View Single Post
Old 07-01-2013, 03:25 PM   #2
Mike Phillips
 
Mike Phillips's Avatar
 
Status: Director of Training
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 675
Default Re: how much product to use

Quote:
Originally Posted by smykowski View Post
Here's a question I'll ask, I'm sure others have wondered this as well....

How much product should you apply to a pad when compounding/polishing/etc.?

Too much can cause the product to fling, not to mention cake up your pads in a hurry....but too little probably won't get the job done AND (presumably) would be pretty hard on your pads.

I typically make an "X" on my pad with whatever product I'm using, BUT I can make a thin pattern or a thick pattern...so what should we use a rule of thumb? Or maybe there isn't an answer and it's unique depending on the scenario?

I'd be interested to hear opinions!

Thanks

Good question...

For buffing out a 2' by 2' area an X-pattern across the face of the pad will work, don't do a full X though as the portions on the outer perimeter of the pad will simply sling off.

I actually prefer to use the 10 @ 10 technique for picking up a bead or strip of product. Problem with this is that it doesn't work well on the sides of a hull that tapers inward. So for these designs you're kind of stuck placing the product on the face of the pad.

You can always use the slowest setting of your polisher to spread the product out before bring the polisher up to speed.

Lots of guy just smear the product around on the hull before turning the polisher on and then buff but as you've probably experienced this does lead to slinging splatter as you run the edge of your pad into any substantial amount of product on the surface.


I have pictures of how to use the 10 @ 10 Technique in the car world, I'll try to get this in a Dockside Tips Video when we have our next boat detailing project on July 18th.



__________________
Made by boat people for boat people...
Mike Phillips is offline   Reply With Quote