3 stage polish
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
When you polish a surface, the level of imperfection defines how much work it will be to achieve a perfect finish. This can either be a 1 stage polish, a 2 stage polish or even a 3 stage polish. Different types of stages needed define slightly what pads and/or polish you are going to need, and might give an indication of the time-frame needed.
Contents
What makes it a 3-stage polish
a 3 stage polish is a 3 step process in which you use 3 different polishes to end up with a finishing polish. It doesn’t have to mean that you begin with a rough polish, then a medium polish to end with a finishing polish. It also applies when you use a medium polish, light polish and then a finishing polish. As long as the process involves 3 different steps, it is considered a 3 stage polish.
However, the most commonly used situation is when a detailer uses a heavy polish, then a medium polish and ends with a finishing polish.
Reasons to choose a 3 stage polish
There can be several reason why you would choose a 3 stage polish:
- You need to do quite some corrections
- You have the time do as much as you can
- You feel/think/know that a 1 or 2 stage polish would be to little
Whatever the reason might be for you, a 3 stage polish has its benefits and its downsides. The main benefit is that you can achieve a lot of correction. The downside is that it takes a lot of time. Especially professional detailers that have to work with fixed time-frames sometimes need to make a general decision based upon: what approach will remove the most imperfections in the least time. A 3 stage polish might not often be the most efficient choice.
How to save yourself time
Make the decision to work with either SMAT or DAT.
When you are working with a medium polish, and you want to skip the need for a fine polish, because you want to jump to the finishing polish, you probably want to use a DAT polish. This will start out with the cutting power of a medium polish, but after working it in, you will finish with a very fine polish. Which will minimize the jump from a medium polish to a finishing polish.
However, keep in mind that a medium DAT polish will remove less microns of paint then a medium SMAT polish, simply because the SMAT polish will retain its cutting power whereas a DAT polish will become more and more fine, cutting less and less as you work it in.
Make the right decision for you situation and you might save yourself a lot of time.
In some cases, you feel comfortable with a certain speed (rpm), and feel that this works best with a certain product. However, not all your pads are the same size and you want to know what speed setting you need to maintain the same speed....-
Alloy wheels are specific wheels have been made out of aluminium or magnesium, with certain other elements added. They can come in various shapes and sizes and even the finish can differ greatly between models or brands....
-
Wetsanding isn't very difficult in the steps you need to take. It's the technique that makes the different. When mastered, wetsanding can give very good results, but it is also very risk and should be done with great care....
-
Wetsanding is the act of using a very abrasive product (such as sandpaper) combined with a lubricating liquid to sand away a certain amount of the surface. This needs to be done with care and should not be done by beginners....
-
It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best lights". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
-
Xpel is an American based company that manufacturers and distributes transparent wraps to protect your vehicle with. The company has several approved installers and distributors around the world....
[…] Referenz 2 […]