I paid for a custom 'handjob'
05-21-2010, 12:24 AM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
I paid for a custom 'handjob'
Treated myself to a 'hand job'. I had someone professionally detail my girl. He always does pic stories.
WARNING: LOTS O LOTS O PICS
This Vette has had a life of being pampered. Only being driven on sunny days, always being stored in garages, nothing but the best for her. The past couple of owners have definitely taken pride in her, and taken great care of her. But, somewhere along the way there has been a few improper wash jobs causing a few surface defects such as random light scratches, spider webbing and other light defects. The owner wanted it brought back to it's Tru_Shine! in 14 hours straight!
Beginning the prep:
Weapon's of choice
5 gal bucket
Grit Guard
100% Sheep skin wash mitt
Dawn ultra concentrate
EZ detail brush small and large
Chemical Guys Diablo wheel Gel 3:1 ratio
misc wheel brush
spoke wheel brush
lug nut brush
P21s polishing soap
Clay magic blue fine Claybar
other misc bushes
I began by washing with a Strong dilution of Dawn detergent to really strip off any old waxes, This is a very important step because if the pad is polishing on top of waxes then its not working at its full potential and you wont see the optimum results when finished. After the wash, the car was Clayed using the soapy water as lube.
Here is the car when I arrived.
I first sprayed the Chemical guys Diablo Wheel Gel to let it dwell and break down all of the wheel grime while I got everything together for the wash.
after that I presoaked the car knocking off anything big
Using my EZ detail brushes, I got into all of the tight areas.
I polished out the tips using P21s polishing soap
After that, I went back to the wheels and gave them some scrubbin
This is after all of the waxes and fillers were removed.
Now I pull the car in and get to taping it up
Once everything was taped up I began buffing the paint using my FLEX 3401 with the Cyan Hydro tech pad and Meguiar's M105 ultimate compound.
I used the Rotary buffer with a GlossIt 3" foam backing plate with a Cyan Hydrotech 4" pad to get in all of the small areas
Followed by the 4" Tangerine Hydrotech pad w/ M205 for the polishing of these areas
This red was making it very difficult to capture the defects in the light but I managed to get a couple. here is a 50/50 using my Brinkmans duel xenon swirl finder light
I used the Griot's Garage 3" orbitl polisher w/ 4" backing plate to get all of the areas that the Flex couldn't get.
I usually start at the Driver fender and make my way arround to the passenger side
I check each panel using the Brinkmans duel xenon light, look at that clarity!
The whole roof had some acid rain etching that wasn't buffing out easily, So I wet sanded with 3000 grit to knock off a very fine level of the clear to remove the etching.
I removed the 3000 grit wetsand marks using a Lake country Purple Foamed wool pad and Meguiars M105
After the Dusty compounding stage I use my Metro Magic Air to blow out all of the crevices and to get the dust off the car. I attach a vacuum hose with crevice tools to get high psi coming out of the tip.
The compounding stage is finally done, Now its time to use the new Lake country Crimson hydrotech pad via Flex 3401 and Meguiars M205 Ultra Finishing polish
I removed all of the tape and applied Black Fire Wet Diamond to the paint using a Lake country Blue finishing pad via Flex 3401.
So while the Black Fire Wet diamond was Curing I took care of a few Misc defects
One problem was the reverse light lense had a scuff on it that the owner wanted removed
I polished out all of the tail lights
I dressed all of the black plastic with 303 aero space protectant
The owner had request for me to polsh out some scuff on his painted speaker box, So i used my Griot's garage with a 4" cyan hydrotech pad and M105
Once most of the scuffs were removed I applied some Dodo Juice Super Natural wax with my Auto Glym perfect palm applicator pad.
After all of that, The owner decided that he wanting the Inside and out of the wheels to be polished.
So I lifted up the car and began to remove the wheels and polish them one side at a time.
I the first time around I used White Diamond Polish with #0000 steel wool to knock down the Real bad stuff. then went back with a foam applicator for the final polish
here are some pics of the wheels (Each wheel received this process)
I dressed the Fender wells with 303 protectant as well
It was Midnight before I finished
I had to come back a few days later to get the final day light pics, So here they are
Thanks for viewing, I hope you enjoyed it!
WARNING: LOTS O LOTS O PICS
This Vette has had a life of being pampered. Only being driven on sunny days, always being stored in garages, nothing but the best for her. The past couple of owners have definitely taken pride in her, and taken great care of her. But, somewhere along the way there has been a few improper wash jobs causing a few surface defects such as random light scratches, spider webbing and other light defects. The owner wanted it brought back to it's Tru_Shine! in 14 hours straight!
Beginning the prep:
Weapon's of choice
5 gal bucket
Grit Guard
100% Sheep skin wash mitt
Dawn ultra concentrate
EZ detail brush small and large
Chemical Guys Diablo wheel Gel 3:1 ratio
misc wheel brush
spoke wheel brush
lug nut brush
P21s polishing soap
Clay magic blue fine Claybar
other misc bushes
I began by washing with a Strong dilution of Dawn detergent to really strip off any old waxes, This is a very important step because if the pad is polishing on top of waxes then its not working at its full potential and you wont see the optimum results when finished. After the wash, the car was Clayed using the soapy water as lube.
Here is the car when I arrived.
I first sprayed the Chemical guys Diablo Wheel Gel to let it dwell and break down all of the wheel grime while I got everything together for the wash.
after that I presoaked the car knocking off anything big
Using my EZ detail brushes, I got into all of the tight areas.
I polished out the tips using P21s polishing soap
After that, I went back to the wheels and gave them some scrubbin
This is after all of the waxes and fillers were removed.
Now I pull the car in and get to taping it up
Once everything was taped up I began buffing the paint using my FLEX 3401 with the Cyan Hydro tech pad and Meguiar's M105 ultimate compound.
I used the Rotary buffer with a GlossIt 3" foam backing plate with a Cyan Hydrotech 4" pad to get in all of the small areas
Followed by the 4" Tangerine Hydrotech pad w/ M205 for the polishing of these areas
This red was making it very difficult to capture the defects in the light but I managed to get a couple. here is a 50/50 using my Brinkmans duel xenon swirl finder light
I used the Griot's Garage 3" orbitl polisher w/ 4" backing plate to get all of the areas that the Flex couldn't get.
I usually start at the Driver fender and make my way arround to the passenger side
I check each panel using the Brinkmans duel xenon light, look at that clarity!
The whole roof had some acid rain etching that wasn't buffing out easily, So I wet sanded with 3000 grit to knock off a very fine level of the clear to remove the etching.
I removed the 3000 grit wetsand marks using a Lake country Purple Foamed wool pad and Meguiars M105
After the Dusty compounding stage I use my Metro Magic Air to blow out all of the crevices and to get the dust off the car. I attach a vacuum hose with crevice tools to get high psi coming out of the tip.
The compounding stage is finally done, Now its time to use the new Lake country Crimson hydrotech pad via Flex 3401 and Meguiars M205 Ultra Finishing polish
I removed all of the tape and applied Black Fire Wet Diamond to the paint using a Lake country Blue finishing pad via Flex 3401.
So while the Black Fire Wet diamond was Curing I took care of a few Misc defects
One problem was the reverse light lense had a scuff on it that the owner wanted removed
I polished out all of the tail lights
I dressed all of the black plastic with 303 aero space protectant
The owner had request for me to polsh out some scuff on his painted speaker box, So i used my Griot's garage with a 4" cyan hydrotech pad and M105
Once most of the scuffs were removed I applied some Dodo Juice Super Natural wax with my Auto Glym perfect palm applicator pad.
After all of that, The owner decided that he wanting the Inside and out of the wheels to be polished.
So I lifted up the car and began to remove the wheels and polish them one side at a time.
I the first time around I used White Diamond Polish with #0000 steel wool to knock down the Real bad stuff. then went back with a foam applicator for the final polish
here are some pics of the wheels (Each wheel received this process)
I dressed the Fender wells with 303 protectant as well
It was Midnight before I finished
I had to come back a few days later to get the final day light pics, So here they are
Thanks for viewing, I hope you enjoyed it!
05-21-2010, 08:23 AM
#4
Race Director
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Cape Cod, Mass.
Posts: 18,762
Received 4,551 Likes
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2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
That's a heck of a day's work. Nice job and attention to detail 
05-21-2010, 08:24 AM
#5
Team Owner
A lot of work but the results are awesome.
I need to take my wheels off and clean them like that! 
05-21-2010, 06:39 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Excellent Job! Great write up also.
05-21-2010, 07:20 PM
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 10,789
Received 888 Likes
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553 Posts
Oldtimer
Wow!!! What a difference. The car looks great! Had that been me, I would've been sore for a couple of days. 
What did you use to buff out the backup lights?
Had that been me, I would've been sore for a couple of days. What did you use to buff out the backup lights?
05-22-2010, 01:19 AM
#12
Le Mans Master
That's how it's done!
Where did you get the 4" Backing Plate and pads for the small Griot's polisher? Mine came with a 3"?
Where did you get the 4" Backing Plate and pads for the small Griot's polisher? Mine came with a 3"?
05-22-2010, 01:20 AM
#13
Le Mans Master
great job all around
05-22-2010, 08:14 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
I believe I've found someone here who is as **** as I am!!!! Now that's some nice detailing! Excellent correction work and attention to detail.
Is your detailer a member of "truthindetailing dot com". If not, he should be! That's some first rate work!
Excellent correction work and attention to detail.Is your detailer a member of "truthindetailing dot com". If not, he should be! That's some first rate work!
Last edited by Luster; 05-22-2010 at 08:16 AM.
05-22-2010, 09:24 AM
#16
Instructor
Thread Starter
I will ask him. I know the big one he's on is Autopia.org
05-22-2010, 09:38 AM
#17
Former Vendor
Member Since: Feb 2006
Location: Orlando/Oviedo FL
Posts: 1,943
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Wow what a great looking C5 and great work as well! For 350 dollars and 15 hours the poor guy barely made 20 an hour after overhead/insurance/ etc! You got one heck of a good deal on a great looking car. Congrats!
, they were the best of times