The backbone to any full detail

SpecC · 06-29-2008, 07:40 AM

Polishing. Many times, people try to cut corners with fillers and special waxes, but this is truly the reason detailing requires skill. It's common sense to the detailers, but man this picture sure captures why a good polish is the most important part.

picus · 06-29-2008, 08:33 AM

Couldn't agree more.

sweetc6 · 06-29-2008, 10:20 AM

geat job SpecC

SpecC · 06-29-2008, 10:24 AM

oh let me clarify that this isn't my picture lol. i found it somewhere else and thought it did the best job of showing a good polish versus an unpolished side

sweetc6 · 06-29-2008, 10:31 AM

looks great anyways

TRICKE90 · 06-29-2008, 05:42 PM

Do you know if they used a rotary or an orbital, and or what polish?

328i · 06-29-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRICKE90

Do you know if they used a rotary or an orbital, and or what polish?

You can see a makita rotary in the reflection. Looking at those pics I'm also 99% sure it had to have been done with more than one polish/pad combination.

FMINUS · 06-29-2008, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRICKE90

Do you know if they used a rotary or an orbital, and or what polish?

farecla G4
Menz PO203
Menz PO85RD

choopy · 06-29-2008, 09:02 PM

Well, that was easy!

SES_D · 06-29-2008, 09:17 PM

picus · 06-29-2008, 10:37 PM

Tape line pics rule.

arabbmw · 06-30-2008, 12:32 AM

from the autopia thread huh?

if its not, there is a bunch of insane before and after pics in a recent thread there. Really shows off the art of detailing and paint correction.

Detailed Image · 07-01-2008, 09:02 AM

Good post SpecC. Goes to show how important properly preparing a vehicle is before topping it with your choice of sealant and/or wax.

George

Neurorad · 07-02-2008, 11:03 AM

One of the things that's never addressed in polish 'how-to' write-ups is taping. What to tape, what not to tape?

haper · 07-02-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neurorad

One of the things that's never addressed in polish 'how-to' write-ups is taping. What to tape, what not to tape?

basically, tape anything you don't want wax to get on. at a minimum you'll want to tape off the black trim, all lights, emblems and grills. i usually don't bother taping seams.

polish has a tendency to gather near tape, so when removing the tape have a MF towel handy to remove any left over polish.

it will take a bit of time to download but the quality is great:
http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/...tyle-4131.html

ontopofm · 07-02-2008, 05:14 PM

can i get the tape at home depot and what type?

Rising · 07-02-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ontopofm

can i get the tape at home depot and what type?

i believe it is just 3M painter tape. you can pretty much get it at any hardware store.

HPIA4v2 · 07-02-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rising

i believe it is just 3M painter tape. you can pretty much get it at any hardware store.

I'd like to get some seasoned or pro opinions on this tape issue.
I used beige color home-depot, oh boy was that a mistake. Polish softened the glue and it peeled right off. Cleaningthe glue of the paint is just too much extra works.
I have blue masking tape to try next time, BTW the local auto-paint sells green masking tape (this looks similar to www.detailersdomain.com).
Mind you they are all Scotch-3M so I thought I was good to go.

Thanks in advance.

SpecC · 07-02-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPIA4v2

I'd like to get some seasoned or pro opinions on this tape issue.
I used beige color home-depot, oh boy was that a mistake. Polish softened the glue and it peeled right off. Cleaningthe glue of the paint is just too much extra works.
I have blue masking tape to try next time, BTW the local auto-paint sells green masking tape (this looks similar to www.detailersdomain.com).
Mind you they are all Scotch-3M so I thought I was good to go.

Thanks in advance.

it is 3M painter's tape. If you look at the pictures of detailed cars, they are all blue tape.

ages944 · 07-02-2008, 11:48 PM

Gotta love the results of a rotary, but seriously, how many times can you use a rotary on a car before the clearcoat starts getting too thin? It's really only a tool you can use every couple of years, not regularly, no?

SpecC · 07-02-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ages944

Gotta love the results of a rotary, but seriously, how many times can you use a rotary on a car before the clearcoat starts getting too thin? It's really only a tool you can use every couple of years, not regularly, no?

Take a look at this thread on Autopia.

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-det...shock-you.html

Conclusion : PC removes more clear coat because it takes more to level the paint. As you polish with the PC. it keeps trying to level the swirls with your paint.

Lassaxi · 07-03-2008, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ages944

Gotta love the results of a rotary, but seriously, how many times can you use a rotary on a car before the clearcoat starts getting too thin? It's really only a tool you can use every couple of years, not regularly, no?

That's the question that I've been thinking about. I mean, let's say you want to keep your car for 7-10 years. It seems like polishing even just twice a year for 7-10 years would remove an awful lot of clear coat.

06-29-2008, 07:40 AM	#1
SpecC Completely obsessed with detailing 299 Rep 15,442 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i, white Scion tC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco and Davis iTrader: (4)	The backbone to any full detail Polishing. Many times, people try to cut corners with fillers and special waxes, but this is truly the reason detailing requires skill. It's common sense to the detailers, but man this picture sure captures why a good polish is the most important part. Attached Images
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06-29-2008, 08:33 AM	#2
picus Brigadier General 124 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	Couldn't agree more.
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06-29-2008, 10:20 AM	#3
sweetc6 Private First Class 12 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Elora iTrader: (0)	geat job SpecC
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06-29-2008, 10:24 AM	#4
SpecC Completely obsessed with detailing 299 Rep 15,442 Posts Drives: E90 SG 330i, white Scion tC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Francisco and Davis iTrader: (4)	oh let me clarify that this isn't my picture lol. i found it somewhere else and thought it did the best job of showing a good polish versus an unpolished side
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06-29-2008, 10:31 AM	#5
sweetc6 Private First Class 12 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Elora iTrader: (0)	looks great anyways
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06-29-2008, 05:42 PM	#6
TRICKE90 Private First Class 3 Rep 182 Posts Drives: 2008 335i coupe, montego blue, Join Date: May 2006 Location: carson city,nv iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e92 335i coupe [0.00] 2008 335i coupe [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	Do you know if they used a rotary or an orbital, and or what polish?
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06-29-2008, 09:02 PM	#9
choopy Juicy Booty NomNoMnom 49 Rep 1,204 Posts Drives: 04 M3 Vert/2005 M3 Competition Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lemont, IL iTrader: (0)	Well, that was easy! __________________ 19" Monarch 410 Staggered \|\| Matte Black Grill \|\| 4" Exhaust Tips \|\| Dual Intake \|\| GP Tunders 7500K \|\| Money Tints \|\| JB2 \|\|Custom Start Button \|\| Updated!
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06-29-2008, 09:17 PM	#10
SES_D pewpew 479 Rep 21,165 Posts Drives: F10 535i Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (26)
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06-29-2008, 10:37 PM	#11
picus Brigadier General 124 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	Tape line pics rule.
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06-30-2008, 12:32 AM	#12
arabbmw Lieutenant 16 Rep 548 Posts Drives: 335i coupe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: G hills iTrader: (2)	from the autopia thread huh? if its not, there is a bunch of insane before and after pics in a recent thread there. Really shows off the art of detailing and paint correction.
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07-01-2008, 09:02 AM	#13
Detailed Image 360 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: Detailed by Detailed Image Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albany, NY iTrader: (5)	Good post SpecC. Goes to show how important properly preparing a vehicle is before topping it with your choice of sealant and/or wax. George
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07-02-2008, 11:03 AM	#14
Neurorad Major 87 Rep 1,224 Posts Drives: 2017 340xi Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Location, Location iTrader: (0)	One of the things that's never addressed in polish 'how-to' write-ups is taping. What to tape, what not to tape?
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07-02-2008, 05:14 PM	#16
ontopofm Lieutenant Colonel 76 Rep 1,548 Posts Drives: stock Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	can i get the tape at home depot and what type?
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07-02-2008, 11:48 PM	#20
ages944 Captain 98 Rep 990 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago 'burbs iTrader: (0)	Gotta love the results of a rotary, but seriously, how many times can you use a rotary on a car before the clearcoat starts getting too thin? It's really only a tool you can use every couple of years, not regularly, no? __________________ BMW : Sine qua non Mods: Blacklines \| Rear Seat Power Outlets \| Rear Fog Lights \| Ashtray Garage Door Opener
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