IPA question???

[RaskyR1]

What would be the point of using an IPA solution to wipe down the paint with before polishing (correcting) the paint? This would be after thoroughly washing and claying the car of course.


I've seen members on other forums suggesting this process to a noob and I don't see the logic behind it??? Just seems like another added and unnecessary step....


Rasky

[Carfire]

Re: IPA question???


It seems pointless and a waste.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: IPA question???

No idea why someone would do it before the correction work but after washing and claying unless it's just extreme ARness?

[RaskyR1]

Re: IPA question???

No idea why someone would do it before the correction work but after washing and claying unless it's just extreme ARness?

That's what I was thinking.

They say it to remove any remaining wax, oils, grease, silicon...

Washing and claying should remove most if not all of that, and a cleaner polish/compound will definitely remove any of the above that may still be present.


Oh well, to each their own I guess.

[Holden_Caulfield04]

Re: IPA question???

Sometimes, cars that frequently see touchless washes have some sort of chemical (silicone?) or invisible residue that seems to interfere with polishing. It's pretty rare, though, and I wouldn't perform a pre-correction IPA wipedown on every single car I polish - just the ones that are giving me trouble.

At the same time, it could be just to remove wax and present a fresh surface to polish.

[RaskyR1]

Re: IPA question???

Sometimes, cars that frequently see touchless washes have some sort of chemical (silicone?) or invisible residue that seems to interfere with polishing. It's pretty rare, though, and I wouldn't perform a pre-correction IPA wipedown on every single car I polish - just the ones that are giving me trouble.

At the same time, it could be just to remove wax and present a fresh surface to polish.

I've run across a car or two like that over the years...can't recall what I did though, as it was some time ago. I think my boss at the time said it was from those "color waxes" people use to use.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: IPA question???

Can't figure that one out.

[onawrxhigh]

Re: IPA question???

From what I have gathered from these other forums is this:

Not so much from the pre polishing stand point but once you correct the paint(test spot) it is sometimes used to remove any polishing oils/fillers/whatever as a check to see if infact your products are actually doing the level of correction that you want. Example, you start to work on the hood of a clients moderately swirls hood(test spot) it looks good after a pass with 80, you then do an IPA wipe of that area to remove the oils/fillers/whatever from that area to double check your work. You may find that it is completely corrected or that you need to buff again with 80, or step up to a product like 83, or you may need to get out the rotary polisher.

I don't see a true need to do this before you start to polish. just my .02

Andrew

[RaskyR1]

Re: IPA question???

From what I have gathered from these other forums is this:

Not so much from the pre polishing stand point but once you correct the paint(test spot) it is sometimes used to remove any polishing oils/fillers/whatever as a check to see if infact your products are actually doing the level of correction that you want. Example, you start to work on the hood of a clients moderately swirls hood(test spot) it looks good after a pass with 80, you then do an IPA wipe of that area to remove the oils/fillers/whatever from that area to double check your work. You may find that it is completely corrected or that you need to buff again with 80, or step up to a product like 83, or you may need to get out the rotary polisher.

I don't see a true need to do this before you start to polish. just my .02

Andrew

Yep. I think most of us here will wipe our test spots down with an IPA or similar solution, but once we've dialed in our process, most will not go back and do another IPA wipe down. This was specific to the pre polishing though. I think I also have another thread with a poll for using an IPA solution, right before your LSP.

Rasky

[Jokeman]

Re: IPA question???

I do it before I use something like Opti-Seal on a car. This way I know the Opti-Seal is going directly on the clear and not being interfered with by polishing oils or something along those lines.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: IPA question???

I do it before I use something like Opti-Seal on a car. This way I know the Opti-Seal is going directly on the clear and not being interfered with by polishing oils or something along those lines.

What you've outlined is a common practice after doing the correction work but before applying the LSP, I think Rasky's original question was why would someone wipe the paint down before any correction work and after washing and claying.

What would be the point of using an IPA solution to wipe down the paint with before polishing (correcting) the paint? This would be after thoroughly washing and claying the car of course.

The point being that there's no reason to chemically strip the paint after washing if the paint is going to be compounded or polished in some manner as the next step. The bigger point being that the compounding or cleaning step would be more than adequate to remove whatever the IPA is going to remove thus the IPA wipe before any cleaning or abrading step would seem to be a mute point.

Did I get that right Rasky?

[RaskyR1]

Re: IPA question???

Yep!

[akimel]

Re: IPA question???

Here is a comment that I left today on a Detailing Bliss thread. I think it is germane to our present discussion:

Would an ipa wipedown not be sufficient to get rid of the oils left by the polish?

Based on my readings of various detailing forums, I think it is accurate to state that an IPA/H2O solution is what is most commonly used to remove polishing oils before the application of one's chosen LSP. Some folks prefer more powerful products: e.g., Prep-Sol, Pre-Kleano, Prep-All, or Hi-Temp Prep Wash. And some folks don't worry about removing polishing oils, especially if they are applying a carnauba-based wax. If you visit Meguiar's Online, for example, you'll find that even the most experienced detailers do not use an IPA wipedown of the entire car after polishing: they might do an IPA wipedown for their test-spot, to make sure that they are achieving the level of correction they desire; but once they have their method "dialed in," they don't worry polishing oil residue, especially if they are intending to use a Meguiar's sealant or wax.

Detailing praxis, therefore, differs widely. Certainly it appears that some synthetic sealants really do need as clean a surface as possible to effect proper bonding; but this is not necessarily true for all sealants. How do I know? Because I have contacted by email several sealant companies and asked them if I could apply their product over Meguair's #7. Some said yes, others no.

Some folks believe that an IPA wipedown is desirable even if applying a carnauba-based wax. They believe that failure to do so jeopardizes durability; yet I know of no compelling evidence, beyond the anecdotal, to support this belief. People have been applying carnauba waxes over oil-based glazes a long time, for example, and most have not, apparently, noticed a serious degradation in performance. And what diminishment of durability are we talking about? minutes? days? weeks? Sometimes I wonder if theory is driving practice here more than actual experience. I don't know.

Personally, I want to keep my regimen as simple as possible. I do not want to add steps unless they are necessary. But it's also true that I detail my car for fun. I am not on a quest for the perfect finish, nor do I worry about wax longevity (except during the winter months, when I turn to Collinite). I want my Luthien to look as good as I can make her look, within the limitations dictated by my available time, energy, pocketbook, and life-priorities. But that's just me.

Cheers,
Al