Protect That Paint Job
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
Protect That Paint Job
Every car I've had eventually gets the swirly surface scratches in the finish that result from washing, waxing, drying, etc. I'm getting ready to have my '75 painted and don't want these scratches if I can avoid them. Am I fighting a losing battle?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
The trick is, and I know Ill get some flack for this, is to NOTTTT put a clearcoat on a new paintjob.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
Think about it, what are you doing when you try to buff out a clearcoat scratch? Youre just swirling around more clearcoat, not the actual paint. If its JUST pain, every time you wax and polish it, youre doing so directly to the paint, not some layer of clear crap that gets scratched up and dull.
Youll have to wax, polish and care for a 0 clearcoat paintjob 2 or 3 times more than a clearcoat job, but I can promise you the results are well worth it.
BTW it will cost you more as well, because the general rule is you put extra layers of paint on a car without a clear to the tune of 1 layer of paint for every layer of clear that ould have gone on.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
Think about it, what are you doing when you try to buff out a clearcoat scratch? Youre just swirling around more clearcoat, not the actual paint. If its JUST pain, every time you wax and polish it, youre doing so directly to the paint, not some layer of clear crap that gets scratched up and dull.
Youll have to wax, polish and care for a 0 clearcoat paintjob 2 or 3 times more than a clearcoat job, but I can promise you the results are well worth it.
BTW it will cost you more as well, because the general rule is you put extra layers of paint on a car without a clear to the tune of 1 layer of paint for every layer of clear that ould have gone on.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
[QUOTE=81 Vette]The trick is, and I know Ill get some flack for this, is to NOTTTT put a clearcoat on a new paintjob.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
[QUOTE]
i seriously doubt that. Not trying to give you flack, just disagreeing. If longer lasting paint jobs didn't involve clearcoats, then every manufacturer wouldn't put bc/cc on their cars. Nicer quality, no way...nothing looks better than a wet, deep clear coat.
No matter what, your finish especially with clear, is going to have those small scratches..the key is to disguise them well with buffing and polishing. Example, Zaino Z5 does very well on hiding scratches by putting the polishing scratches in one direction so that they aren't as noticeable.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
[QUOTE]
i seriously doubt that. Not trying to give you flack, just disagreeing. If longer lasting paint jobs didn't involve clearcoats, then every manufacturer wouldn't put bc/cc on their cars. Nicer quality, no way...nothing looks better than a wet, deep clear coat.
No matter what, your finish especially with clear, is going to have those small scratches..the key is to disguise them well with buffing and polishing. Example, Zaino Z5 does very well on hiding scratches by putting the polishing scratches in one direction so that they aren't as noticeable.
Last edited by LFZ; Oct 14, 2004 at 01:24 PM.
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
If your scratches are fine waxing / washing scratches that don't penetrate the clear a good detailer can buff them out ( a bad one will take th paint off)
If the scratches are deeper, you need to touch up the paint, harder, but possible..
Assuming you have minor washing scratches, once you do buff them out you can keep them from happening again by always washing / waxing in a linear motion.
Front of the car to back.
straight lines always.
You see it's the circular motion of washing that makes cicular scratches and circular scratches can catch the light from any angle, while straight scratches can only catch the light from one angle...makes them much less obvious.
The whole point of clearcoat is to protect the paint. The paint is not exposed to the elements and the clear provides a UV protection.
Also modern paint must be clearcoated, otherwise it is flat. Of course if you grandfather has some leftovers in his basement...
If the scratches are deeper, you need to touch up the paint, harder, but possible..
Assuming you have minor washing scratches, once you do buff them out you can keep them from happening again by always washing / waxing in a linear motion.
Front of the car to back.
straight lines always.
You see it's the circular motion of washing that makes cicular scratches and circular scratches can catch the light from any angle, while straight scratches can only catch the light from one angle...makes them much less obvious.
The whole point of clearcoat is to protect the paint. The paint is not exposed to the elements and the clear provides a UV protection.
Also modern paint must be clearcoated, otherwise it is flat. Of course if you grandfather has some leftovers in his basement...
Originally Posted by 81 Vette
The trick is, and I know Ill get some flack for this, is to NOTTTT put a clearcoat on a new paintjob.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
Think about it, what are you doing when you try to buff out a clearcoat scratch? Youre just swirling around more clearcoat, not the actual paint. If its JUST pain, every time you wax and polish it, youre doing so directly to the paint, not some layer of clear crap that gets scratched up and dull.
Youll have to wax, polish and care for a 0 clearcoat paintjob 2 or 3 times more than a clearcoat job, but I can promise you the results are well worth it.
BTW it will cost you more as well, because the general rule is you put extra layers of paint on a car without a clear to the tune of 1 layer of paint for every layer of clear that ould have gone on.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
Think about it, what are you doing when you try to buff out a clearcoat scratch? Youre just swirling around more clearcoat, not the actual paint. If its JUST pain, every time you wax and polish it, youre doing so directly to the paint, not some layer of clear crap that gets scratched up and dull.
Youll have to wax, polish and care for a 0 clearcoat paintjob 2 or 3 times more than a clearcoat job, but I can promise you the results are well worth it.
BTW it will cost you more as well, because the general rule is you put extra layers of paint on a car without a clear to the tune of 1 layer of paint for every layer of clear that ould have gone on.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Swirls can come from how you wax. Wax should NEVER be wiped off in a swirl pattern, only straight lines.
For best results wax should be applied to the whole car in the shade on in the garage and left on for hours, I try for as long as possible then rub the residue off with a soft cloth in straight lines only.
Any other way and you create swirls, it can be applied in swirls without ill effects but not removed.
For best results wax should be applied to the whole car in the shade on in the garage and left on for hours, I try for as long as possible then rub the residue off with a soft cloth in straight lines only.
Any other way and you create swirls, it can be applied in swirls without ill effects but not removed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by 81 Vette
The trick is, and I know Ill get some flack for this, is to NOTTTT put a clearcoat on a new paintjob.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
Think about it, what are you doing when you try to buff out a clearcoat scratch? Youre just swirling around more clearcoat, not the actual paint. If its JUST pain, every time you wax and polish it, youre doing so directly to the paint, not some layer of clear crap that gets scratched up and dull.
Youll have to wax, polish and care for a 0 clearcoat paintjob 2 or 3 times more than a clearcoat job, but I can promise you the results are well worth it.
BTW it will cost you more as well, because the general rule is you put extra layers of paint on a car without a clear to the tune of 1 layer of paint for every layer of clear that ould have gone on.
Believe it or not, youll have a NICER quality, better looking, longer lasting paintjob without a clearcoat.
Think about it, what are you doing when you try to buff out a clearcoat scratch? Youre just swirling around more clearcoat, not the actual paint. If its JUST pain, every time you wax and polish it, youre doing so directly to the paint, not some layer of clear crap that gets scratched up and dull.
Youll have to wax, polish and care for a 0 clearcoat paintjob 2 or 3 times more than a clearcoat job, but I can promise you the results are well worth it.
BTW it will cost you more as well, because the general rule is you put extra layers of paint on a car without a clear to the tune of 1 layer of paint for every layer of clear that ould have gone on.
I believe you are completely wrong.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
Well perhaps, but thats the fun in learning isnt it?
Something Id heard from an old mechanic buddy of mine, it made sense at the time, and I still think there is truth and examples (If I can effing well find one) where this has worked. There is a reason that there are still non clear coat polishing compounds avaliable...if everything was, they wouldnt sell the product. Basecoats are als quite durrable and have UV protection built right into them, of course they are more expensive, but probably well worth it. As for it being dull...hahaha clearcoats get dull too. In fact a high fleck paintjob kept abraisivly polished and waxed without a clear will probably shine just as brightly and deeply.
Something Id heard from an old mechanic buddy of mine, it made sense at the time, and I still think there is truth and examples (If I can effing well find one) where this has worked. There is a reason that there are still non clear coat polishing compounds avaliable...if everything was, they wouldnt sell the product. Basecoats are als quite durrable and have UV protection built right into them, of course they are more expensive, but probably well worth it. As for it being dull...hahaha clearcoats get dull too. In fact a high fleck paintjob kept abraisivly polished and waxed without a clear will probably shine just as brightly and deeply.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Mine is not base clear but Centri Acrylic Enamel. I just kept straying the red until I felt I had enough buildup.
Base Clear can not be used without applying the clear. The base is very dull and not meant to stand alone.
Base Clear can not be used without applying the clear. The base is very dull and not meant to stand alone.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
This is more or less what I was driving at...I wasnt talking about a NORMAL base coat sort of paint, Im no effing painter here, but thats for pointing out an example of a different style of paintjob. Thats my main goal here, just to show that you can have one helluva paintjob without the NORMAL clearcoating basecoating process.
Assuming I understood your post correctly and you in fact dont have a clear.
Assuming I understood your post correctly and you in fact dont have a clear.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Just plain old paint can provide a better, deeper gloss than bc/cc. I always regarded bc/cc paint jobs as being for daily drivers simply because it's more durable. I worked in a body/paint shop for a time during H.S. and all I know is the "show" cars we worked on never got bc/cc ... just straight paint. And no, you don't use BC for that. 
That's just silly. It's a totally different (and more expensive) paint. BC/CC was for the wrecked Camrys and Tauruses.
Also for the first hose down of your car, the best sponge you can use is your bare hand. You'll be able to feel the grit and will be less likely to rub it into your paint. Then once you have all the big nasty crud off, you can hit it with the real sponge and soap.
That's just silly. It's a totally different (and more expensive) paint. BC/CC was for the wrecked Camrys and Tauruses. Also for the first hose down of your car, the best sponge you can use is your bare hand. You'll be able to feel the grit and will be less likely to rub it into your paint. Then once you have all the big nasty crud off, you can hit it with the real sponge and soap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
Again, thanks for the example...Id never BC/CC a paint job unless it was a true daily driver, again thats what I was driving at. There are some incredible paints out there. If Im not mistaken Jaguar until the Ford Era never used the Bc/CC process either. Id be interrested to find out about Ferraris and the like.