Quote:
Originally Posted by psnt1ol
If your paint is flawless then using a proper washing technique and applying a good LSP (wax/sealant/coating) every so often is all you need. Unfortunately, not many paint are flawless. The trick is to correct all the defects once.... then maintain it going forward. Easy said than done but it is possible.
As far as removing the clear....it really depends on what you want to have done.
The paint thickness of our cars generally around 150 - 200 microns. Our clear coat is approximately a third of that. That is about as thick as a post it note (75 microns). Once its gone...it is gone. You are in the danger zone when your paint reach below 100 microns or 4 mm. This is why one should always seek the least aggressive method to get the job done.
Polishing takes very little off the clear but compounding or sanding will. The amount of clear to be remove is proportional to the severity of the defects on the car. Fine swirls or water spots are different than deep swirls or scratches so you can't treat both of them with the same approach.
A good detailer will measure the paint before and after the work. A good detailer will have more than one tool (Rotary) at his disposal. A dual action polisher like the CG or PC is very common among some detailers as well as some hard core enthusiasts. A high end detailer will most likely have a force-rotation DA like the Flex 3401 or the Rupes DA in their bag in addition to the rotary. Some high end shops may even use air tools.
Don't be too concern on the work. Be more concern on who is actually doing the work. Like everything else in life....ask questions before you turn your car over. You generally will be better serve if you go to an independent guy rather than a high volume shop IMO but then.....I am bias.
Good Luck.
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+1
Great post. The key line is: "Don't be too concern on the work. Be more concern on who is actually doing the work."
A good detailer will take off the minimal amount of clearcoat (which won't be much if your paint is in good shape) and your car will look great. A bad detailer can take off too much clearcoat and you won't know it for years.