Category Archives: Paint Correction

How to use a paint thickness gauge
30
Apr
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

How to Use a Paint Thickness Gauge

Posted on by Mike Phillips

A paint thickness gauge (PTG, also known as a coating thickness gauge) is an electronic device used in the auto detailing industry to accurately measure the thickness of a car’s paint and/or any protective coatings applied to it.  In this article, I’ll explain what paint thickness gauges are used for, how they work, when to […]

Continue reading →
Comparison of cordless rotary polishers from Flex, Harbor Freight, and Milwaukee for car detailing
24
Jun
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, Live Detailing Classes, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing, Videos & Media

Which Cordless Rotary Polisher Is Best? Flex vs. Harbor Freight vs. Milwaukee

Posted on by Mike Phillips

There are so many cordless (battery-powered) rotary polishers on the market today versus 10, even 5 years ago. With all these new options comes analysis paralysis, and I’m here to help YOU make an informed decision before investing in a new tool. It’s all here in this clip from one of my recent LIVE monthly […]

Continue reading →
How to Change Backing Plate on Bauer DA
13
Mar
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Videos & Media

How to Change Backing Plate on Bauer 8MM Short-Throw Random Orbital DA

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Sometimes when you’re using a buffer to polish paint on a car it helps to have a smaller pad for smaller sections like A-pillars. But what if you only have one polisher that can only fit big pads? Here’s something you may not know — you can adjust the size of a Bauer 6” DA […]

Continue reading →
Black Corvette with a mirror finish
05
Nov
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Videos & Media

How to Get a Mirror Finish on Your Car

Posted on by Mike Phillips

When we talk about how to create a mirror finish for your car’s paint, we’re talking about the things you can do to maximize gloss and clarity while creating that wet look that makes your car look like it just received a high-end custom paint job. Not only does clean, shiny paint make your car […]

Continue reading →
What's the Difference Between Compound and Polish?
02
Apr
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, Paint Correction

What’s the Difference Between Compound & Polish?

Posted on by Mike Phillips

When it comes to paint correction on cars, people use the terms “compound” and “polish” interchangeably despite the fact that they refer to two completely different things. That’s a big problem. When it comes to doing any type of paint correction, you need to know the difference between a polish and a compound. If you […]

Continue reading →
Ceramic coating product displayed in front of a car
03
Apr
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

Why Ceramic Coatings Fail (And What Actually Makes Them Last)

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

A lot of people are skeptical of ceramic coatings, and I understand why. They’ve been burned before.  Marketing makes ceramic coatings sound impervious. You hear it over and over: “Years of protection!” “9H Hardness!” “Extreme water beading!” And yet six months later, the gloss is gone, the finish is swirled and there’s no water beading […]

Continue reading →
Can you polish ceramic coatings
24
Oct
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, Paint Correction

Can You Polish Ceramic Coatings?

Posted on by Victor Espeland

If you’ve ever wondered whether you can polish a ceramic coating after application, you’re not alone.  Over time, a ceramic coating can develop unsightly swirl marks from improper washing and stains or etch marks from acid rain, bird droppings and bug guts.  On top of that, improper application of the ceramic coating can cause uneven […]

Continue reading →
Side-by-side comparison of swirls and holograms in car paint.
07
Oct
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

The Difference Between Swirls & Holograms

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Some people think the words swirls and holograms refer to the same type of scratch pattern you see in car paint under bright sunlight or with the use of a bright swirl finder light. This is a common misconception. Swirls and holograms are actually two distinct types of scratch pattern.  This is important to define! […]

Continue reading →
21
Mar
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Featured, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing, Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Wet Sanding Car Paint

Posted on by Mike Phillips

“Wet sanding” is a term you may come across in the world of automotive paint polishing. You may have heard it’s an incredibly effective way to remove scratches and defects from a car’s paint. You may even be wondering if wet sanding is something you should do to your own car’s paint.  The fact is, […]

Continue reading →
Harbor Freight Hercules Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher on Rolls Royce
09
Mar
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, Paint Correction, Videos & Media

Review: Harbor Freight Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Harbor Freight recently came out with a new machine called the Hercules Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher. Being an 8MM gear-driven orbital polisher, it has a lot in common with the Flex XC3401VRG (AKA “The Beast”) with one major difference — at $129.99, it’s almost $300 cheaper. This makes it an attractive option for DIYers […]

Continue reading →