The first pass is the stage where the fate of 99.9% of scratches is decided. At restoreLab, we use the Rotary + Wool combination because it is the most efficient way to reach the bottom of a scratch without wasting time.
1
The "40×40" Protocol and the "Snake Pattern" Technique
Polishing an entire panel at once is the fastest route to overheating and uneven results.
| Working area | We always divide the panel into 40×40 cm sections. |
| Movement pattern | The machine moves in a horizontal snake pattern — from edge to edge, without pauses or stops. |
| Level control | The right hand constantly maintains a level plane, while the tail of the machine is held at a 45-degree angle to the body for maximum control. |
2
Pressure and Temperature Management
Cutting efficiency directly depends on how much force you apply.
| Pressure | On large horizontal surfaces, we use up to 20 kg of pressure. This allows the compound to work at full capacity. |
| Heat control | Every 20 seconds of work, we stop and check the temperature of the clear coat with the palm of the hand. If the surface feels hot, we move to a neighboring section and let the first one cool down. |
| Localized correction | When removing deep scratches with a small rotary, pressure is reduced to 8–12 kg due to the smaller contact area and increased aggressiveness. |
3
The Physics of the Wool Pad
Wool is the most aggressive cutting tool in our arsenal.
| Center of efficiency | Keep in mind that maximum cutting power occurs closer to the center of the pad. To properly work the edges of a panel, the center of the pad must extend beyond the perimeter. |
| Angle risk | We do not recommend increasing the pad angle by more than 5 degrees. Tilting the machine increases aggressiveness, but it also multiplies the risk of burning through the clear coat. |
4
Tool Hygiene: Cleaning the Wool Pad
A wool pad clogged with spent compound stops cutting and starts "skipping" across the panel.
restoreLab engineering analogy
Why walk when you can fly? The Rotary + Wool combination is your airplane. It gets you to the target dramatically faster and with far less effort than trying to cut out a deep scratch with foam or a dual action polisher.
| Routine | We clean the pad after every second pass (one pass = approximately 60 seconds of work). |
| Technique | Use a dedicated pad spur or wool cleaning brush to comb the fibers, then spin the pad out at speed to eject any remaining polishing dust. |