M83 Safety

[Jeremy1980]

I'm wondering how idiot proof the M83 is with a DA mid to high speed, with a Meg's Soft Buff burgandy pad (or I could use yellow instead if that's safer)? I'm always a little more nervous on other peoples vehicles when it comes to anything that will remove clear coat, and wasn't sure how many microns you could remove with a thorough/slow buff, with some pressure, using these type of diminishing abrasive-type cleaners. In other words, how possible is it I could buff myself through those microns and wind up all the way through the clear coat, or enough so that it could cause clear coat failure prematurely?

I realize you start with less abrasive and work up, but wanted to ask in case something like deep crystal doesn't seem to reduce cobweb/oxidation. I have tried less abrasive stuff on this vehicle in the past, but it seemed I've had the best luck with M83, so figured I'd try it again with my new pads and buffer.

Has anyone used this type of stuff and wound up needing a new paint job after or down the road due to removing too much clear coat?

[Evan.J]

Re: M83 Safety

Well with a DA and the yellow polishing pad using M83 you not going to buff through the clear coat. M83 as you well know is an abrassive and has some polishing oils. WHen using M83 you will want to do the small 2x2 area and the majopr thing with M83 is that you don't want to go to a buff dry. You want to remove it while its still wet.

Since the DA is a dual action polisher, Its a free rotating so you can spin the backing pad freely. While the spinning of the backing pad is induced by centripetal force the DA will oscillate. This is what keeps the DA from being able to burn through the clear coat.

Have your tried Ultimate compound and Ultimate polish yet? If not these are two things that you will want to look into that provide great results.

[Murr1525]

Re: M83 Safety

You would want the yellow pad.

If you are trying to remove swirls, the Deep Crystal Products wont do anything, so no surprise the #83 worked better for you.

I cant say it is impossible... some people can pull off anything. But with a little common sense, moving the buffer, working over an area rather than one little spot, you'll be ok.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: M83 Safety

If you're going to be doing swirl/cobweb removal on a fairly new car we'd go straight to Ultimate Compound to start, on a yellow polishing pad, with the DA set at speed 5 and use moderate pressure. This is our go to combo/process in our Saturday Classes and only twice in the years since UC came out have we had to move to something more aggressive to get the job done. The odds of you going through the clear with a DA and a full sized pad are virtually nil, almost regardless what liquid you use with it. You'd have to seriously lean on the paint in a very small area for a very long period of time to cause any problems. No, it's not impossible, but it is extremely unlikely. The DA won't surprise you the way a rotary can, and will, when you least expect it.