A warning on "paint wrinkle"!!!

This thread was created to warn others detailers, novice, experienced, and even the pros.



So I was working on a new Honda Element last Sunday, only very minor correction needed. The plan of attack was to use M205 via the Flex and a polishing pad. There was however a few RIDS that needed M105 and the rotary. The front of the car also had some sort of white over spray on it and since I had my rotary out I thought I?d try and remove what the clay had not. I was running my Makita on a speed of 2 with M105 and a PFW pad. I applied medium pressure and with in seconds the paint wrinkled!!! :scared:

Yes, even someone with 20 years experience running a rotary can mess up now and then?just sucks it happened to me.:(

I?m really kicking myself in the butt over this one because I had seen the warnings in threads before about this so called ?paint wrinkle?, which can occur when polishing plastic bumpers with a rotary buffer. I honestly didn?t give it too much thought since I have been doing this for so long and have never had it happen to me before.

In talking with others it seems that the flex agent added to the paint for plastic pieces, makes them much more susceptible to paint wrinkle. I?d more inclined to say it?s more of a problem on the newer cars, since I?ve never had this happen before, but I really can?t say for sure?paint really has been changing a lot over the years as the EPA clamps down on auto manufacturers.



For those who are wondering, I dropped the vehicle off this morning to have the bumper cover repainted, and the owner should have it back sometime tomorrow. My father works for one of the elite body shops in the twin cities, so the car will definitely be in good hands.;)

I?d also like to say that the owner has been very understanding with this whole deal, which definitely makes things a little easier on me. I also feel better knowing I haven?t lost his business and that he still wants me to do his wife?s car and has also referred me to some others.

Pic of the paint wrinkle?
IMG_1266.jpg
 
Ouch! I have nightmares polishing plastic bumpers. "Wrinkled" few of them before. Post trauma -I only use a DA on plastic bumpers.

BTW, what cause(s) these parts to wrinkle? Pressure and/or friction from the Rotary's circular movement?
 
Chad, Thanks for posting this great info and sorry to hear of your misfortune.

We can all learn something from this.
 
When I first saw the title I was thinking of Mr Wrinkled :out: But after I saw
what happen :scared: It's a reminder that this can happen to anyone of us. Sorry to hear about this Chad, glad to hear the customer was ok with it and will he/she will continue to be a customer.:clap:
 
Ouch! I have nightmares polishing plastic bumpers. "Wrinkled" few of them before. Post trauma -I only use a DA on plastic bumpers.

BTW, what cause(s) these parts to wrinkle? Pressure and/or friction from the Rotary's circular movement?

I believe it's a combo of things...

The flexing agent which is added to paint and the plastic being unable to disperse heat like metal panels do. That added with the twisting action (friction) of the polisher is all it takes.

I think being on the edge like it was caused it to generate more heat too. It didn't feel hot or even very warm to the touch though...

There is a thread on Autopia where a user did even more damage to a new BMW with a PC, Blue LC, and PO85RD!!!


Rasky
 
Wow, sorry to here about it. Thats great you have a connection in the autpbody world and are doing the right thing by it! :cornut: You will be amazed how other people will try to cover it or pass it off as being there, or whatever...

Being on the edge was the major issue. Running a buffer on an edge removes material extremely fast and creates tremendous heat build up.

Not sure with factory paint but with refinished paint Flex adents are usually only added to the clear and not in the actual color(base). Factory and refinishing used to have adheasion problems too, but they got that pretty much licked now...
 
I think being on the edge like it was caused it to generate more heat too. It didn't feel hot or even very warm to the touch though...


Rasky

The L/E was the culprit........


I did the same thing to a my buddies black CTS. I was working 85 RD with mild pad over the hood section using a 9227 on 2 with no problems. As soon as I worked the lower trim area and hit a leading edge, bam. Two seconds is all it took. I think the paint is thinner on the edges......
 
I did the same on a 6 series BMW a few months back :).

Customer wasnt too angry. So I took it to the best body shop in the area and got it done right.

,Daniel
 
I think the paint is thinner on the edges......

No question about it. I've learned to be extremely careful when polishing edges of fenders, bumpers, etc. Anything that looks like a crease just doesn't have as much paint on it. During the painting process, the paint is pulled away from the edge and onto the flat area by gravity.

Here's a picture of the fender crease on a '66 Corvette. I didn't get near it with the polisher.

You can see how the primer is showing through.

IMG_2856.jpg
 
Am I wrong in thinking we are discussing two seperate problems here ? Machine correction with a rotary has always had a chance of a problem with thin paint and or burning thru , especially with a beginner like myself or a pro in a hurry.As a lot of people mask off edges,high points etc to add as much protection as possible. But the problem the OP mentions seems to come up in a lot of forums about paint wrinkling on plastic bumpers and panels. Some posters have said this happened before any heat was built up and places other then the edges. Alot of detailers blame the flex agent added to some of the new paints being used by the manufactures.I have no idea if this is based on facts or their opinion. I have seen a few posters pictures that look like house paint peeled off while still tacky.So is there any safeguard for this other then using a PC on these parts ?

Paul S
 
Sucks to hear Chad! I too have had this happen on me. It was on a newer Nissan Murano, very mild polish/pad combo and hardly any speed, happened within an instant of turning the machine on. Sometimes there is just nothing you can do about it.
 
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