polishing plastic and carbon fiber?
- Thread starter A.P.D.
- Start date
imported_DieselMDX
New member
most CF is CC so normal polishing applies
just dont go to aggressive it is thin
just dont go to aggressive it is thin
Accumulator
Well-known member
Dunno from carbon fiber myself, but black plastic usually responds OK to polishes that:
- don't leave a lot of stuff behind that might cause staining (wipe residue off immediately and before it dries to help with this)
- are not really oily (I find M205 simply awful; looks OK initially but then looks terrible after a while)
- don't have an awful lot of initial cut (well, unless you have really nasty marring to fix, then plan to multi-step the job)
- have diminishing abrasives (at least for the final finishing)
Despite that bit about avoiding "polishes that leave stuff behind", 1z Paint Polish usually works great for me on the black plastic GM uses on their SUVs :nixweiss
- don't leave a lot of stuff behind that might cause staining (wipe residue off immediately and before it dries to help with this)
- are not really oily (I find M205 simply awful; looks OK initially but then looks terrible after a while)
- don't have an awful lot of initial cut (well, unless you have really nasty marring to fix, then plan to multi-step the job)
- have diminishing abrasives (at least for the final finishing)
Despite that bit about avoiding "polishes that leave stuff behind", 1z Paint Polish usually works great for me on the black plastic GM uses on their SUVs :nixweiss
I correct lots of carbon fibre, and I treat it as though it's regular clearcoat.
Gaze at the CF pattern for too long while you buff, and it could disorient you! LOL.
CF parts respond very well to "jewelling" before applying your LSP.
For jewelling, I like PO85RD or 3M Ultrafina SE on black pad with rotary on very slow speed
As for small plastic painted parts (normally black), I use a small yellow pad with Mirka T10 (rotary on slow speed), followed by Swirl X with PC, and then LSP. Works well enough for me.
Gaze at the CF pattern for too long while you buff, and it could disorient you! LOL.
CF parts respond very well to "jewelling" before applying your LSP.
For jewelling, I like PO85RD or 3M Ultrafina SE on black pad with rotary on very slow speed
As for small plastic painted parts (normally black), I use a small yellow pad with Mirka T10 (rotary on slow speed), followed by Swirl X with PC, and then LSP. Works well enough for me.
Accumulator
Well-known member
gigondaz said:
Could you provide more info on the Mirka T10? I've used their foam-backed sanding disks, but never heard of "T10" :think:
Accumulator said:
Mirka is renowned for its sanding accessories.
But Mirka also has it's small range of compounds and polishes.
I use Menzerna products everyday, and I suspect Mirka polishes and compounds are made by Menzerna.
Mirka T10 is roughly equivalent to Menzerna's Intensive Polish -> 106FF/FA.
The finer Mirka UF is equivalent to menz PO85RD or 3M Ultrafina SE.....except that Mirka UF is an ultra fine polish+wax.
Both can be used by DA, Orbital or Rotary.
For big budget jobs, I love to stay back in the shop after a nice dinner, grab a smoke and beer, and then start to slowly jewel the clearcoat with Mirka UF + Black pad + rotary. Mmmm......
This dark-grey Passat below was done using:
Mirka T10 + orange Pad
Mirka T10 + Yellow pad
Mirka UF + Black pad
Alexshimshimhae
New member
gigondaz said:
lol Since you're a pro I figure we have nothing to worry about but loved the smoke breaks in between from way afar or on the other side of the glass...because it would drive me nuts if someone smoked next to the car right after i got it clean
but yea, when I worked on my friends' STI I just worked on being gentle with his CF areas--they come with clear coat on--but I decided to err on being overcautious anyways...
Accumulator
Well-known member
gigondaz- Thanks for schooling me on the Mirka, never knew they had such stuff!
And yeah, gotta go about the big jobs in ways that you can enjoy
And yeah, gotta go about the big jobs in ways that you can enjoy
LOL LOL...! At all times, my shop policy is:
1. No one allowed to touch the vehicle, except for my staff, me and the car owner.
2. 100% no smoking in the immediate detailing area.
3. Absolutely no consumption of alcohol in premises during business hours.
The enjoyment is to stand outside the shop after closing time, have a smoke and beer, gaze at the beautiful car inside the shop bathed under metal halide lamps...and enjoy the hard work done. LOL.
1. No one allowed to touch the vehicle, except for my staff, me and the car owner.
2. 100% no smoking in the immediate detailing area.
3. Absolutely no consumption of alcohol in premises during business hours.
The enjoyment is to stand outside the shop after closing time, have a smoke and beer, gaze at the beautiful car inside the shop bathed under metal halide lamps...and enjoy the hard work done. LOL.
Alexshimshimhae
New member
lol for people like you good sir, I've always imagined developing like a bubble where we can hope out hassle free so we can be like 3 feet from the car with no worries and enjoy the view cigarette and brew in hand =]