Is it easier to mar the paint with a machine?

imported_Guido

New member
I used to put my zaino on by hand. Lately I've been doing it with a PC and one of the finishing pads that was recomended in another thread. I've found a few small micro scratches in the paint that are in an even loop design. I put the polish on between 5 and 6. Would spraying detailer on the pad help?



thanks
 
I doubt a finishing pad would cause any marring. It's more likely that there was some dust on the pad/car or something. Or maybe the pad was used in the past with a polish, and the abrasives weren't completely broken down, leaving some abrasives in the pad?
 
When using any tool to apply product (hand applicator, PC pad, or rotary pad), make sure the pad is "primed" before it touches the paint. Using a QD will work "sometimes"... depending on the product being applied. I like to make sure the pad is fully primed with the product that I'm going to apply... whether it be a paint cleaner, polish, wax, or sealant.
 
yeah i figured it was dust on the pad or on the car but the pad is brand new, I put the z2 on and let it sit for 45 minutes and covered the pc w/ finishing pad with a plastic ziplock bag. How much more dust free can I get?



white f150- what do you mean prime the pad?
 
I can't see how *what's moving the pad around* could make a difference. Whether the machine moves it or your hand moves it, it's still just a matter of the pad contacting the paint. Must be either something between the pad and the paint or the pad being/becoming dry at some point. IMO the "loop design" of the marring almost guarantees that some contamination caused the problem.



But light sealants are one thing I prefer to do by hand anyhow, easier for me to get 'em on very thin.
 
Priming the pad refers to using water, QD, or the product to get the pad moist before using it on the paint. The idea is that a dry part of the pad may cause marring on the paint. Also, with products like AIO, a light mist of water on the pad helps to spread it thin.
 
Guido said:
I put the polish on between 5 and 6.

FWIW I apply waxes/sealants using my PC at a much slower speed, like 3, and just let the weight of the machine sit on the surface, if that even. I'm able to put a much thinner, more uniform layer on this way than I can by hand. I do prime the pad before hitting the paint.
 
Accumulator said:
Must be either something between the pad and the paint or the pad being/becoming dry at some point. IMO the "loop design" of the marring almost guarantees that some contamination caused the problem.



Agree 100%. I learned the hard way on my own car when I got something caught under a Meguiars burgandy cutting pad. Took quite some time to get about 90% of the scratches out, the other 10% you can only see from certain angles.
 
Guido said:
I used to put my zaino on by hand. Lately I've been doing it with a PC and one of the finishing pads that was recomended in another thread. I've found a few small micro scratches in the paint that are in an even loop design. I put the polish on between 5 and 6. Would spraying detailer on the pad help?



thanks



Guido, I term that "micro scratches in an even loop design" as micro marring.
 
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