The Art of correcting soft paint

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In the detailing world when it comes to polishing paint , soft paint is a detailers worst nightmare. Some describe as trying to polish pudding. It takes a lot of practice , technique and proper equipment to polish it safely and efficiently.


The current shop project, this 1997 Porsche Boxster is no exception . Porsche’s are known for soft paint, some of the softest in the industry. For this project after measuring the thickness of the paint and doing numerous test spots to determine what pad and polish would be the safest. I determined that damp polishing would bring the severely neglected paint back to its maximum potential in the safest possible way . Damp polishing goes against what most body shops and detailers are taught their whole career, most are taught to use a high speed rotary polisher with an aggressive wool pad and aggressive compounds. This method heats the paint up very quickly and removes the vehicles clear coat harshly. Damp polishing is a technique that uses water, spray wax , or rinse less wash sprayed on the pad of choice to aid in keeping the heat to a minimum. With the damp pad and low speed polishing we are able to polish soft paint safely and not potentially cause clear coat failure from heating up the clear coat and thinning it down to the point of no return.

A row of red and blue cars are parked next to each other in a garage.

Damp polishing takes years to get good at , but it is  a great method to use on softer paints like Porsche’s and Subaru’s. It keeps the vehicles paint safe while achieving maximum potential . It takes patience and steady arm speed and pad rotation.  You can see in the pictures below , the results are outstanding ! They were achieved safely with the integrity of the paint intact now we can ceramic coat the paint and add more layers of protection to preserve the finish

A black truck is parked in the snow in front of a building.

WINTER AND YOUR CAR

By Bradley Kroll • January 8, 2021
Winter here in Central Oregon can be very harsh on both the inside and outside of your vehicle. With all the snow, deicer , cinder , dirt , grime and other contaminants all over the road , I thought I would share some things to make your vehicle maintenance easier this winter. Exterior surfaces on your car can take a beating from the winters here in Bend , Redmond , Sisters and Prineville. The cinders and deicer chip and eat away at your vehicles paint , chrome , trim , wheels and glass. Whats the best way to combat these issues ? Frequently washing your vehicle by hand with a ph neutral soap is the optimal way . We recommend rinseless washing your vehicle . Check out our youtube video on rinseless washing: Interior surfaces suffer from cinders , mud , dirt , water saturation and so forth . For interior care here in central Oregon we recommend vacuuming out your vehicle once a month and cleaning your interior surfaces and floor mats every other month or as needed based on the weather . Doing this prevent smells such a mildew and bacterial odors as well as keeps your car looking great ! Hope these tips help! Shane Mayfield Perfection Plus Auto Salon Redmond Oregon 
A person is polishing a white car with a sander.

How to find the right auto detailer for you

December 21, 2020
Everyone loves a new car ….. There’s no doubt about that. But not everyone like the high price tag that comes along with it. Well the next best option is to have your vehicle professionally detailed, but how do you determine a good detailer ? Ill look into this and more in this current blog. First lets start with what type of detailing your interested in . Are you liking the idea of a mobile detailer coming to your home , working in your driveway on your vehicle or taking it to a shop location ? There are a lot of guys out there offering mobile detailing services because it is low overhead , easy to start up and they can buy products at walmart or local auto parts stores. But is that what you really want ? Although there are a lot of professional mobile detailers as well. We offer both mobile and in shop services for most detailing projects http://www.perfectionplus.biz It is always better to bring your vehicle to a shop location to have your vehicle detailed. Most detailing projects require a controlled environment to properly detail in and cannot be effectively done outdoors. Next on the list is education and experience. A good knowledgable detailer will have at least 5 years experinece in the field. They should also have some professional training under there belt as well as be certified by the International Detailing Association , They are like ASE certifications for detailers similar to what a mechanic would get for training. Make sure to do the homework , get references and research the detailer your deciding to use. They should be licensed and insured as well.
A person is washing a car with foam in a garage.

Different Levels Of Detailing and Detailers

December 2, 2018
In the auto detailing there seems to be this misconception among consumers that all detailers and detailing are equal . As a 15 year veteran of this industry I can guarantee you that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There a many different levels of detailing and detailers. In this article I’m going to break this down for you . I’ve said this before , anyone can honestly “detail” a car . Its doesn’t take a degree or years of experience to do basic car cleaning . That’s the exact reason why just about anyone can open a car wash or detail shop , its also the reason you as a consumer need to be cautious on what detailer you choose and educate yourself on what to expect from an educated , experienced detailer . Lets start with basic detailers and basic details . A basic detailer to me is someone who has less than 5 years professional experience , very minimal time using a polishing tool and minimal knowledge of chemicals , there uses and proper procedures. While they can make your vehicle look good , 99% of the time they are using the wrong product on the wrong material , going as fast as they can to make as much money as they can and don’t take much consideration in making sure your vehicle is detailed safely with proper products, minimal chemicals , and correct protection . They usually offer basic packages and lack the knowledge to properly remove or repair defects . These types of details and detailers are more budget friendly but are not healthy for your vehicles longevity and quite possibly your loved ones. If your vehicle is still full of chemicals when you get it back from the detail and you put your pets , children etc in the vehicle they are being exposed to the off gassing of these products. Next lets talk about the journey man level detailer and detail shop. At this level your vehicle should be nearly restored back to like new condition , the detailer should be able to perform multi step paint correction with out leaving buffer trails , swirl marks etc in your vehicles finish, they should also have a multi step stain removal process and products to remove specific types of stains . They should have better knowledge of chemicals , there uses , knowledge of types of stains such as protein, tannin , ink etc. They should also offer different levels of protection for your vehicle not just basic waxes or sealants. They should also be IDA certified and have some kind of proper training under there belt. There services are a bit more expensive than the basic detailer but still affordable and you can feel safer knowing that they have safely detailed your vehicle , rinsed any chemicals out of the vehicle etc.  The Master level detailer is rare , even after 15 years in this industry I don’t consider myself a master level detailer. These detailers have unmatched skills, knowledge ,tools and products . They are who everyone is this industry thrives to be . They charge a premium for there details but the results are second to none. This level of detailing and detailer is usually reserved for the higher end of the market . They use premium products , they practice using the least aggressive method to safely clean and protect your vehicle . They always take into account the preservation of your vehicle . They are willing to spend countless hours to achieve the ultimate level of near perfection . Please choose your detailer wisely , your vehicle is your second largest investment . You should do your research and spend the amount of money necessary to have your vehicle properly detailed and protected.
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