PSA: The difference a proper paint prep makes on a 10-year-old clear coat

I just finished a 2014 Civic that had that classic faded roof look. Did a full three-step polish with a new foam pad system instead of my old wool ones. The owner said it looked 'like it rolled off the lot yesterday.' What's your go-to method for bringing back dead single-stage paint?

3 comments

3 Comments

jana_hart181d ago

Yeah, foam pads are way better for heat... I even use a spray bottle to mist the panel now.

ivanross1d ago

Misting the panel with water is a bad idea, @jana_hart18. Water under the pad can actually cause more heat from friction, not less. It also makes the compound break down way too fast so it stops cutting. You're better off just using the foam pad dry and keeping your passes slow and light to control the heat.

parker_price1d ago

My old go-to was a wool pad with M105, but I've switched to a foam cutting pad for the first step. It doesn't heat up the paint as much on those thin single-stage panels.