How to buff compound
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Questions arise occasionally about the buffing of compound. Buffing compound can be done in a few simple ways, and since it’s the same as polishing it won’t have a high learning curve.
Contents
Polish and compound
Compound and polish are pretty much the same thing. The difference lies in their level of cut. A polish is designed to leave a nice and shiny finish, one that could be good enough for some people. A compound is just aimed at removing scratches at a controlled manner, with less focus on how the finish looks. A compound works faster, but also needs more finishing afterwards.
Buffing compound
Buffing compound can be a question for 2 different things. Are you interested in how to work with a compound, or do you want to know how to refine the finish after working with a compound.
Working with a compound
Working with a compound is not different then a normal polish, but you might want to use a rotary when using a compound. A DA won’t as effective as a rotary and with its increased speed and heat-buildup, it will make the compound perform better.
Finishing after a compound
Finishing after using a compound can be done by using a fairly high cut polish. A compound leaves a rough finish. It will look okay, but it can be made to look a lot better. When your compound has a high cut, you would want to use a polish with a high cut. The high cut polish will leave a nicer finish then the compound, and in turn will smoothen the surface out with less risk of holograms. After this, you can step down to a medium polish and then a finishing polish.
The pad to use
Using a high cut polishing pad will help as well. There are microfiber cutting pads, wool pads and some foam cutting pads that can do the trick. In general it is always recommended to start with the least aggressive one and work your way up till you get the result you want. Although some claim that microfiber is always rougher then wool, this does not have to be the case. There are very fine microfiber cutting and/or polishing pads, and also very high cutting wool pads. Its best to check with your reseller or the manufacturer to determine what pad is best suited for your situation. Don’t forget to mention the polish you are using, seeing as that can make a big difference.
Polishing glass is not the same as polishing paint. Using the right technique will help to get easier results. Glass can be polished when it suffers from wiper marks and small imperfections....-
There are mainly 2 different types of polishes. SMAT and DAT. Knowing which one does what will help you to choose the right polish for the job....
-
There are several different types of metal polish in the huge world of automotive detailing. Apart from the polish for paintwork there is also polish specifically for metal. These are mostly used for chrome bumpers, chrome trims, metal hubcaps, untreated metal wheels, exhausts and even engine parts....
-
Overall pad performance is dependent on the type and amount of fabric, stiffness and length of the fibers and how they are attached to the pad. The difference between a foam pad, different kind of wool pads and a microfiber pad are discussed in relation to the Kevin Brown Method....
-
A testspot is a small area where you try out different combinations of polish, polishing pads and even machines or techniques, to see what works best with the given situation....
-
Even though tires can have a big impact on how a car looks, they are often ignored. They get a quick wipe and then a new coat of dressing. But cleaning your tires properly can decrease the need for a dressing and can help a dressing to perform better for longer....
Links to this article
There are no external links to this article. Yet.