help--buffing nightmare!

[sothpaw]

My car's in the mechanical shop now, but just before it went in, I borrowed a co-worker's
buffer and 3M microfinish solution.

This guy talks a good talk, says he builds his own street rods and such, paint and mechanical.

So, anyway, I go to work with him to buff it, since he's the expert. Instead, he says he
has to go, here's the stuff, shows me how to use it, and (opps) squirts some microfinish
onto the hood. But when I try to remove with a towel, it doesn't want to come off. Normal,
he says, buff it out.

So I go drive the car home, I make sure the hood is cool in temperature, and buff in the
shade. This tool only goes to 1200 rpm max, which he says is good, "the only way to
hurt the paint is to burn it". So I follow his instructions, I don't push down, just let the
weight of the buffer push down and take off the microfinish. (I also made sure to clean
the pad first).

So anyway, when finished, under garage light, it is apparant that there are tiny scatches
in the local areas where I buffed it. ESPECIALLY where the blobs of microfinish started out.

Asked him at work, he says no way, can't be scratched, buff it again.

I've lost faith in this fellow. I'm tempted to take it to a good body shop and ask them
to try and buff out what I did. What do you all think? The only good thing about all this
is that it's only 2 localites on the hood, not the whole car, and not very apparent in sunlight.
But, I can see it in sunlight if I look at a the right angle, it is not my imagination.

 

[DetailingDude]

First off, I guess Detailing School back in session.

Tell me more about your paint... i.e. What generation of Corvette is it? is the paint original? Do you know the history of that car's paint, like has it been buffed before?

 

[BigRed76]

I agree with DetailingDude as there is more information that is needed to know. I too have my own detail shop. Please provide more information and either DetailDude or I will do what we can from here.

 

[sothpaw]

1. 1993 black 6spd, so it is clear coat paint. Never touched except for washed and
wax.

2. It is a repaint. This occurred almost 3 years ago now. It was an insurance job, due
to bad overspray paint, and I don't think they sanded down to the bare fiberglass because
where there were stone chips, the chips are still there, just filled in. It is a very good repaint
as they go, I am told.

What else do you wanna know?

I worked on my commuter car tonight with the buffer. It does seem like sometimes it's
harder to get the stuff off then I think it should be. Perhaps I did was too gentle. All
I was trying to do was get the stuff off and do no harm. Also, it did seem tonight like
I could wash the stuff off.

 

[BigRed76]

Sothpaw,

Black is the most difficult color to work with as it will show every little imperfection and microscratches. At this point I suggest you find a very repetable detail shop and have them do the buffing. Look for one that has someone who is their expert buffer guy. Even I have difficulty at time working with black vehicles. and I have been detailing for over 10 years.

As for the Microfinish product, I am not fond of it. There are a large range of products that can be used, but it all depends on the type of paint, its conditions, type of buffing pad, speed of buffer and operator. I use Presta and CarBrite products which work for me very well. There are others, but I do not have the experience in using these to give a good reccomendation.

Good luck