Hologramming

Hi guys, what causes hologramming? And how can i avoid it as im about to try machine polishing with a DA polisher for the first time? Cheers chaps

 

Holograms are caused by Rotory polishers. You don't have worry about that with DA polishers...Have fun...:thumb:

 

They are caused by not breaking down the plolish enough and/or bad technique But you shouldn't have an issue with a DA:gidiup:

 

:agree: with above posts!!

 

DA's can cause holograms some slight holograming. Rotaries do cause holograms but the how noticable or not even induced are all in your skill level.

 

Hologramming is also caused I believe by dry buffing

 

:ditto:

 

Isn't it also caused by holding the buffer pad to the vehicle at an improper angle?

 

thats swirls mate, not hologramming
Close but not quite

 

Holograms - A pattern of small scratches left in a finished paint surface by the pad or sander during the sanding compounding and/or polishing operation;

a)Are caused by not allowing a diminishing polish to fully break-down i.e. insufficient work time, the product should become somewhat transparent (i.e looks like thin cover of Vaseline)
b)Dry buffing
c Using too much polish
d)Not working a product long enough
e)Using an overly aggressive pad
f)RPM speed too high
g)Pad angle (keep the foam pads flat) etc.

A finishing foam pad and polish should remove them

 

I always buff at an angle. The angle does not induce swirls...this is like an urban myth or something.

The reason beginners are told to buff with a flat pad is the increased risk if burning the paint when at an angle. Obviously you don't want to buff at an exaggerated angle but rather only open up the pad just a bit. The helps in avoiding the hops and skips.

Swirls and holograms are one in the same and are caused by not finishing your polishing work down properly. They are fine micro-scratches and as others have noted you need to finish down with the finest pad/product combo. Always checking your work and if need be finish with an orbital. So yes make sure your pads are clean, your work area is free of debris, your towels are clean and that you properly break down your material but technically swirls (holograms) are micro scratches.

Anthony

 

You should be OK with your DA, or even forced DA and not worry about leaving any holograms!

 

Actually, Dream Machines, Turns out I am right. I've read about that before anyways, even on this very forum.

 

Very interesting, thanks for the replies guys, it sounds like i should be ok with a DA polisher as long as i break down the polish correctly and learn a good technique.

 

Opening up the face of the pad a little is fine, it's those dummies who really open up the face of the pad and buff at a steep angle that leave swirls

 

I don't disagree with your comment on polishing with an angled pad - but I don't know the ability / experience of the reader so its best to teach the 'safe' method (there are other problems associated with running a pad at an angle) and once they obtain more experience they can adopt their own style.

 

I don't get hopping and skipping from a rotary. If your getting that, the paint is either porous and dry and needs non abrasive deep cleaning first to make it moisturised or slick so that the buffer glides over the surface, or the paint has sticky clearcoat and needs parrafin oil added to the buff pad so that it lubricates the pad and surface and keeps the temperature of the paint slightly below the point where the clearcoat becomes sticky

Deep cleaning and this parrafin oil technique is controversial as it another, however I do it all the time on customer vehicles

Buffing dead flat is always better than buffing at a slight angle IMHO

 

Agree

 

I do get hopping and skipping from a rotary when i din centralise my pad properly.

 

I do not know which task I did wrong but I think I hologramed a spot (thought it was a smudge) but will need to go back over it this spring when I re-polish. I probably used to much polish and I know I was not cleaning the pad often enough.