Paint Cleansing
Good quality paint cleansers, which Aussie Gold manufactures, should never ever contain harsh abrasives. A paint cleanser should be "soft" on the paint and still clean effectively. Paint Cleansers are generally used for paint that has surface soiling or fallout, though is otherwise in good condition and not displaying oxidisation.
Do not get confused with cleaning the paint and cutting the paint to remove oxidisation, they are two completely different methods. Aussie Gold Duragleam, Maxi Wax, Duragleam Extra- Cut are effective soft paint cleansers. Clear Cut and Diamond Finish are the products to use for light and heavy oxidisation and are designed for use with a machine buff and a polishing or compound pad, depending on the degree of oxidisation.
To clean the paint effectively you must use a soft foam buff at around 600-800 rpm, there is no other way, elbow grease is out unless you want to scratch the paint. Gone are the days of buffing at 2000rpm, todays paints are too soft to be subject to the heat generated by this method. There are new machines on the market that are variable speed and have been designed so that you can use them from 400rpm up to 2000rpm. You will never see a paint refinisher spinning his buff at 2000 rpm to final finish the paint, nor will you see him hand applying a cleanser to remove fallout. Buffing at 600- 800 rpm with a soft foam pad will remove slight spider-webbing and light swirls and will "GLASS OUT" the paint to an incredible level.
This XR6 was finished in Maxi Wax
There are two main methods of cleaning the paint surface with polish and wax formulations.
- The cheap and nasty formulation usually consists of 70% water, harsh abrasives to clean the paint surface and a good whack of silicones to give a short term shine and to fill the scratches created by the rubbing of the abrasives. We do not make this type of product just because we respect that people do not want to subject their cars to this type of treatment and we would not ourselves either. But you will find some people will not mind what they put on their car and frankly we do not want to be part of that market.
- Now this is where formulating gets interesting and generally sorts the men from the boys. The art of formulating with environmentally friendly natural cleansers without harsh abrasives is a tricky and time gathered practice. Our Polishes and waxes are totally clear coat safe, ideal for use on acrylic paints as well as 2k Baked and Air dried enamels.
It takes many years to develop a product that will clean the paint, lay a layer of sealing compound and waxes (where included). Solvent has a dual purpose of cleaning the surface and allows the actives of the formulation to be carried by the solvent and will govern drying time and deposition of them and paint levelling. All this may sound easy but it isn't, ever bought a product that is hard to remove or when you remove the film there are blotches that bleed out and no matter how hard you rub they will not go away? The rubbing process generates heat and activates the actives so they bond to the surface and if the formulation aint right there are going to be dramas, simple as that. So when you use our products and find them easy and simple to use while still leaving your paint feeling like silk and a great reflective long lasting shine, remember a good balanced formulation will carry all these qualities and takes many years of testing to accomplish.
WATERLESS WASHES, IS IT GOOD?
While I am on a roll I would also like to point out the use of spray waxes etc to remove dust from painted surfaces is sheer lunacy. No-one in the painting industry is going to recommend dry washing a car. Dust, no matter what size the particle is going to scratch, especially if you are using a cloth to rub with. No rocket science involved here, just smoke and mirrors. At the very least rinse the car with water before you touch it with anything.
CIRCULAR OR STRAIGHT?
Really you can do either, though I recommend overlapping circular motion to ensure even deposition using a clean high quality applicator pad. When applying in a straight motion ensure you overlap the polish film otherwise you will have gloss differences throughout the panel.
- While it is true painters spray in a straight motion on the panel each stroke blends and levels into the next and cures to become one mass, not a series of singular masses on the panel.
- As part of the process painters will machine buff the surface to remove imperfections and to date I have not seen a machine that buffs in a straight motion. Maybe I am wrong, but the panel shops and their suppliers I work with haven't got one or heard of one on the drawing board.