In one moment, your car’s painting is perfect and flawless, and in the next moment, a hanging branch, impacting gravel or a not-so-well-measured parking maneuver appears, and you can say goodbye to perfect gleaming. If you are also familiar with these situations, you can benefit from getting to know more about the use of polishing paste. Due to our wide product range, you can find a solution to a surface damage of any type and any depth.

Don’t leave it untreated

Sooner or later, your car will start to lose its old color and immaculate gleaming. No matter how much you take care of it, smaller or bigger damages are almost unavoidable. The first and most important rule is to react quickly and with a correct solution to adverse effects, because a homogeneous and scratch-free paintjob is unfortunately a short-lived phenomenon. Corrosive bird droppings, impact of gravel, fuel pipe carelessly thrown over the car, but even car washing cause micro-damages. Even more, you have to polish again after an incorrect polishing. Our product family of polishing pastes has been developed just for these situations. But not only the type of paste has a great importance. The tool, the depth and the movements of application also matter.

Cosmetic damages: is there still anything to be polished?

The most common mistake during polishing either in a car cosmetic shop or with your own hands is that abrasive paper, and not machine-powered abrasive disc is used to even the unevenness of the damaged surface, and although old scratches are removed, new ones are immediately created during repair. Machine-powered discs eliminate damaged surfaces with circular motions. As opposed to this, many conducts manual polishing with back-and-forth motions, scratching several straight lines into the surface. By the manual method, it is difficult to maintain the strength and consistent intensity of polishing. Deep scratches and trenches created this way are not visible during work, but they become visible after repolishing. With a machine-powered disc, work is more precise, while the result is more aesthetic.

Everything matters: the surface to be treated, the disc and the paste

Polishing is a process consisting of several phases. During polishing, due to heat and rubbing, we even the unevenness of the surface, that is we eliminate the top layer that is scratched. Polishing is the next phase, the last step of which is varnishing. One part of the polishing paste partially contains small abrasive particles, while the rest is vehicle that assist in applying the paste evenly on the surface to be treated. The size and density of particles in the paste determine what damages a product can be used for. For deeper scratches, you need another type of paste and a disc of exceptionally high quality, because we need to polish further and deeper to get a mirror-smooth surface. And the disc also needs to endure this level of stress. The professional polishing of plastic, varnished, glass or metal surfaces also requires a different treatment, therefore one must consider the type of surface to be treated before starting repair.

There is also a solution to the “hologram” damage

The name refers to the multitude of micro-damages concentrated in one place that have been caused by incorrect polishing. Fortunately, these are small scratches that are not too deep, but still clearly visible to the naked eye that are most often caused by discs made from wool. In some cases, it can be caused also by a sponge disc if the person polishing does not have experience in using the technique. Not only careful implementation, but a well-chosen wax also helps solve the problem. The use of the 3M™ Finesse-It™ polishing paste designed specifically to repair scratches caused by sanding and damages occurring during car manufacturing ensures a perfect, hologram-free result.

Modern paintjob deserves a fine procedure

The 3M™ Perfect-It™ Extra Fine Plus paste is an ideal accessory of new-generation paints. Due to its quick scratch-removing and surface-treating performance, work is easy and gentle with it.

Bright success – yellow cap is the help

A dust-free environment only exists under artificially created conditions. During car washing, the small dust particles being washed from the surface roll down on your wet car, leaving small scratches on the way. If you are not careful enough, even dust on the polishing sponge can damage the paintjob. The 3M ™ Perfect-It ™ A Fast Cut Plus Extreme removes scratches ultra-fast and makes the surface glossy. You can further the effect with the color-coded green sponges of the manufacturer.

There have always been and there will always be micro-damages on cars. But whether it is a small or a large “injury”, the yellow cap is for you! Choose the large packaging because it is always necessary to cosmetic your car.

In certain jobs, it is mandatory to wear protective equipment. In every case, it is the competence and responsibility of the employer to determine the type and category of protective equipment that is required for the concerned job within the concerned organization. But what are the aspects to consider when categorizing protective equipment? We will provide an answer to this in our following blog entry.
 
Personal protective equipment comprises clothing accessories, devices, gear, equipment, and tool that are used or worn by a person as a protection against one or more risks threatening their health and/or safety.
 
The level of protection
 
The most important property of the personal protective equipment is its level of protection, which depends on three factors. In order to determine the level of protection, we need to know the protective capabilities, the protection class of the tool, as well as the degree of protection ensured by the protective equipment.

The phrase “protective capability” indicates the potential danger or harmful agents from which the concerned gear or tool protects the person. This can be quite diverse and different depending on the areas of use. It can protect from falling, from excessive heat or from cold, from noise pollution, from permanent vibration or from the injury of the concerned body part (for example cutting).

The protection class means the level of protection the personal protective equipment can provide against determined risks.
 
The degree of protection defines the extent of protection the concerned protective equipment can provide against a specified hazard or harmful agent.
 
Of course, the so-called complex protective equipment is also common, which provides protection against multiple potential hazards at the same time, although mostly to varying degrees.
 
Categories of the level of protection
 
Regarding the level of protection, we have three different categories.
 
Category No. 1
 
The first category comprises protective equipment providing protection against the following:

• mechanical hazards causing surface injuries
• handling of objects with a surface temperature not exceeding 50°C
• handling of objects not associated with dangerous impact (it requires wearing gloves and apron)
• not extreme or exceptional weather conditions (waterproof raincoat)
• light impacts and vibrations that do not cause permanent injuries
• sunshine (sunglasses).

Category No. 2
This category contains all the protective equipment that do not belong either to the first or to the third category.

Category No. 3
Here you can find complex protective equipment that protect from fatal accidents and from effects causing severe, irreversible health damage:

• respiratory protective equipment
• protection against chemical effects, ionizing radiation
• protection against a heat effect of or above 100°C
• protective equipment against a temperature below – 50°C
• equipment to prevent falling
• risk of electric shock

The light of our eyes
 
With the adjustable super bright LED, and with the Led Light Vision protective eyewear with long-lasting batteries of more than 50 hours, you can definitely illuminate what you are looking at. And even your hands will remain free.
 
Music to our ears?
 
Noisy environments are proved to be harmful to health. In addition to protection against noise pollution, the prevention of possible infections and the protection against electric shock, which is more and more important today, are just as important. The 3M One-Touch Pro earplug dispenser allows for the hygienic and contactless storage and easy availability of earplugs stored in it. And if it is out, you can economically reorder our 3M 1120 earplugs.

There are cases when earplugs are not enough. There is a solution. The 3M PELTOR Bull's Eye ear muffs provide maximum protection even in extremely noisy environments. They are not only lightweight but ergonomic as well, so it is comfortable to continuously wear them. This type of product is extremely ideal also for sport shooters. Due to their oblique design, they do not come into contact with the butt of the gun, therefore they do not prevent optimal posture. They are available in red, black, and green colors.
 
Tailored protection
 
The 3M™ 4510 protective overall provides an economical protection against infectious substances, certain types of hazardous dusts, and some types of splashing liquids. It is made from a breathable material. Due to its adequate level of breathing, heat and vapor freely evaporate from your skin and leaves the clothes. It is a lightweight, comfortable but still a safe protective equipment for everyday use.

Summertime is the best time for various renovations and other paint works. This is the season when we automatically leave windows wide open, while the dry and warm weather facilitates the quick drying of painted walls. However, unwanted smearing, paint-splattered light switches, smudged skirting boards spoil the overall picture. Since it is difficult and lengthy – or even impossible – to remove smearing, we can face these small mistakes and aesthetic errors again and again, for years. Masking tape is a paper-based adhesive tape available in a number of widths that makes it easier and more accurate to apply paint on a surface.

Easy to use, easy to remove

The use of masking tape is very simple. It covers and hides the area to be protected, so you do not have to paint so carefully and fiddly, thus resulting in a much faster work. Paint getting on the tape does not penetrate it, the tape does not discolor protected areas, its special adhesive layer does not leave a mark and does not cause a damage either. A huge advantage of masking tapes is that they can be easily removed. So, if you cannot apply the tape correctly for the first time, it can be removed and applied again with one move. At the end of painting, it can be pulled from any surface with one move.

Straight lines, precise edges

The use of painter’s tapes does not require special knowledge. You just have to stick them onto edges you wish to spare during painting. In case of meticulous painting in small areas, like in corners, narrow masking tapes will be fit for purpose. And if you paint with sweeping motions on a large surface, it is advisable to use a wider type of tape as well.

The 3M™ 501E Masking tape, also available in our range of products, is a professional product meeting all demands. It resists chemicals, solvents, and it is characterized by a high degree of heat resistance. Work is done quickly and well with it.

The 3M™ 301E High-performance industrial masking tape is an ideal choice also for large surfaces. It is made of a water-resistant, thick, crepe material that protects the surface efficiently.

Can it be checkered, zebra-striped?

It can be! Masking tapes can be used even for creative purposes. Feel free to use them if you would like to renew the study or brighten up the kids’ empire with a little bit of wall decor. Zebra-stripes, arrows, checkers, abstract shapes: with a few buckets of paint and a little fantasy, you can create the most diverse shapes, either three-dimensional or interlaced, or unique patterns with them. We recommend the 3M™ Fine Line Masking tape specifically for this purpose. Its rear side is semi-transparent, so you can see where the tape is placed. You can check even after application how accurate the alignment is. If you wish to adjust subsequently, just pull it and apply it again.

Indoors

Several types of this product are available, not only by width and by product characteristics, but also by area of use. Generally speaking, you can use practically any type indoors according to needs for use.

Outdoors

If you would like to paint outdoors, it is recommended to buy masking tapes made specifically for this purpose. Why is this important? These types are much more resistant to weather conditions, like strong UV-radiation or unexpected rainfall. Due to their special adhesive layer, sunlight does not burn them onto the treated surface. Unfortunately, this often happens in case of indoor masking tapes used outdoors and “left there”. After a while, the tape becomes so adhesive due to sunlight that it can be removed only in small pieces, leaving an ugly mark. These not-so-appealing tape residues can be removed only with significant physical impact, like rubbing or scraping. And this process is not only time-consuming but also damages and scratches the surface that we originally wanted to protect.

Masking tapes, even on cars

The easiest way to repair small scratches or aesthetic damages on cars is painting. However, if one fails to implement it well enough, the telltale signs of dispersing paint also deface the appearance. The 3M 06347 Perforated masking tape has been developed specifically to cover sections of rubber at the edges of windshields and windows. The non-self-adhesive part of the plastic tape needs to be placed under the sections of rubber, while the wider self-adhesive part needs to be folded underneath and stuck onto the surface to be protected. As a result of our product, and of course of careful masking, the car will be as good as new.

The removal of labels or stickers often leaves an ugly spot on the materials and it affects appearance. Have you ever seen an adhesive residue discolored by dust? Unfortunately, we also have. Luckily, we have the remedy.
 
Would you like to recycle glass jars or to remove the highway sticker from the windshield? Did your child decorate their room in a way you did not like and now they do not either? Or perhaps you bought new glasses or dishes but there is still adhesive residue on the bottom? Unfortunately, these prove to be very sticky even after several rounds of dishwashing. We will show you the home science you can use against these. As a preliminary point, we can tell you that we will show you solutions even if you are not in the mood or you do not have the time to tinker with a little bit lengthy home science.

Removal of adhesive from glass
In case of stickers on glass, some alcohol can even help. You can easily use this also for the windshield. Soak a cotton ball in alcohol and rub the concerned surface with it. In case of plastic surfaces, we recommend you choose another method because it can become dull after removing the adhesive.

Acetone or paint thinner on furniture panels
In case of contamination of furniture panels, nail polish remover or paint thinner can also be good. Even their application is the same: spill some on a cotton ball and then rub the contaminated furniture panel with it. Apply it, let it take effect, and then carefully scrape it off. Be careful. Before you apply it, it is worth trying it on a less visible spot because paint thinner can make some types of material matte, while nail polish remover can even remove the top layer.

Iron on fabrics
In case of a rug that stuck together, you can use the iron. Hold the iron above it and warm up and soften the adhesive residue with hot steam. You can try this method even on parquet. Its huge advantage is that you can deal with spots without scratches.

Turn it against itself
It might seem bizarre, but you can neutralize certain types of adhesives with adhesive. Put some adhesive tapes onto the contamination and then carefully pull it. If the old adhesive stuck to the new one, you have won.

You can look around also in the kitchen
Removal with alcohol should be avoided not only in case of plastics but generally in case of every chemically treated surface. In such cases, you can try household cooking oil. Apply it, let it take effect for at least 20 minutes, and then you can wipe the oil with a cloth or a sponge – together with the adhesive if you are lucky. If it did not come off, you can try vinegar as well. For maximum effect, many puts sodium bicarbonate into the oil. Perhaps you can try it if the oil was not enough in itself. You can soak glass jars in water with dish soap. It works in case of certain types of adhesive, while certain products are more persistent.

… or in the bathroom
If you are looking for a chemical-free solution, you can even use a hair dryer to remove adhesives. It warms up and somewhat melts the adhesive; it works on a similar principle as the previously mentioned method of the iron. In its diffused and warm state, the adhesive is easier to remove. Probably the result will not be immaculate, and you have to also use a cloth with detergent on the surface, so the method is not chemical-free, while the process is a little bit time consuming.

… or you can go for sure
If you would like to quickly put an end to that, the 3M™ Adhesive Removal will be the perfect solution. Do not be fooled by its name, you can remove not only adhesives with it, but also the undesirable residue of wax, grease, oil or even tar. Due to its versatility, it certainly will not lie unused in your home.
It can be used quickly and simply. Following its application, it dissolves persistent spots within a few minutes. After that, wipe the contaminated surface with a moist and then with a dry cloth. It will be almost better than new. With the help of our 3M™ Film Removal System, you can completely remove films for graphic purposes, without damaging the surface.