C5 clearcoat is insane
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
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From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
C5 clearcoat is insane
I know the waxers out there hate the clearcoat on the C5. It's rock hard, yet scratches very easily (how did GM come up with that?) Anyway, I've tried many compound and pad combos to try to correct mine. I've finally found the winning, albeit time consuming combo. Here's a couple of before after shots. It was getting late so I'll finish up tomorrow:
before
after
before
after
Process used:
Menzerna IP with Lake Country purple wool/foam pad @1500rpm (x2)
Menzerna FPII with 3M white compound pad@1500 rpm (x2)
before
after
before
after
Process used:
Menzerna IP with Lake Country purple wool/foam pad @1500rpm (x2)
Menzerna FPII with 3M white compound pad@1500 rpm (x2)
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
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From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
Probably the easiest way is to get a claybar kit and use it to remove any bonded surface stuff. Then clean with some detail spray you'll know right away if the swirls are in the clear or in the wax.
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From: Ponchatoula Louisiana
(root beer)John
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From: Kingsport TN
I used the Menzerna IP and FP on my vette trunk lid and my wife's BMW to remove a lot of haze from a prior polish job. It was the only stuff that would work after trying lots of swirl mark remover etc. I used my Porter Cable plus the orange pad. Worked great, although most insist on a rotary rather than my random orbital buffer. I'm too chicken to use a heavy duty rotary!
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
Likes: 4
From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
I used the Menzerna IP and FP on my vette trunk lid and my wife's BMW to remove a lot of haze from a prior polish job. It was the only stuff that would work after trying lots of swirl mark remover etc. I used my Porter Cable plus the orange pad. Worked great, although most insist on a rotary rather than my random orbital buffer. I'm too chicken to use a heavy duty rotary!
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From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I used the Menzerna IP and FP on my vette trunk lid and my wife's BMW to remove a lot of haze from a prior polish job. It was the only stuff that would work after trying lots of swirl mark remover etc. I used my Porter Cable plus the orange pad. Worked great, although most insist on a rotary rather than my random orbital buffer. I'm too chicken to use a heavy duty rotary!
to the Menzerna products though to remove these paint flaws. By the way, why did you only work at 1500 rpm's. Is that the normal rpm for a rotary? I worked at 3000- 4500rpms, which is what they recommend for a random orbital.
Last edited by Ralphyboy; Jun 3, 2007 at 10:10 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Tunkhannock PA
Good work.
For the guys leary of the Rotary, with foam pads they are pretty forgiving. Not like back when wool was the only choice. You also might want to give a Cyclo a look. It's very much like using the PC.
For the guys leary of the Rotary, with foam pads they are pretty forgiving. Not like back when wool was the only choice. You also might want to give a Cyclo a look. It's very much like using the PC.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,812
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From: Taylorsville North Carolina
I just got my TR Z06 2 weeks ago. I spent 6 hrs yesterday with pc @ 5500 rpms, Lake Country yellow pads, and 3M medium cut compound with 2 -3 passes. Although I got all the blemishes and swirls out, there are still scratches that just won't go
! I have the Menzerna IP, but when I did the paint on the TA, the 3M seemed to work a little better. I will try the IP but i don't hold much hope for it. Is the rotary the next step before I try wet sanding? These are not major scratches, but just the kind from improper washing, but they will not come out!
! I have the Menzerna IP, but when I did the paint on the TA, the 3M seemed to work a little better. I will try the IP but i don't hold much hope for it. Is the rotary the next step before I try wet sanding? These are not major scratches, but just the kind from improper washing, but they will not come out!
