Detailing Questions!
05-14-2014, 03:47 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Detailing Questions!
On my Magentic Red '05, there is a small area just in back of the front tires on both sides where the paint seems to be sort of "scuffed up" for lack of a better term. It's got 41k miles on it so my guess is that it's due to road salt, dirt, etc being kicked up by the tires over the years. Anyway, I tried using Meguiars Ultimate Compound, then Meguiars Ultimate Polish followed by Meguiars Ultimate Wax on the areas and it did not bring back the shine. Is there another product that would work better or is there no way to bring the shine back once it's that far scuffed.
Also, after compounding, polishing, and waxing just the front panel and the small areas near the wheels which I mentioned, my arms and back were so sore that I just ordered a Porter-Cable 7424 Polisher which I haven't received yet. At 60 years of age, I can't imagine doing the entire car by hand. Has anyone used this polisher on their Vette and if so, what tips can you give me to get the best results. I also ordered Meguiar's 6.5 inch Compound, Polishing, and Waxing Pads for it as well as the 5 inch backing plate. Is there anything else I need with the polisher?
Also, after compounding, polishing, and waxing just the front panel and the small areas near the wheels which I mentioned, my arms and back were so sore that I just ordered a Porter-Cable 7424 Polisher which I haven't received yet. At 60 years of age, I can't imagine doing the entire car by hand. Has anyone used this polisher on their Vette and if so, what tips can you give me to get the best results. I also ordered Meguiar's 6.5 inch Compound, Polishing, and Waxing Pads for it as well as the 5 inch backing plate. Is there anything else I need with the polisher?
05-14-2014, 04:21 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
I have the exact same buffer. I am 68 and I have been using this same buffer for the past 8 years.
As for pointers on it, I normally start it off at around 3,000 with my polish and increase it to 5,000 if the surface need it. This buffer is great for first time users as you cannot hurt the paint on the Vette. I don't use compound, I used Swirl & Haze Remover (if needed) , polish, glaze and then a coat of a good paste wax. I happen to use Adams detail products for this type of work.
Do a small area to make sure you are getting the results you want before you move on. Once you have the results you want, then you can go ahead and do the entire car.
I also user the buffer to remove the Swirl & Haze Remover as well as the polish. I simply lay a nice soft micro fiber towel on the surface. Wrap the excess around the handle and the body of the buffer set the speed to around 4-5,000 and turn it on. Let the buffer do the work of removing and shining at the same time. One point I forgot, use a fresh buffer pad, not the one you used to polish with. Also move the towel on the pad a few times so you don't get to much build up on the towel and you are using a clean portion every so often. I don't use the buffer for my wax, as it is the type that you do a section at a time. That is I put it on wait a minute or two and remove it.. I do this all by hand.
As for pointers on it, I normally start it off at around 3,000 with my polish and increase it to 5,000 if the surface need it. This buffer is great for first time users as you cannot hurt the paint on the Vette. I don't use compound, I used Swirl & Haze Remover (if needed) , polish, glaze and then a coat of a good paste wax. I happen to use Adams detail products for this type of work.
Do a small area to make sure you are getting the results you want before you move on. Once you have the results you want, then you can go ahead and do the entire car.
I also user the buffer to remove the Swirl & Haze Remover as well as the polish. I simply lay a nice soft micro fiber towel on the surface. Wrap the excess around the handle and the body of the buffer set the speed to around 4-5,000 and turn it on. Let the buffer do the work of removing and shining at the same time. One point I forgot, use a fresh buffer pad, not the one you used to polish with. Also move the towel on the pad a few times so you don't get to much build up on the towel and you are using a clean portion every so often. I don't use the buffer for my wax, as it is the type that you do a section at a time. That is I put it on wait a minute or two and remove it.. I do this all by hand.
05-14-2014, 04:25 PM
#3
Safety Car
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The rocker panels on your `05 are probably chipped to the point that no amount of polishing will restore them. Wet-sanding might help, but more likely they will need to be repainted.
I think you are on the right path by buying the PC 7424 and the associated pads needed. If your car has only light scratches and swirl marks you can start with the polishing pad (yellow) and the Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Always start with the least aggressive polish first until you are comfortable with what you are doing. You only need a tiny amount of the compound on your pad (thin ring 1" inside the outer edge) then SLOWLY work a 2' x 2' area, but do not let the polish dry. I usually work vertical over-lapping paths, then horizontal, then vertical again and stop. Wipe the polish off with a microfiber cloth and check to see if you corrected the swirls.
What else to buy? Lots and lots of microfiber cloths!
And finally - go to the Car Care Discussion area and read, read, read. There is a lot of great advice there. It can also be confusing for a beginning detailer if you get into the "which brand is best?" discussion. Pick a brand you like to begin and stick with it.
I think you are on the right path by buying the PC 7424 and the associated pads needed. If your car has only light scratches and swirl marks you can start with the polishing pad (yellow) and the Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Always start with the least aggressive polish first until you are comfortable with what you are doing. You only need a tiny amount of the compound on your pad (thin ring 1" inside the outer edge) then SLOWLY work a 2' x 2' area, but do not let the polish dry. I usually work vertical over-lapping paths, then horizontal, then vertical again and stop. Wipe the polish off with a microfiber cloth and check to see if you corrected the swirls.
What else to buy? Lots and lots of microfiber cloths!
And finally - go to the Car Care Discussion area and read, read, read. There is a lot of great advice there. It can also be confusing for a beginning detailer if you get into the "which brand is best?" discussion. Pick a brand you like to begin and stick with it.
05-14-2014, 04:32 PM
#4
Racer
Thread Starter
I have the exact same buffer. I am 68 and I have been using this same buffer for the past 8 years.
As for pointers on it, I normally start it off at around 3,000 with my polish and increase it to 5,000 if the surface need it. This buffer is great for first time users as you cannot hurt the paint on the Vette. I don't use compound, I used Swirl & Haze Remover (if needed) , polish, glaze and then a coat of a good paste wax. I happen to use Adams detail products for this type of work.
Do a small area to make sure you are getting the results you want before you move on. Once you have the results you want, then you can go ahead and do the entire car.
I also user the buffer to remove the Swirl & Haze Remover as well as the polish. I simply lay a nice soft micro fiber towel on the surface. Wrap the excess around the handle and the body of the buffer set the speed to around 4-5,000 and turn it on. Let the buffer do the work of removing and shining at the same time. One point I forgot, use a fresh buffer pad, not the one you used to polish with. Also move the towel on the pad a few times so you don't get to much build up on the towel and you are using a clean portion every so often. I don't use the buffer for my wax, as it is the type that you do a section at a time. That is I put it on wait a minute or two and remove it.. I do this all by hand.
As for pointers on it, I normally start it off at around 3,000 with my polish and increase it to 5,000 if the surface need it. This buffer is great for first time users as you cannot hurt the paint on the Vette. I don't use compound, I used Swirl & Haze Remover (if needed) , polish, glaze and then a coat of a good paste wax. I happen to use Adams detail products for this type of work.
Do a small area to make sure you are getting the results you want before you move on. Once you have the results you want, then you can go ahead and do the entire car.
I also user the buffer to remove the Swirl & Haze Remover as well as the polish. I simply lay a nice soft micro fiber towel on the surface. Wrap the excess around the handle and the body of the buffer set the speed to around 4-5,000 and turn it on. Let the buffer do the work of removing and shining at the same time. One point I forgot, use a fresh buffer pad, not the one you used to polish with. Also move the towel on the pad a few times so you don't get to much build up on the towel and you are using a clean portion every so often. I don't use the buffer for my wax, as it is the type that you do a section at a time. That is I put it on wait a minute or two and remove it.. I do this all by hand.
05-14-2014, 04:35 PM
#5
Racer
Thread Starter
The rocker panels on your `05 are probably chipped to the point that no amount of polishing will restore them. Wet-sanding might help, but more likely they will need to be repainted.
I think you are on the right path by buying the PC 7424 and the associated pads needed. If your car has only light scratches and swirl marks you can start with the polishing pad (yellow) and the Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Always start with the least aggressive polish first until you are comfortable with what you are doing. You only need a tiny amount of the compound on your pad (thin ring 1" inside the outer edge) then SLOWLY work a 2' x 2' area, but do not let the polish dry. I usually work vertical over-lapping paths, then horizontal, then vertical again and stop. Wipe the polish off with a microfiber cloth and check to see if you corrected the swirls.
What else to buy? Lots and lots of microfiber cloths!
And finally - go to the Car Care Discussion area and read, read, read. There is a lot of great advice there. It can also be confusing for a beginning detailer if you get into the "which brand is best?" discussion. Pick a brand you like to begin and stick with it.
I think you are on the right path by buying the PC 7424 and the associated pads needed. If your car has only light scratches and swirl marks you can start with the polishing pad (yellow) and the Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Always start with the least aggressive polish first until you are comfortable with what you are doing. You only need a tiny amount of the compound on your pad (thin ring 1" inside the outer edge) then SLOWLY work a 2' x 2' area, but do not let the polish dry. I usually work vertical over-lapping paths, then horizontal, then vertical again and stop. Wipe the polish off with a microfiber cloth and check to see if you corrected the swirls.
What else to buy? Lots and lots of microfiber cloths!
And finally - go to the Car Care Discussion area and read, read, read. There is a lot of great advice there. It can also be confusing for a beginning detailer if you get into the "which brand is best?" discussion. Pick a brand you like to begin and stick with it.
05-14-2014, 04:35 PM
#6
Race Director
I have the exact same buffer. I am 68 and I have been using this same buffer for the past 8 years.
As for pointers on it, I normally start it off at around 3,000 with my polish and increase it to 5,000 if the surface need it. This buffer is great for first time users as you cannot hurt the paint on the Vette. I don't use compound, I used Swirl & Haze Remover (if needed) , polish, glaze and then a coat of a good paste wax. I happen to use Adams detail products for this type of work.
Do a small area to make sure you are getting the results you want before you move on. Once you have the results you want, then you can go ahead and do the entire car.
I also user the buffer to remove the Swirl & Haze Remover as well as the polish. I simply lay a nice soft micro fiber towel on the surface. Wrap the excess around the handle and the body of the buffer set the speed to around 4-5,000 and turn it on. Let the buffer do the work of removing and shining at the same time. One point I forgot, use a fresh buffer pad, not the one you used to polish with. Also move the towel on the pad a few times so you don't get to much build up on the towel and you are using a clean portion every so often. I don't use the buffer for my wax, as it is the type that you do a section at a time. That is I put it on wait a minute or two and remove it.. I do this all by hand.
As for pointers on it, I normally start it off at around 3,000 with my polish and increase it to 5,000 if the surface need it. This buffer is great for first time users as you cannot hurt the paint on the Vette. I don't use compound, I used Swirl & Haze Remover (if needed) , polish, glaze and then a coat of a good paste wax. I happen to use Adams detail products for this type of work.
Do a small area to make sure you are getting the results you want before you move on. Once you have the results you want, then you can go ahead and do the entire car.
I also user the buffer to remove the Swirl & Haze Remover as well as the polish. I simply lay a nice soft micro fiber towel on the surface. Wrap the excess around the handle and the body of the buffer set the speed to around 4-5,000 and turn it on. Let the buffer do the work of removing and shining at the same time. One point I forgot, use a fresh buffer pad, not the one you used to polish with. Also move the towel on the pad a few times so you don't get to much build up on the towel and you are using a clean portion every so often. I don't use the buffer for my wax, as it is the type that you do a section at a time. That is I put it on wait a minute or two and remove it.. I do this all by hand.
05-14-2014, 04:53 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Sure the buffer was not designed for only one particular polish. Now I will say that the different pads for the buffer are designed for different applications. On for polish one for the glaze one for the swirl & Haze remover or compound and so on. So you may want to look over the different pads. each one can be a little more aggressive then the other. Normally the polish, glaze and wax are softer then the cutting pads.
05-14-2014, 05:48 PM
#8
Drifting
The pad size is too large for the PC to operate properly. 5.5 " at most for that machine. Too much fiction will cause the pad oscillation to stop
05-14-2014, 06:09 PM
#9
Former Vendor
You can indeed purchase a smaller backing plate and pads to work small areas like you are describing. I might suggest first claying the area first to remove all harsh contaminants. You should then be able to polish the area. I might finally suggest using a coating to protect the area, or perhaps a clear-bra.
05-15-2014, 04:03 PM
#10
Racer
Thread Starter
You can indeed purchase a smaller backing plate and pads to work small areas like you are describing. I might suggest first claying the area first to remove all harsh contaminants. You should then be able to polish the area. I might finally suggest using a coating to protect the area, or perhaps a clear-bra.
05-15-2014, 05:05 PM
#11
Instructor
found my porter cable to weak for the corvette's hard paint, really need forced rotation (flex) or go all out with a rotary (dangerous). Also the ultimate compound is weaker than the m105. Also if you wet sand, ya really need a flex or stronger to get out that wet sanding marks.
05-15-2014, 06:26 PM
#12
Pro<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/500-1000.gif" border="0">
Also, after compounding, polishing, and waxing just the front panel and the small areas near the wheels which I mentioned, my arms and back were so sore that I just ordered a Porter-Cable 7424 Polisher which I haven't received yet. At 60 years of age, I can't imagine doing the entire car by hand. Has anyone used this polisher on their Vette and if so, what tips can you give me to get the best results. I also ordered Meguiar's 6.5 inch Compound, Polishing, and Waxing Pads for it as well as the 5 inch backing plate. Is there anything else I need with the polisher?
05-15-2014, 08:37 PM
#14
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
Posts: 23,940
Received 2,051 Likes
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St. Jude Donor '13
As mentioned, your paint behind the wheels is probably too damaged to be fully restored. If you care about that area very much.
After putting about 40k miles on our 2009, I finally decided to install the GM accessory splash guards. They almost disappear on the car, and provide good protection. Even better, they cover most of the already-damaged paint and so we kinda killed two birds with one stone.
Installation is not really difficult, but you need to use care to remove any old wax that will prevent the mounting tape from adhering, and be darned sure you have the locations marked correctly before drilling the holes in the rear wheel well liners (no holes in the fenders). The Search feature will help you find detailed tips.
A great mod!
After putting about 40k miles on our 2009, I finally decided to install the GM accessory splash guards. They almost disappear on the car, and provide good protection. Even better, they cover most of the already-damaged paint and so we kinda killed two birds with one stone.
Installation is not really difficult, but you need to use care to remove any old wax that will prevent the mounting tape from adhering, and be darned sure you have the locations marked correctly before drilling the holes in the rear wheel well liners (no holes in the fenders). The Search feature will help you find detailed tips.
A great mod!
05-17-2014, 11:28 AM
#15
Racer
Thread Starter
I bought the same Porter Cable polisher and it's a life saver for me. I'm in the same boat as you about having the strength to do the whole car. It's a snap waxing my car using this polisher and I can't say enough good things about it. I bought mine from Auto-geek.com and it came with a DVD that shows you how to use the polisher. If you bought yours somewhere else they sell the DVD on their site and I think it's like $12.95. I watched it a couple of times before I tried it on my GS since i'd never used a power polisher before and it worked great. Make sure you are using the right foam pad and chemical for what you are trying to do and don't put too much wax or polish on the pad at a time. When you put the chemical on the pad put it against the paint before you turn your polisher on so it won't sling product everywhere. It's very important that you don't put any pressure on the polisher when you are using it. Too much pressure and you could burn through your clear coat! Let the weight of the machine do the job. The more you use it the easier it will be and the more confidence you'll have in making your car look like new.