Hey All,

Like I mentioned a few weeks ago, I gave my self a few surface scrathes and I'm going to work them tomorrow. However At the moment I have no garage to work with (cursed SoCal). If I'm up and out early, washing and working by 6am, will I be alright? I dont want to do this in the sun if it's bad for the paint, but I dont think I'll be polishing more than 30-40 minutes. Will I be alright if I'm done polishing by 7:15 or so? Or would it be advantageous to keep waiting for a garage?Sunrise is set for 5:41. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks and everyone have a great weekend

-Chris

 

i always start my details about 6:30 and do them on the northwest side of the house or building if i can. the building blocks out sun until after 10 or so depending on the time of the year.

wash, clay, polish, and wax will take longer than you are planning for. would take me a good portion of the morning- starting at 6:30 i would be finished as the sun starts creeping over. i let the wax/synthetic cure then put another coat on in the garage or cover the car and do more the next day. some products say that they work in sun, but i have never had good experience with them.

 

Thanks wanabe...I'm only polishing the front quarter panel on the passenger side (above the tire, where the scrathes are)...I'm using Sonus which I made the mistake of doing some in the sun once before...never again. But in your estimation, this early I shouldn't have too much trouble?

 

o.k.- thats a bit different than what i expected!!

"spot" polishing does not take long- you are right...
as you now know, dont polish in the sun and also dont polish in circular motions.
take the area and polish really well side to side. then i work it diagonally, and finish up front to back. your compound will usually begin to dust, and that means its working.

i think we might have discussed this, but for scratches you want to start with a fine cut compound and work it as above. after, i remove all residue and inspect again. if there are still scratches you might have to go to a more aggressive compound, or work the fine cut harder (if you can see that you are making progress, but there is a little left to go). then do it all again with a swirl remover, or very light polish (glaze would also be o.k.). this will bring the paint pop back.

 

Thanks wanabe...I was going to use the suggestion from animeS2K and start with SFX-2 on SFX-2 pad and go from there...

 

makes sense to me... sfx-2 is a light polish, or swirl remover.
sfx-1 is their "rubbing compound"

and sfx-3 is their glaze

 

If you continue to not have a shady spot to detail in, then you may want to look into buying some Poorboy's products. They advertise that their products are effective even when used in the sun.

 

The optimum polishes also work in the sun.

Since it's just spot polishing, the other thing you could do is setup a large umbrella to shade the area and go at it when the panel is sufficiently cooled.

Or get an easy-up type of cover... though that's at least $100 for a 10x10

 

I can't say for the entire poorboys line but SSR 2.5 definately works in the sun. I started polishing at 2pm with the surface of the car very hot and had no problems. I'm guessing the product will work even better in the shade, but the stuff definately works as advertised.