Is 100% correction too much?

[02zx9r]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

Same to you!

[Mikejl]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

I try to be happy with 90% on my daily driver. However, there is some truth to Al's Sig line.

Mike

[Caress Detailing]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

It depends on car to car for me. On my personal ride, It's 98-99% corrected. It sits in the garage most of the time, and I use safe washing techniques to keep it maintained and protected. And I highly doubt I'll even need to compound again until many more years.

But for customer cars, I'm probably aiming for 85-90% on low-mid end details. On a high end detail, if the customer really really wants a near perfect finish, then 95%.

A wise man once said, "Everybody knows, you never go Full Retard."

[Andy M.]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

100% paint correction is in the eye of the beholder.

I think as we all strive for perfection we realize there are limits to what can be obtained. Not only does skill level play a part in this, but some paint is just to hard to make perfect.
I really like the trained eye comment in this thread. You and I, all of us know, we could go somewhere and people will look at our vehicle and say wow. While we are standing back and looking at the one swirl or one scratch that they can't see but is eating us alive.

Al as for your question, I strive for the best possible finish that can be obtained, with the products, processes and most importantly, the ability that I have.

Andy

[roushstage2]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

I go to I guess about 90%. 2 passes of M83 on my roof (as far as I ever got the last time I was able to start a correction) got everything out except some deeper swirls. The roof still looks about 85% almost a year and a half later, using ONR about 1/4 of the time. I just wish I had the time to do a correction period.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

Very good article with very relevant information. I personally educate every single one of my potential customers before ever buffing their cars about what exactly I am doing and how it affects their vehicle. Some still request 100%, and many say to shoot for 90% or so.

On my personal car I was able to achieve 95%+ correction with M205 and a polishing pad, so I didn't mind shooting for darn near perfection. I removed 100% of the swirls and left only occasional mild RIDS.

I keep my personal car garaged, waxed, and properly washed so I only need to revisit with with a finishing polish maybe once every 6 months.

[new2detailing]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

I ideally would like 100% perfection in my paint. However, I have two daily drivers (each outside 24/7 and over 100K in mileage). I shoot for about the 80-90% mark yearly and work on proper washing/quick wax techniques to preserve the annual correction. My work truck has some paint checking on the hood/roof so full correction will further deplete the CC. The commuter car has SS paint which is easy to correct but after 8 years I am trying to preserve the paint and not continually strip away minute layers of paint.

[Bounty]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

I have never achieved nor sought to achieve 100% correction, though I would have like to have removed a higher percentage of swirls than I did the last time I polished Luthien.

What level of correction do you aim for?

I think 100% correction is similar to the Loch Ness Monster, alien visitors, or Sasquatch...a lot of people talk about it and claim to have seen it but there's not a whole lot of hard evidence it exists. Think about what you're asking. A true 100% correction would be a finish without a single blemish, swirl, scratch (or remnants of a scratch), etching, or defect anywhere. I have seen plenty of "100% corrections" that when examined closely on lower panels, leading edges of doors, paint areas under spoilers or near trim that still show some very minute level of defects.

Another commonly referred to practice is having a car look 100% corrected by taking the paint to 90% or 95% and then using masking agents, fillers, and waxes to mask anything remaining and give the appearence of a 100% corrected finish.

Bottom line for me is I learned a long time ago not to ever shoot for 100% correction but rather 100% customer satisfaction. Sometimes the customer is completely happy with a 50% reduction in defects from the vehicle's previous condition. Other times it's a show-car finish they are after. As long as the customer (whether it be friend, family, myself, or a paying client) is 100% satisfied with the new look of their vehicle and the finish it displays I consider it a job well done.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

That's the way,bounty.

Except,I've seen Nessie!

[Bounty]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

That's the way,bounty.

Except,I've seen Nessie!

It lives!!

[96Lude]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

I don't believe 100% correction is feasible, or realistic unless you are detailing a show car. The fact is that daily drivers are much more at risk for other defects like RIDS, bird dropping etchings which cannot always be safely removed without removing too much clear coat.

I look at car dealers and the horrible work they do on cars, leaving tons of buffer holograms in the finish. Instead of improving the car and removing defects they are adding defects. So if you look at the big picture, if you are removing even 80% of the defects SAFELY and I mean PROPERLY REMOVING the defects without adding additional marring, holograms or swirls, you are dramatically improving the look of the car and you have done a good job as a detailer in my opinion.

[Caress Detailing]

Re: Is 100% correction too much?

I don't believe 100% correction is feasible, or realistic unless you are detailing a show car. The fact is that daily drivers are much more at risk for other defects like RIDS, bird dropping etchings which cannot always be safely removed without removing too much clear coat.

I look at car dealers and the horrible work they do on cars, leaving tons of buffer holograms in the finish. Instead of improving the car and removing defects they are adding defects. So if you look at the big picture, if you are removing even 80% of the defects SAFELY and I mean PROPERLY REMOVING the defects without adding additional marring, holograms or swirls, you are dramatically improving the look of the car and you have done a good job as a detailer in my opinion.

Agreed.

I just recently detailed a yellow Evo 8 that used to be a track car. My god, I didn't know the mess I got myself into.

Long story short, not even close to 80% correction. However, the owner was extremely happy and even gave me a nice tip. I wasn't happy with the results, but if I had to wet sand anymore then I'm sure i'll get down to the metal lol