Defining Aggressive as it relates to DA Polishing
03-30-11, 11:58 AM
#1
Former Sponsor
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: FL
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Defining Aggressive as it relates to DA Polishing
Chemical- The chemical refers to the actual polishing or buffing liquid. Buffing liquids that use large abrasives (or a lot of them) are usually called 'compounds'. Compounds tend to remove more paint, in a quicker fashion, and are considered for 'more aggressive'. Very fine 'finishing polishes' tend to have very little cutting action, and are relatively non-aggressive.
Pad- Different foam and fingered polishing pads are going to have different abilities to remove material. Since a pad is a fixed variable (augmented by the chemical chosen), its aggressiveness is measured by how quickly it removes material (paint). On a PC/DA style machine, a smaller pad is going to be more aggressive than a larger pad due to efficiencies.
Technique- Technique plays a huge role in how aggressive a combination is. For example, if we take an aggressive combination (a Lake Country Yellow Cutting pad) combined with an aggressive liquid compound like Menzerna Power Gloss, but we apply it in a very non-aggressive method: Speed 2, no pressure, and 10 seconds of working time we will likely remove less material than if we used a very fine polish( Menzerna PO85rd) on a polishing pad (White Lake Country) but used a lot of pressure, slow arm movement, and speed 6.
In general, adding pressure increases the aggressiveness. Using slower arm speed in conjunction with a smaller working area (focusing more of the working time in a smaller area) will increase aggressiveness. And using a higher orbit speed will increase aggressiveness.
Most polishes feature diminishing abrasives, that is they only remain 'active' for a certain amount of time. While continuing to polish after the polish is non longer active (exhausted) will still remove some material (because of the pad/remaining abrasives) it isn't really enough to qualify. However some polishes (such as Meguiar's M105/M205) feature non-diminishing abrasives that will continue to cut over time. They don't break down or lose effectiveness as quickly. In the case of these polishes working time makes a big difference in the total amount of material removed.
Paint Type-The type of paint/clear coat you are working on also plays a big role on how aggressive the action you get its. Rubbing your finger on a diamond (hard paint) isn't going to do much, even after years and years of rubbing. You might work your finger to the bone, but the diamond is fine. However if you swipe your finger across butter (soft paint) you can cut right into it one first pass. Corvette's (C5/C6's) tend to have very hard paint.
Here are some general guidlines.
Aggressive Polishing Liquids.
Meguiar's M105
Menzerna Power Gloss
Optimum Hyper Compound
Moderate Polishing Liquids.
Meguiar's M86
Menzerna Super Intensive Polish
Menzerna Intensive Polish
Menzerna Power Finish
Optimum Hyper Polish
Fine Polishing Liquids
Meguiar's M205
Menzerna Super Finish (PO106fa)
Menzerna PO85rd
Aggressive Polishing Pads (for a DA)
Surfbuff DA Pads
Lake Country Yellow Cutting Pad
Lake Country H20 Cyan Cutting Pad
Meguiar's MFCD (Microfiber Cutting Disk)
Meguiar's Softbuff2.0 Cutting Pad
Moderate Polishing Pads
Lake Country Orange Power Foam Cutting Pads
Lake Country H20 Tangerine Polishing Pads
Lake Country White Polishing Pads
Meguiar's MFFD (Microfiber Finishing Disk)
Meguiar's Softbuff 2.0 Polishing Pad
Final Polishing/Finishing/Glazing Plads
Lake Country Green Euro Polishing Pad
Lake Country H20 Crimson Finishing Pad
Lake Country Black Finishing Pad
Lake Country Red Finishing Pad
Lake Country Gold Concours Pad
Meguiar's Softbuff 2.0 Finishing Pad
In terms of techniques:
More aggressive
- Higher speed
- Increased Down Pressure
- Smaller Pads
- Slower Arm Speed
- Smaller Working Section
Less Aggressive
- Lower Orbit Speed
- Low Pressure
- Larger Pads
- Shorter Work Times
- Faster Arm Speed
- Larger Work Section
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
