INFO. ON POLISHING TECHNIQUES OF BASE/CLEAR COAT PAINT. Saturn Saturn 1992

For 1990-2009 cars

# INFO. ON POLISHING TECHNIQUES OF BASE/CLEAR COAT PAINT

#### SUBJECT: Information on Polishing Techniques for Base Coat/Clear Coat Paint

Due to the addition of "MODELS AFFECTED," this bulletin supersedes bulletin 91-T-19, which should be discarded.

#### MODELS AFFECTED: 1991 - 1994 Saturns

PURPOSE: Saturn base coat/clear coat finishes require special attention to assure that the customer receives full benefit of this new paint technology.

Materials and procedures that once worked well for polishing traditional acrylic lacquer and enamel surfaces are not acceptable for use on urethane enamel or urethane clear coat. The use of the old materials and procedures may produce an acceptable finish under shop lighting conditions, but it will usually prove unacceptable to the customer once the finish is exposed to sunlight.

One common concern that can be caused by using the wrong material or procedure is swirl marks (a series of fine directional surface scratches in the clear coat). Swirl marks are highly visible in bright sunlight.

Also, when polishing after compound finishing with a wheel and compound, these swirl marks become temporarily filled with a glazing material and will be hidden until detergent washing causes the swirls to reappear.

There are many suppliers of compounds, finishing materials, glazes, polishes, and pads who have developed procedures for polishing and correcting swirl marks and other imperfections in base coat/clear coat finishes.

The better suppliers offer the training and expertise needed to assist the refinisher in dealing with swirl marks and other common customer concerns.

The following list of paint conditions and manufacturers recommended repair materials are offered by 3M and Meguiar's.

#### 3M

#### Recommended Repair Procedure

Paint Wet Machine Hand Condition Sanding Compounding Glazing Glazing* ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. New Car prep With Perfect It Imperial or fine wheel Foam Pad (Glaze Hand Glaze marks and Pad)

2. Coarse swirl Finesse-It II With Perfect It Imperial marks, chemical Finishing Foam Pad (Glaze Hand Glaze spotting, or light Material and Pad) oxidation

3. Overspray or Imperial With Perfect It Imperial medium oxidation Microfinishing Foam Pad (Glaze Hand Glaze Compound and Pad) (Medium Cut)

4. Heavy oxidation Micro Fine Finesse It II With Perfect It Imperial or minor acid 2000 Finishing Foam Pad (Glaze Hand Glaze rain pitting Material and Pad)

5. Dust nibs, minor Micro Fine Finesse-It II With Perfect It Imperial scratches, or 1500 or Finishing Foam Pad (Glaze Hand Glaze major acid rain 2000 Material and Pad) pitting

6. Orange peel, Micro Fine Imperial With Perfect It Imperial paint runs or 1200 or Microfinishing Foam Pad (Glaze Hand Glaze sags 1500 Compound and Pad) (Medium Cut)

*Optional Step

MEGUIAR'S ---------- Recommended Repair Procedure ---------------------------- Paint Wet Cleaning Polishing Condition Sanding ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. New car prep Swirl Remover #9 or fine wheel Use W-9000 marks Finishing Pad

A. Swirl marks, Swirl Remover #9 chemical spotting Use W-9000 or light oxidation Finishing Pad

A. Overspray or Heavy-Cut Cleaner Swirl Remover #9 medium oxidation #4 Use W-7000 Use W-9000 Cutting Pad Finishing Pad

A. Heavy oxidation Heavy-Cut Cleaner Swirl Remover #9 or minor acid rain #4 Use W-7000 Use W-9000 pitting Cutting Pad Finishing Pad

A. Dust nibs 2000 Grade Unigrit Heavy-Cut Cleaner Swirl Remover #9 Sanding Block #4 Use W-7000 Use W-9000 Cutting Pad Finishing Pad

B. Minor scrat- 2000 Grade Unigrit ches or acid Sanding Paper rain pitting

A. Major runs or 1500 Grade Unigrit Heavy-Cut Cleaner Swirl Remover #9 sags Sanding Block #4 Use W-7000 Use W-9000 Cutting Pad Finishing Pad

B. Major orange 1500 Grade Unigrit peel or acid Sanding Paper rain pitting

Contact your local 3M or Meguiar's representative and ask for a demonstration of their products. The recommended procedures should be followed to achieve the best results.

We believe these sources, their equipment, and materials to be reliable. There may be additional manufacturers of such materials and equipment. Saturn Corporation does not endorse, indicate any preference for, or assume responsibility for the products or equipment from these firms or for any such items which may be available from other sources.

General Motors bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, not a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, do not assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See a General Motors dealer servicing your brand of General Motors vehicle for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.