A Little Cleaning After 65,000 Miles (pics)
 

This is a 2000 or 2001, I can't remember, but has over 65,000 on the ticker.

I did the minimum I could to clean it up the most as I was under a time limit. But I think for what I actually did it turned out great.

Process.

Wash with Dawn
Claybar Megs White Clay
Porter Cable 7424
Orange Pad speed 5
3M Compound 39002
White Applicator Pad speed 5
Megs Polish (3 step polish)
Z6
Black Polishing Pad speed 3
RejeX
Z8

here's a crappy before and after pics.
before
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...DSC04349-1.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...5/DSC04349.jpg
after. the purple haze is just freshly wiped Z8:thumbs:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...DSC04355-1.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...5/DSC04355.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...5/DSC04358.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...5/DSC04377.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y14...5/DSC04361.jpg

I really need to get a rotary as this just too me too long to get out so little.:ack: :smash:

Josh

Nice!

Yes, you really need a rotary to do any significant improvements in a timely fashion on neglected paint. Best thing I ever did. :cheers:

:iagree:

Especially on the PITA corvette clear.

Good work!

It's on my christmas list.

Is there a right or wrong way to teach myself how to use it. I figured on buying a panel and putting some very long stratches all over it and seeing how it effect the damage at different speeds and different chemicals. Also find out how long it takes to burn paint at different speeds. Should be fun, I'll do a wright up on the new found knowledge.

Any suggestions??

Thanks, I could not seem to get all the marring off, but I got a lot of it out, obviously got it out of that panel but I really spent a lot of time it.:crazy: :smash:

Do you guys normally get out every single micro scratch or is there still some left that just doesn't come out no matter what you try, and what's with bird turds, they wouldn't come out of this car for all I did to it??:willy:

Very nice.
Love the fresh polished reds.:)

Definately:thumbs:

Depends on a lot of conditions. I did a C5 with 160K invested in it for Ecklers and I spent a lot of time (15+hours getting all the defects out) but the flipside is the owner payed me for that time.

But on almost every C5 or C6 (as well as Vipers/VW/Audis) I don't even try for perfect anymore. Its just not worth the owners money (or my time) if the car is driven.

The flipside is that certain cars buff out super easy (my wifes Sonota) for example that I can achieve 99 percent perfection in one step with a PC.

But I would say that the hardness of the Corvette makes about 80 percent correction easy, but you really have to work hard for that last 20 percent. Let the owner deciede if they want to pay for that last 20 percent, keeping in mind that it will raise the price at least 3 to 4 times as much.

Also, on the blue C5 I just did (the hardest corrective paint I have ever worked on) I had to use a rotary at 1500-1800 rpm with Meguiars cutting pad and #84 power compound (a cut scale of 9/10). These are products designed to compound and bring gloss back to paint that has been color sanded, and even this aggresive combo required multiple passes before the defects started to come out.

:thumbs: Nice work!

looks awesome!!!:thumbs:

1. yes, most definitely have to have a rotary if you have a vette. I love my Makita 9227C - bought on the advice of agentf1 who hasn't steered me wrong yet. GREAT machine, easy to use. Quieter at 1500 rpms than my PC is at 5.5.

2. Of course TH0001 is correct. You should go for 80% - 90% perfection, then count on some product with filling abilities to cover up the rest. Otherwise, you just end up buffing EVERY weekend, until after a year you're all the way through the clearcoat.

Man, I used to use Meg's #26, and that stuff could cover up ANY defect ! Horrible swirling on my old car, but didn't matter - you'd never see it with carnauba on the paint.

Now I really am impressed with Z5Pro. Z5Pro (like the old meg's #26) allows me to cut down on the abrasive treatments, and just cover up very minor imperfections.

By the way, love that color on your C5 :thumbs:

:thumbs:

great job. 3M compounds work great.

buying the hitachi rotary was the best thing i ever did

at one time, i thought i was the 'king detailer' with the PC :o !!

but as i got better with the PC and took on tougher jobs, it was clear i needed to try a rotary.

they are awesome. not as hard to use as i expected either, but you certainly have to follow the basic rules tho !!