Polishing in the sun

critical_level2

New member
I am planning to polish my Dakota this weekend using Wolfgang TSR 3.0 to remove some swirls in it then follow up with the Wolfgang Finishing Glaze and Wolfgang DGPS. I live in an apartment and have used my parents garage in the past. Due to recent family "disagreements", which I am no part of, it is a total warzone at my parents. I have plenty of space out back of my place, but not any shade. Is it possible to use these products in the sun or not? I was planning on trying in the early morning or later in the afternoon. I would do it at night with halogens, but I do not think my neighbors would not be too happy with me. Any advice is appreciated.



Thanks.
 
Optimum should work fine, I don't like to use them by PC though. I think that I read somewhere that the SSR line works OK in the sun, and is nice to use by PC.



I would defiantly try to avoid the hottest part of the day. Polishing in the sun is always *less good*.
 
I think System One X3 is marketed as being able to work in direct sun. I've never used it, so I have no idea how good it is.
 
I've use PB's SSRs and Optimum polishes in direct sun with good results.



It's not so much the exposure to sunlight as the panel temperature which causes problems. As long as the panel is cool to the touch, you should be fine.
 
Working in direct sun on a hot surface is never as good as working on a cool surface in the shade no matter whose products your using but sometimes it's unavoidable, in cases like these one thing you can do is to shrink the size of your work area down to a smaller size and then after working a product wipe it off immediately so it doesn't dry hard onto the surface.



For the correction products maybe use some high quality terry cloth towels with a good size nap, (the little cotton loops), for removing the compounds as their stoutness can help in the removal. After the compounding steps are done though step-up to microfiber for removing the next step products as you don't want to induce any toweling marks to perfectly polished paint.



Also, used the Wolfgang TSR 3.0 with prototype foam pad this week on a couple of cars for training purposes and it's a very nice product that offers good cutting while finishing down clear and glossy.



:)
 
Mike Phillips said:
For the correction products maybe use some high quality terry cloth towels with a good size nap, (the little cotton loops), for removing the compounds as their stoutness can help in the removal. After the compounding steps are done though step-up to microfiber for removing the next step products as you don't want to induce any toweling marks to perfectly polished paint.



Great idea!! I am shamlessly stealing this technique:cooleek:
 
I agree with Mike. To give the polish/compound time to thoroughly break down and do the job, you need time. All polishes have some component to keep the product lubricated long enough to do this, and any car in the full sun will have a surface hot enough to reduce your effective time, or so much lubrication that you won't get as much cut as you might otherwise.



Shade is your friend. Do it late in the day or early in the morning, or find someplace that you can camp out. I'm going to bring my canopy back from the shop very soon so I can do more at home.
 
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