buffing time

[dharrod]

I'll add that it depends on your color, how well the paint is sprayed, how much clear is on, how many cars you've buffed. Obviously the more orange peal you have the lower you'll start off with. I was told a good paint job will only require two stages of wet, 3 creams, and a wax. If all goes well when I paint I can use 1500/2000 or 1500/2500. Pick your poison on the creams .. several ok brands out there. Lamens terms are 'compound' then 'swirl remover' then 'glaze' (generally 3 creams). I mentioned amount of clear only because a quality paint shop not only lays down a good starting point but they also know how much to lay down and how to work through the buffing stages (i.e they don't over sand with 1500 and are able to work the stages). It also helps to have the right tools both a strong straight spin buffer with a big ole pad for the compound and a separate random orbital buffer really help (it takes forever to do the first cream with a random orbital). Finally BLACK SUCKS ... the finest lines can be seen. I say a black car takes 2-3 times as long.