Paint hardness and machine polishing

[Quark]

I would like to move into machine buffing and waxing with a Harbor Freight polisher Lake Country pads and Meguiar's M06 one step cleaner wax to keep it simple. I have some light swirls and a few light scratches that I want to minimize if not remove.

Question for those who may know, how hard is the clear coat on the 2012 Tahoe and would the orange Lake Country pad which is a light cutting pad get a beginner into trouble?

 

[iamdub]

I would like to move into machine buffing and waxing with a Harbor Freight polisher Lake Country pads and Meguiar's M06 one step cleaner wax to keep it simple. I have some light swirls and a few light scratches that I want to minimize if not remove.

Question for those who may know, how hard is the clear coat on the 2012 Tahoe and would the orange Lake Country pad which is a light cutting pad get a beginner into trouble?

I think one of our resident detailing pros might can help @adventurenali92

 

[adventurenali92]

I would like to move into machine buffing and waxing with a Harbor Freight polisher Lake Country pads and Meguiar's M06 one step cleaner wax to keep it simple. I have some light swirls and a few light scratches that I want to minimize if not remove.

Question for those who may know, how hard is the clear coat on the 2012 Tahoe and would the orange Lake Country pad which is a light cutting pad get a beginner into trouble?

A 2012 Tahoe should have a decent paint depth and paint correcting to remove light swirls should be fine. As long as your machine is an orbita polisher you won’t do any damage with it.

 

[Quark]

A 2012 Tahoe should have a decent paint depth and paint correcting to remove light swirls should be fine. As long as your machine is an orbita polisher you won’t do any damage with it.

The Harbor Freight is an orbital. I know to do it properly I should have multiple polishes and pads and do test areas. I've read what I can find and the only truly unknown is the paint hardness and if I stick to polishing I shouldn't have to worry about the thickness. I'm not going for a full correction which would be required to remove the orange peel even though it might be okay I don't have the experience. Thanks for the input.

 

[adventurenali92]

Like you said test small areas at a time to get a good idea of the thickness of your paint. And work from there. And yeah trying different polishes to see which ones give you the results you’re ant is always good. I have several different brands of polish compounds in my supplies

 

[adventurenali92]

From Thompson station Tennessee, may the 4th be with y’all!! Get yourself a little travel buddy! Haha.

 

[992dr]

A 2012 Tahoe should have a decent paint depth and paint correcting to remove light swirls should be fine. As long as your machine is an orbita polisher you won’t do any damage with it.

Would the paint depth and correction capabilities be the same for an 07?
I'll be using a Rupes Duetto.
Thanks

 

[adventurenali92]

Would the paint depth and correction capabilities be the same for an 07?
I'll be using a Rupes Duetto.
Thanks

Every vehicle is different. Paint depth will probably be thinner and what polish products to use will depend on what condition your paint is in.

 

[Quark]

I've said I'm not worried about depth so much as hardness but oh well.

Perhaps I should start another thread but I'll try it here first: Day after an oil change at the Cadillac dealership no less, I noticed a dent in the front of the hood right where one would press in closing said hood.

Can this be repaired without major surgery? It can't be reached from inside to press it out.

 

[992dr]

Every vehicle is different. Paint depth will probably be thinner and what polish products to use will depend on what condition your paint is in.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I don't want to clutter Quarks thread with my mess. But I do appreciate you answering me.

I've said I'm not worried about depth so much as hardness but oh well.

Perhaps I should start another thread but I'll try it here first: Day after an oil change at the Cadillac dealership no less, I noticed a dent in the front of the hood right where one would press in closing said hood.

Can this be repaired without major surgery? It can't be reached from inside to press it out.

I have seen some amazing PDR done to some pretty banged up cars. You could inquire in your area for someone who specializes in PDR and see if they can come out to give you a quote to fix the hood. Then send the bill to the dealership

 

[Quark]

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I don't want to clutter Quarks thread with my mess. But I do appreciate you answering me.



I have seen some amazing PDR done to some pretty banged up cars. You could inquire in your area for someone who specializes in PDR and see if they can come out to give you a quote to fix the hood. Then send the bill to the dealership

Talked with the service manager who said bring it by to look at the dent. I was expecting them to refuse responsibility which could still happen. Next town over and at least two trips to remedy the problem just added $30 in gas to the price of that oil change. I remember when a $100 used to buy more than an oil change plus the hassle of fixing their mistake.

I have a bad history with oil changes, one wrecked vehicle, this is the second dent on the hood, scratches across the hood where the hose scraped it. Oil slung down the side of the vehicle and greasy threshold and floor mats is the expected damage that I just clean up.