I got issues

AAE

Learner
I do have issues,but, I'll leave those to my therapist.
But, one that I know y'all can help with is figuring out why I'm having such a hard time buffing the Speed Clear.
For context, I do mobile repairs for dealers. So, my conditions vary widely. Usually, it's pretty hot,humid and breezy/windy. I either let the Sun bake the clear or I'll lamp it for 10 minutes or sometimes both.
Color sanding is 1k grit up to 3k grit and sometimes higher. Using wool pad on a rotary. Compound is the ACA500.

I'm wondering if I'm just not waiting long enough for it to cure. It took nearly an hour to buff a 1/4 panel yesterday.
 
so how long are you waiting before you sand and buff it? next day? even if you stop at 3000, it should still buff out pretty easy. i still think you have sanding scratches there from coarser grits that arent getting worked out. also what are you using for 3000? 3m trizact?
 
I bake it let it cool then I'm back on it. The paper is the yellow film first then the Assilex 1500 to refine the yellow film. Then Norton 2k and 3k foam disc.
 
1k grit scratches are a bitch to buff out. most people do not sand enough after 1k. that's why 1200 - 1500 are so important. they are used to cut the 1k down. i use every step .try it once and get back to us .
 
I get so much debris lately. 1500 won't touch it. I very well could be rushing the 1k refinement. I've hit a slump for some reason.
 
yes i agree. the 1500 step for me works out 1000 just fine but you do need to sand really good. i do 1500 wet with the assilex and i can tell if i have sanded enough by looking at the amount of white dust left on the surface when it dries. if i can see the paint surface through the white dust/powder then i didnt sand enough. the dry dust stuck to the surface should be solid white. for what you do i would think about not doing 1000 and just start with 1500 yellow.
 
1500 cuts pretty good but if its alot of work for you then maybe try starting with 1200. another thing i will mention is the foam discs. i have not used the norton ones but 3m trizact for instance i found does not like fresh or soft clear. unless the clear is hard i found a new trizact disc many times will not even begin to cut. the tips of the little micro pyramids on the stuff need to break off to start cutting. if the clear is soft they dont do that and your just wasting your time. this is one reason i stopped using it. on fresh speed clear less than 24hrs old i many times will end with blue bufflex which is 2500. if its cured up and a little harder then i will go from blue to 8000 trizact . then the stuff buffs out super quick. from 1000 grit, the 1500 and 2500 step are super important to sand enough.
 
Wow! Great insight about the foam discs. I've been questioning their effectiveness.

Ok, I'll be more diligent about my sanding steps.

Thanks and I appreciate you guys.
 
Thats only applies if its a trizact type of disc. If its regular abrasive then it should work normally
 
If you are using the Assilex dry they don’t last long imho. I would expect to use two discs on a quarter panel. They last much longer wet as Jim says.

Try the 2500 Bufflex followed by 8000 Trizact. I tried this on Jim’s recommendation and it works great.

Don
 
the reason i recommend the 1200-1500 is way too many folks wont work long enough with 1500 to get out the 1000 scratches . the 1200 makes up for that .
 
the reason i recommend the 1200-1500 is way too many folks wont work long enough with 1500 to get out the 1000 scratches . the 1200 makes up for that .
A wise man once said ( maybe it was said many times) " They make all of the grits for a reason. Use them!"
 
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