Exactly how easy is it to polish away the clear coat?

[Murph1083]

pictures like this made the clear coat look extremely thick....gives the illusion that there is so much, you can polish it away......put exactly how easy is it to do so?



Either through hand or PC

 

[Accumulator]

This is one of those "well, it depends" situations where no one can really say. MOST people can polish as needed without having a problem. Plenty of people wetsand, use rotaries with strong products, etc. without hurting the clear. Then somebody cuts through the clear with just a PC and DACP (happened at the last St. Louis G-T-G).



Since you shouldn't get serious marring over and over again, it should be safe to polish your paint from time to time, using only the mildest product necessary to do the job.



Yeah, I realize that's NOT a cut and dried answer, but I don't think anybody can give you one.

 

[tom p.]

Someone with expertise may be able to remove enough clearcoat to make a scratch "disappear" but it's easy to do damage as well...especially on an older car where the clearcoat may be thinned due to age.

 

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

Let's put it this way: you wouldn't want to experiment on a $50,000 Corvette.



A good rule to remember is to 'always use the least aggressive product first'.



Most will agree that is always good advice.