Polishing new paint (non-Merc)

[blacklight124]

Hey,

I wonder if someone can offer some expert advice here.

Quick version: My dad has a dark blue Lexus and there was an accident with a pillar. Anyway, he's built out the damage, sanded it, primed it and now painted it with the colour & clear coat over the top (not sure how many coats). Its got a very rough feel to it now and its very dull. How should he proceed now?

I advised the use of an electric rotary polisher as Ive read a few times on here but neither of us have one and he wants to do it by hand.

I believe his plan is:

1. Polish with auto-glym resin polish (repeat few times)
2. Wax to seal polish

Should we be sanding first? Leaving it a few days/weeks? More coats of clear coat? Any specialised polish? any other techniques?

Again, this is by hand

Cheers in advance folks!

 

[joesoap]

No expert, but should it not have been shiny before clear coat went on?

 

[mikec32]

If its been lay'ed down for 24 hours the first thing is to hit it with 2500 unigrit. Then follow it up with 3000 to knock out the 2500 sanding marks. Once this is done the surface will be very dull but nice and smooth. Then hit it with a wool pad such as an LC one with Megs 105. This will knock out the 3000 marks. Then follow it up with Megs 205 on something like a green LC CCS pad. Then if it needs further refining hit it with scholls s40 on a red LC CCS pad. Then use your lsp of choice and your ready to go

 

[blacklight124]

No expert, but should it not have been shiny before clear coat went on?

I think it was shiny before the clear coat. Im only getting involved after the fact but I can ask him

If its been lay'ed down for 24 hours the first thing is to hit it with 2500 unigrit. Then follow it up with 3000 to knock out the 2500 sanding marks. Once this is done the surface will be very dull but nice and smooth. Then hit it with a wool pad such as an LC one with Megs 105. This will knock out the 3000 marks. Then follow it up with Megs 205 on something like a green LC CCS pad. Then if it needs further refining hit it with scholls s40 on a red LC CCS pad. Then use your lsp of choice and your ready to go

Cheers! thats great advice! Im a bit stumped on all the abbreviations but ill have a google. Thanks

 

[mikec32]

No problem. My mobile number is below. Give us a call tomorrow as me and elite car care work under the same roof so we have all of the above in stock. It's easier to explain over a phone. Elite car care are sponsors here too so your entitled to a club discount

 

[l5foye]

I would strongly recommend starting again. That is, rub it down with 600 grade wet/dry paper, prime it , smooth with 800 grade, apply colour or base coat, then 2 coats of clear coat/lacquer. As it is dull at present, it suggests the problem is with the clear coat . There is only so much that can be done with a faulty clear coat and depending on the exact fault, no amount of polishing will restore it.

 

[blacklight124]

I would strongly recommend starting again. That is, rub it down with 600 grade wet/dry paper, prime it , smooth with 800 grade, apply colour or base coat, then 2 coats of clear coat/lacquer. As it is dull at present, it suggests the problem is with the clear coat . There is only so much that can be done with a faulty clear coat and depending on the exact fault, no amount of polishing will restore it.

Hey, as I said im coming into this a bit late. Its my dad thats been working on it so Im not 100% sure what exactly has been done. I know he has properly prepared the surface, applied the paint then applied several layers of the clear coat. When I say Dull finish its more of a Matt effect. We'll try the steps "Detailed" described & update the post with pics & more info. Thanks