, I'm going to move stuff around so I can be more efficient.

A lot of my momentum gets lost about halfway through a polish. I either get interrupted by customers from my other business or I have to walk back into my office to get more product/tools. I can't leave anything valuable out due to theft issues in the past.

Matching my services is one I'm getting better at. Only took a year for me to finally let some things go but still over deliver.
I figured I can do more production stuff to fill in the gaps while I build up more tools, and then I can slowly cherry pick.
 
IMO, glaze with fillers is the "Kardashian" of the detail business. All show, no go. Fake. It has its place, usually left on my shelf.

Reason why most body shops love glaze. Lazy buff job and glaze to look good prior to customer pick-up.
 
Let me answer the question with reference to my own vehicle. I do not want any fillers...i want perfectly flat and super glossy paint on my car. I also don't use them (or at least leave them in) for customers. I have customers who either want their paint perfect or those who don't care or pay for correction. The former gets a 2-3 step correction then an LSP. For the latter i don't attempt to fill in any scratches. They either don't see them or do but don't care so i do a quick AIO or if they request, a simple wash and wax.
 
Puckman said:
Let me answer the question with reference to my own vehicle. I do not want any fillers...i want perfectly flat and super glossy paint on my car. I also don't use them (or at least leave them in) for customers. I have customers who either want their paint perfect or those who don't care or pay for correction. The former gets a 2-3 step correction then an LSP. For the latter i don't attempt to fill in any scratches. They either don't see them or do but don't care so i do a quick AIO or if they request, a simple wash and wax.
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What about if you ran into a panel on your car that you could only achieve 90% correction on, no matter what you tried.. That last 10% proved to be impossible. But you realized a glaze actually worked to achieve that last 10%. Would you use it then?
 
If you can only achieve 90% correction, I don't believe a glaze is gonna be your answer.
 
@MikeC78. You're wrong, actually.^

I say that because on my own car there's a medley of different paint everywhere.. The whole drivers side is a re paint from an accident that happened prior to me owning the car, the hood and right fender I picked from the junkjard and are now restored, the passenger side doors and rear quarter panel are the original paint and swirl free.. The trunklid is original and has the best looking paint on the whole car, but I cannot get that last 10% corrected no matter what.

View attachment 39410

I've tried Ultimate Compound, M105, D300 w/Microfiber cutting pads and Xtra Cut Microfiber pads, I even let AGOatemywallet have at it @TNOG w/M100 and the MT300 turned all the way up to 7500 OPM on a foam cutting pad and it still couldn't correct that last 10%. I knew it wouldn't because I had already tried a bunch of times. Lol.

Even he concluded, "man you got some hard ass paint"!

Back when I did that bit on my hood, I also did half my trunk with exceptional results that actually lasted a whole lot longer than the hood after I sealed it. I might just try that again because it looked perfect.

It may not be permanent, but last time I did it it lasted a good long time on my trunklid. I know this because I could see the difference between the tapeline in the middle of my trunk.

Btw it's not swirls that remain on the paint, it's more like random faint rids that appear impossible to get to. It's hard to explain the remaining defects.
 
Good question, Eldo. I have finely wetsanded some of the more trying scratches that are deep but yet still fixable. I will admit to having a few RIDS here and there but have never filled them in with any product. The scars of a DD i can live with...it's an '07 anyway...and i take care of any super fine scratches i end up putting in my paint accidently.

Very valid question, though, and i can appreciate the perspective of those who do use fillers for maybe that purpose.

Oh, and i have Dr. Colorchip practicing on my paint in maybe 12-14 spots too!
 
I'm glad you're getting good results filling. Just remember it's a temporary fix. Figure out what you're doing wrong correcting, pads, speed, Polish, etc. might be a simple long lasting fix.
 
Thanks. And to be honest I don't really want to go any further trying to cut into the paint. I've already done countless passes with aggressive compounds and who knows how much clearcoat is even left on there.. I feel lucky it looks as good as it does today and don't want to risk it. I don't think it's worth the risk at this point.
 
@Puckman. Right on. Any pictures of your car? I'm interested to see it👍🏽
 
And that may be a perfect application of fillers and then sealed or coated i.e. the case of thin clearcoat. If that was my case i would most likely opt to fill and seal or coat over vs. risking burn through.

Good discussion...

Eldo, wish i knew how to get them online here and off my stoopid iPad!
 
My only issue with fillers like glazes is that they don't last.

To me it doesn't matter how you get the result, if applying a LSP that will give the look of a paint that was fully corrected without having to spend 16 hours doing it, then GOOD!

For daily drivers it's unreasonable to think the paint will stay in good condition for any amount of time. So if you can come in once or twice a year, apply a product that will protect and at the same time make the paint look new, I see nothing wrong with that.

I think Essence is gonna be a game changer just like coatings have been in the past few years.

Starting next year I plan to push that product a lot because all the cars I do are daily drivers and I think this is the perfect product for them.
 
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