Hi all,
I have just finishing painting my latest project in Acrylic and in two minds as to whether to compound, buff and polish the car myself or should I get someone in to do it.

What are your thoughts.

Any ideas on the best way to do this and what to use would be appreciated.
Cheers

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Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference !

I use Mothers California Gold step and it works really well. Show quality results...

If you were in NSW I'd say take it to Brad (13secmini) but alas we have him all to ourselves

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

go get some Auto Gylm
best polish ever
and i would get someone to buff it for you

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ausmini member #10
(22:42:45) 5 years later..........

hey, who is brad? 13secmini, i need my mini buffed.

Just a word of warning how old is your new paint. It should be allowed to fully harden before you take anything to it.

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'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

probably 2 - 3months. why do you say that??

falcon princess, i think mini bob was refereing to the bloke that posted.

I was about to say the same thing. make sure you allow your paint to harden
before you do anythinig like that. Give it about a week before rubbing it back.
that what i did with mine. Just let it set and harden.

Then if the paint is nice and flat with no imperfections etc, just get use a
bit of freckler and give it a buff (but if your not confident take it to someone else)
If it is got lots of peel in it, give it a rub with some 1200/1500 lightly with lots of
lubrication (wet and dry with some detergent...) and then buff..

oh oops lol...


thanks buddy for your good advice

yeah I wouldn't touch new paint till it was at least two weeks on
best speaking to the paint manufacturer to be safe

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'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

yea 2 weeks even better.

Leave it at least 2 months before even washing it - and then some.
It takes around 9 months for it to harden properly!!
But you should be right after 3 months.
I wouldn't touch it with wet/dry, even 1200.

Do it by hand, DON'T use a machine, and use silicon free cutting compound.
You can get different grades of compound too - best not to get one too vicious.
Take it real easy too - circular motion, not too much pressure, and wipe it off when the compound has worked into the rag to check how yr going. You can go too far without realizing it otherwise.
Best to leave slight dimples (for want of a better word) than go completely smooth unless you've put on more than 4 good coats. Leaves a bit then for future polishing.
Have a look at paint on a new VW Golf - you'll see what I mean.

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"Why mini? 'cause it's got the edge."

firstly when i am saying what i am saying, i would not contemplate putting on only 4 coats of paint.. that is too few.

And why not touch it with 1200/1500? if this is a first time spray at home, then ill give the bloke a gold medal if he gets the final few coats flat off the gun with no crap or runs in there. There is nothing wrong with 1200/1500 if it is used correctly. there is no need to wait 9months to rub it back with 1200 or buff it either.

And you pretty much have to use a machine. the whole idea of a buff is to get the maximum shine out of your paint. When you buff by hand, you cant build up the required heat needed to effectively "move" the paint to flatten it out and give it a shine. If it gets a buff by hand it will just coe out llookin very mediocre.

I definately agree about checking with the manufacturer. I used 3M paint on my blue Mini and I started wet sanding and machine buffing the next day. No problems. Also I did some wet sanding in between coats of paint when the paint was only on the car for a few minutes and it was fine. But I've also used some paints without hardners in them that took months before I could wet sand and buff.

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67 Traveller - Needs restoration
www.victoria-chiropractors.ca

Spoken like a man who has either never done it or doesnt have a very nice finish....hehehe Don't take too much offense mate it's just an opinion

I leave my Acrylics 1-2 weeks to soften out in the sun then flatten it out with 1500 wet and then cut it with heavy cut (green stuff) follow that with some Meguires Fine-Cut cleaner and then some pure polish which doesnt contain any sealers/wax.

Only thing you dont want to do is put any wax on it for 4-5 weeks which might trap any solvents still escaping.

It's easier to compound them when they're soft rather than in 9 months time........your not giving birth to your paint job......hehe

Thanks for all your input guys. Its been a great help.
Attached are two photos of the painted car. What you see is the car as it was freshly painted. The shine is off the gun. No sanding has occured as yet.
I was lucky to have a great day weather wise which meant very litle orange peel and thanks to beginners luck I there are absolutely no runs - whooo hoooo.
I have finished painting after these photos were taken to include:
Black engine bay, boot and undercarriage, incennti flares painted red, interior painted red in the required places etc.

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Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference !