Compounding... What is it, am I dumb?

[gb387]

Compounding... Seems the word is tossed around here and there so what is it?

[the other pc]

It means using a heavy cutting product like #85 Diamond Cut Compound, or #84 Compound Power Cleaner.

Typically you’d do it to remove really deep defects like scratches from wetsanding, mega oxidation or acid rain pitting.

You usually have to follow up with a finer cutting polish like #83 to restore gloss.


PC.

[Murr1525]

With what PC said, I think many people also think of compounding as using a "liquid sandpaper". That is, something with abrasvies that do not break down, so different grades of compounds are needed, from medium to fine. So people will have a compound to remove scratches, then another mild compund/abrasive polish to remove the scratches from the compound.

Sort of gets a bad name when old fashioned compounds are used, which are harsh on clear coats becasue of the fine scratches left behind.

[rusty bumper]

I used a compound made by Dupont on my father's car years ago. I was trying to find the holy grail of detailing back in the late 60's and early 70's by using this product, but all I found was the primer paint.

[gb387]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
I used a compound made by Dupont on my father's car years ago. I was trying to find the holy grail of detailing back in the late 60's and early 70's by using this product, but all I found was the primer paint.

Primer kind of gives a vehicle that unique look, one of a kind.

[Pete-FWA]

All I found was primer paint

[buda]

COMPOUNDS ARE A CHEMICAL PRODUCT, LIQIUD OR PASTE, AS YOU PREFER THAT ARE DESIGNED TO REMOVE SURFACE IRREGULARITIES ON AUTOMOTIVE PAINT.

THEY CAN BE FORMULATED WITH SILICA WHICH IS A HARD ABRASIVE THAT DOES NOT BREAKDOWN WHEN USED AND FORMULATED WITH ALUMINUM OXIDE A LESS AGGRESSIVE ABRASIVE THAT WILL BREAKDOWN

THEY ARE TO BE USED WITH A HIGH SPEED ROTARY BUFFER AND EITHER A 100% WOOL; POLY WOOL/BLEND OR FOAM CUTTING PAD.

WHICH PAD DEPENDS ON THE PAINT FINISH AND THE PROBLEM.

USUALLY YOU DO NOT NEED A WOOLPAD ON CLEAR COATS.

COMPOUNDS ARE USUALLY A COMBO OF BOTH SILICA AND ALUMINUM OXIDE AND AVAILABLE IN GRIT SIZES 600, 800, 1200, 1500, 2000 AND MICRO FINE. TODAY'S PAINT FINISHES DON'T REALLY NEED MORE THAN A`2000 AND MICRO FINE. YOU CAN KEEP A LITTLE 1200 AND 800 FOR EXTRAORDINARY SITUATIONS.

IF YOU USE A COMPOUND AND A CUTTING PAD YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO FOLLOW THAT WITH A BUFFER, FINISHING PAD AND A SWIRL REMOVER-POLISH, THEN A WAX OR SEALANT.

NO REAL MAGIC HERE, JUST BASIC CHEMISTRY AND SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES.

BUD ABRAHAM
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS