Polishing Assistance
#1
Advanced
Thread Starter
Polishing Assistance
I'm sort of new to the polishing of a Vette (my second). Any hints/links to some methods/tools/products that will help me make my '02 black convert shine brightly?
#4
#5
Burning Brakes
#8
Melting Slicks
Ive gotten into car detailing as a side hobby/gig and I recently tried polishing my C5.
I had decent success but it fell short because I found out on my other forum that the C5 has some of the hardest clear coat in the industry, so it makes for a very difficult paint correction.
You will need the most abrasive cutting pads possible, as well as a very strong cutting polish.
I used the Griots polishing system , I used the most abrasive polish they had with a medium cutting foam pad with the machine on its highest setting and it still fell short of a good job.
Improvement yes, but not the show car flawless look I was going for.
So with the C5 its go big or go home, might not the the best car to try to learn on.
I had decent success but it fell short because I found out on my other forum that the C5 has some of the hardest clear coat in the industry, so it makes for a very difficult paint correction.
You will need the most abrasive cutting pads possible, as well as a very strong cutting polish.
I used the Griots polishing system , I used the most abrasive polish they had with a medium cutting foam pad with the machine on its highest setting and it still fell short of a good job.
Improvement yes, but not the show car flawless look I was going for.
So with the C5 its go big or go home, might not the the best car to try to learn on.
#9
Melting Slicks
I forgot to mention I will be trying again with a micro fibre cutting pad and meguirs 105 and meguirs 205 polishing compounds.
If you take that same route you should see some good success.
If you take that same route you should see some good success.
#10
Melting Slicks
Met the Junkman 2 weeks ago here in Boise, told him I had learned how to wash and polish a car from him...our club hosted him at our VetteFest where he demonstrated polishing and scratch removal techniques.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
#11
Melting Slicks
I don't know a thing about any junkman. What i do know is some of what you have heard is not correct. The clear on these car are water base. I would not use anything abrasive or harsh. There are a lot of fine products that can be used on these cars. I prefer to use a polish. Zanio in what i like. they have a lot of different options that you can use to improve your paints finish. This car is 17 years old with 45000 miles, I am the original owner. Doing your car is not rocket science, don't over think it.
Last edited by Fcar 98; 08-04-2015 at 07:37 PM.
#13
Racer
I don't know a thing about any junkman. What i do know is some of what you have heard is not correct. The clear on these car are water base. I would not use anything abrasive or harsh. There are a lot of fine products that can be used on these cars. I prefer to use a polish. Zanio in what i like. they have a lot of different options that you can use to improve your paints finish. This car is 17 years old with 45000 miles, I am the original owner. Doing your car is not rocket science, don't over think it.
#16
Safety Car
Flex + menzerna fg400 on a microfiber cutting pad gets the job done. After that, polish the paint and seal it and you're good to go. I like to do the final polish with a rupes polisher on a foam pad but you can do it with the flex as well. Just switch to the appropriate product and a foam polishing pad and you'll have the paint popping nicely.
#18
I have a rupes that I use for the tough stuff, have a pc I use for the lighter stuff, also put the 3 inch on the pc. I also use anything from meguiars to ammo products for the polishing part. The vettes do not have a hard clear coat, I have noticed them being right on par with other chevys, pretty soft. Now my hoods clear coat is crazy hard (aftermarket). The best way to learn is to watch as many videos that you can on youtube, and go from there.
#19
You want to learn in depth so you can understand whats going on and why you do what you do at certain points. Here is a very good channel for that.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYs...TkoxI5D17s1u-w
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYs...TkoxI5D17s1u-w
#20
Safety Car
I have a rupes that I use for the tough stuff, have a pc I use for the lighter stuff, also put the 3 inch on the pc. I also use anything from meguiars to ammo products for the polishing part. The vettes do not have a hard clear coat, I have noticed them being right on par with other chevys, pretty soft. Now my hoods clear coat is crazy hard (aftermarket). The best way to learn is to watch as many videos that you can on youtube, and go from there.
The C5 is so curvy that it's hard to keep a MF pad from not stalling out when using a DA such as a PC or Rupes. That's why I like the forced rotation of the Flex on cars like the C5. On a car with big flat panels, the Rupes is definitely king thanks to the huge throw.