Removing extrem holograms in classic car paint
Channel: Classic-Car.TV
Date: 2020-07-02

Dark paints on the vehicle are particularly sensitive when it comes to micro-scratches or so-called holograms. Improper polishing of a lacquer can also lead to very extreme holograms. Often black or dark lacquers are also very soft and therefore tend to form a strong hologram if the polishing pad is contaminated or the wrong polish is used. In direct light you can see a very distinctive pattern on the vehicle.
First the paint is dusted and cleaned with a cleaning pen. No fine dust particles or dirt should penetrate the pad, as these can also cause small microscratches.
A small amount of polish is applied to a clean, soft polishing pad, in this case a polish from Scholl Concepts, referred to as S30 +, is applied. A rotary polisher Shinex from Festool is used for the first polishing. The polish is spread evenly on the paint and the pad is placed softly. The machine tilts slightly when the machine starts up, preventing the polish from splashing around. It is important to note that polishing up a lacquer is not about removing the lacquer forcefully, but rather guiding the machine safely and without high pressure over the lacquer. The polishing machine is moved over the paint with steady, even movements and the paths should always overlap by about 50%. In the meantime, the direction of polishing is changed.
After the first pass, the polish is wiped off with a soft cloth. Another polish is applied to a fresh pad. This polish, Scholl Concepts W09, contains a very gentle polish and a portion of carnauba wax. This polish is now also carried out in soft, constant movements with the machine over the paint. The traces of the polish should be almost completely gone. This is a sign that the polish has been applied completely.
Excess polish is now wiped off with a clean, very soft cloth. After the machine has been set down. however, the wax still has to harden in the polish. This takes a few minutes. Alcohol is not used because it would dissolve the wax components.
An alternative to carry out the last polishing cycle more gently and to prevent any new hologram formation is to use an eccentric polisher for this polishing cycle, e.g. Festool Rotex, to be used when idling. The pad slows down the rotation when the paint is touched and only executes the eccentric movement in the appropriate manner.
For the preparation of an entire vehicle, the techniques described can be used in around 1 hour of work.