[C2] Paint care
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 752
Likes: 113
From: Charlotte NC
11b427,
Very pretty car, and I stand by what I said, you can make that look 100% better with some clay bar, polish and wax.
I use a Porter Cable DA buffer also, and it makes the polishing effort much easier.
someone with really good paint restoration skills may be able to remove those silver stripes if you really want them gone.
Aflyer
Very pretty car, and I stand by what I said, you can make that look 100% better with some clay bar, polish and wax.
I use a Porter Cable DA buffer also, and it makes the polishing effort much easier.
someone with really good paint restoration skills may be able to remove those silver stripes if you really want them gone.
Aflyer
Drifting
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 800
From: New Orleans
That car looks like it time traveled from the late 70's... and I mean that in a completely complimentary way!
I thought we were going to see a car with crusty old paint but it actually looks decent. It should clean up nicely and the bare spots somehow work with the stripe to give it a really cool vibe.
I thought we were going to see a car with crusty old paint but it actually looks decent. It should clean up nicely and the bare spots somehow work with the stripe to give it a really cool vibe.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,373
Likes: 2,882
From: Western Massachusetts
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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This does not match my experience. The Harbor Freight DA with a cutting pad and using Meguires Ultimate Compound certainly did remove a dull layer of my 60 year old factory lacquer paint.
The pad was white after a few minutes (it started off orange).
And the finish was vastly improved after the process.
The pad was white after a few minutes (it started off orange).
And the finish was vastly improved after the process.
Dan
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 4,770
Likes: 2,401
From: McKinney Texas
I haven’t tried the clay bar on my truck yet. I know it needs it but do like my random orbital polisher. Nice car by the way OP. I like the full stripe and we thought about blue/silver but ended up with blue/black.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 1,321
Here is a link to autogeeks website showing the application of Meguiar's #7 to old, neglected single stage paint with great results.
It's worth the read.
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ge-paints.html
or
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ew-friend.html
It's worth the read.
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ge-paints.html
or
https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ew-friend.html
Excellent reading; Thanks NJSWC, Kevin Brown and Larry Kosilla of AMMO NYC have some great tips
https://www.youtube.com/user/AMMONYCdotcom/videos
Understanding the technical aspects of paint
General polishing technique and equipment
Polishing technique of how to remove scratches
Putting the theory into practise … What to do and what not to do - The game plan
67 vette coming back to life after sitting idle for some time
Also an "old" tip on washing; add a "splosh" of Kerosene to the wash mix, this removes all detritus and protects the paint.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,738
Likes: 3,723
From: Central Arkansas
I was not clear. I use a DA on my cars with good results when I need it. I was speaking of old paint that is hard, not all old paint gets hard but many do. When that happens improvement is difficult without the cutting ability of a rotary. I like the suggestion of a thinner foam pad, I'll have to try that.
Dan
Dan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 5,373
Likes: 2,882
From: Western Massachusetts
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2015 C2 of the Year Finalist
I’ve had a Mguires DA polisher for 15 years but never thought it did much except finesse paint already in good condition. Then a few months ago I got it out to try on my GTX which doesn’t have the best paint and I had a thinner black foam pad I picked up somewhere and I was surprised that it seemed to be doing pretty well in removing scratches. Then I started applying a little more pressure since the whole pad is in contact with the surface unlike a rotary polisher and I was pretty pleased with the results. To reinforce the thinner pad concept I noticed my new Groits catalog I got last week is now selling a line of thinner pads for their new line of long throw DA polishers.
While a DA is not best for buffing hardened paint I discovered that one CAN burn through clear coat on a modern car using one stupidly. Having sent the garage door down the backside of my wife's new Benz SUV I trotted out with the DA and some mild compound and burned through trying to remove a scratch. So it is possible to make a mess with a DA.
Dan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,198
Likes: 1,321
I’ve had a Mguires DA polisher for 15 years but never thought it did much except finesse paint already in good condition. Then a few months ago I got it out to try on my GTX which doesn’t have the best paint and I had a thinner black foam pad I picked up somewhere and I was surprised that it seemed to be doing pretty well in removing scratches. Then I started applying a little more pressure since the whole pad is in contact with the surface unlike a rotary polisher and I was pretty pleased with the results. To reinforce the thinner pad concept I noticed my new Groits catalog I got last week is now selling a line of thinner pads for their new line of long throw DA polishers.
There are some good Youtube video on using a Porter Cable 7424 which is what I have. Regardless Dan, your comment above has largely been my experience. The orange pads are best for what cutting a DA is capable, I'll have to look for thin ones. My cars don't require correction but my friends cars often do and where I find myself using it.
While a DA is not best for buffing hardened paint I discovered that one CAN burn through clear coat on a modern car using one stupidly. Having sent the garage door down the backside of my wife's new Benz SUV I trotted out with the DA and some mild compound and burned through trying to remove a scratch. So it is possible to make a mess with a DA.
Dan
While a DA is not best for buffing hardened paint I discovered that one CAN burn through clear coat on a modern car using one stupidly. Having sent the garage door down the backside of my wife's new Benz SUV I trotted out with the DA and some mild compound and burned through trying to remove a scratch. So it is possible to make a mess with a DA.
Dan
The videos posted above show in detail the benefits of using an orbital polisher V rotary polisher and pad choices for optimal results.
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