Polish for Hood Insert?

[squids4daddy]

I've discovered an area on my carbon fiber hood insert, about the size of my palm, that is hazy and rough. Like someone took 600grit sandpaper to it or something.

I'd like to polish this out. Any suggestion on what product to use?

[SynergyGreenSS]

Do you plan on polishing by hand or with a machine? I would try meguiars m105 to rub it out but it could take a while..

[Can'tHave2MuchHP]

You want to be careful with the Carbon stuff, not because it's delicate but because the pieces are very expensive as is the clear coat on it. I'd recommend starting out gentle, with a finishing polish of some kind, then progressing harsher and harsher until it comes out. I personally would always recommend Adam's stuff as it's easy and comprehensive but the Meguiars 105/205 is also extremely popular, you just have to do your homework on what Pads to use whereas Adam's shows you.

You'll have to use a machine, 9 times out of 10, your hand doesn't move fast enough to eliminate the swirls/scuffing. If you have some kind of polisher, use it or borrow one.

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by SynergyGreenSS

Do you plan on polishing by hand or with a machine? I would try meguiars m105 to rub it out but it could take a while..

Do it by hand with a 105 to start, use your favorite detailer spray to soften the 105 as it starts to harden and continue until it hardens again. Then move to the 205 same process, unless the clear coat has been damaged you will be ok. Keep your pattern in square movements, left right, up and down, DO NOT circle.

[squids4daddy]

Thanks guys will report back.

[orange devil]

Meguiars scratch X 2.0 works great for small blemishes like that

[jayno20]

When I bought my insert from a member here it came with all kinds of imperfections. I am used to using a buffer to fix paint issues. I started off using Meguiars ultimate compound because believe it or not this stuff is pretty good. Took about 4 passes and that insert looked brand new. I'd use that if I were you. It's a very forgiving compound and it will look professionally done after.

[snarky]

WHAT???? oh never mind.

[RobZL1]

Originally Posted by jayno20

When I bought my insert from a member here it came with all kinds of imperfections. I am used to using a buffer to fix paint issues. I started off using Meguiars ultimate compound because believe it or not this stuff is pretty good. Took about 4 passes and that insert looked brand new. I'd use that if I were you. It's a very forgiving compound and it will look professionally done after.

I can vouch for that. It still looks brand new.

[jayno20]

Originally Posted by RobZL1

I can vouch for that. It still looks brand new.

You sure can! I put a lot of work into that thing to make it look the way it does. You should have seen it when I first got it!

[Badmojo]

Do you guys wax it after polishing?


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[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by Badmojo

Do you guys wax it after polishing?


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Yes..

[lbls1]

Use a swirl mark removing polish, and polish it in stages. Like some of the comments made, take your time. I do not advise using anything more aggressive than the swirl mark remover, simply because of the unpredictable nature of the clear on top of the carbon fiber. The clear is polish-able just like paint, but you want to be careful to avoid burning or over-polishing the clearcoat. If its just haze or very light oxidation, the swirl mark remover and/or paint cleaning polish will make short work of it.

[silversleeper]

Originally Posted by lbls1

Use a swirl mark removing polish, and polish it in stages. Like some of the comments made, take your time. I do not advise using anything more aggressive than the swirl mark remover, simply because of the unpredictable nature of the clear on top of the carbon fiber. The clear is polish-able just like paint, but you want to be careful to avoid burning or over-polishing the clearcoat. If its just haze or very light oxidation, the swirl mark remover and/or paint cleaning polish will make short work of it.

My guess is someone already didn't follow your advice and that's why the clearcoat is burned off in that spot now. I think your advice applies to ALL paint surfaces and not just the insert. The worst thing that happened to cars was the advertising of an electric buffer for detailing. Most always used incorrectly, e.g. hitting the edges and burning off the clearcoat there. I stop by a "pro" detailing shop for other reasons from time to time and see their tech's doing the same thing to customer's cars. They look great at first but then later that thin or gone clear coat looks like sh1t.