Need a lot of help with black Cadillac

[K38chomponTHIS]

Hey guys, I just joined these forums, a couple of guys from the Cadillac forums suggested I come here to seek advice on my paint. The owner before me must not have taken very good care of it, because it doesn't look that good. There are tons of swirls and small clear coat scratches, as well as these little white blemishes on the hood and side view mirrors (casings, not the mirrors themselves).

All I've ever done to the car is wash with a brush, let air dry, and wax once a month with meguiars paste wax. After perusing through your website a little, I see there is a lot more to it than just that.

I've included a few recent pictures of what I have to work with. I DO NOT want to pay the money to go have it professionaly done, but I am willing to put money into it to do it myself. I don't need it perfect, but I want to get it as near perfect as possible.

[Islander]

Being new to this site, as well as working with a Porter Cable 7424 Oribital Polisher (PC) I would tell you ti investigate the Pinacle WXT Swirl Remover Kits. I just used XMT with an Orange CCS pad followed by XMT 1 with a white CCS pad on a much newer black car and was very happy with what the results. The XMT 3 or 4 with an orange or possibly yellow cutting pad on a PC will likely be necessary here. While the PC & kit will cost as much as what a professional detailer may charge for doing the car, you'll at least have the tools & products to keep your cars looking great for years. After the XMT swirl remover, you'll want to look into a glaze or sealant as well as a wax. Lot's of great choices at the AG store.

The senior members and moderators here are just great. They're happy to share their knowledge with you.

[P1et]

It definitely looks like that paint could use some help!

Recently, AG introduced the Menzerna line. I would suggest purchasing one of their kits along with the Porter Cable.

You'll have that Cadillac looking perfect in no time!

[Gnarboots11]

you also should watch the Pinnacle videos here:

Pinnacle Natural Brilliance car care products are made of natural ingredients & modern science! souveran, signature series, carnauba, paintwork

That guy does a polish job and shows exactly how to work the polish with the Porter Cable Polisher. Also, you going to need to do the clay bar and stuff too. Just go ahead and watch the whole thing, it's pretty sweet. That guy kicks A at washing cars!

[sparkie]

All above has it right, need a PC and a good line of polishes. This would be good sanding job for Toto (another member) to do. So sorry about your paint, it's hard to say if a PC would get that out. It would help. Do a search for Totoland Mach and look at some of his work, he's fix some paints like yours. .

[Al-53]

That paint is in need of wetsanding and a rotary...A pc will just give you glossy scratched paint....and the rock chips are there to stay....you can touch them up before you wet sand but you have a ton of them....the hood looks like a ice skating rink....It can be fixed..to a point..but with proper tools...

sorry to be so harsh..just given you the facts so you can start right...

Good luck....I hope you get it fixed....

AL

[killrwheels@autogeek]

get some Menzerna polishes and a PC ... with IP and nano-polish you will be back in black in no time at all.

[K38chomponTHIS]

alright, thanks for the replies, guys

How exactly do you wetsand a car? I wetsanded my catamaran sailboat last summer, but that was fiberglass... how exactly should I go about trying to wetsand a car?

I did get two cans of base coat / clear coat of my paint code pro mixed a week ago, I prepped and painted the gray plastic rocker panels to match the car, and I still have some paint left. To touch up things like rock chips. should I just carefully put tape around each rock chip and paint it / clear it?

Sorry for so many questions guys

[richy]

Originally Posted by Al-53

That paint is in need of wetsanding and a rotary...A pc will just give you glossy scratched paint....and the rock chips are there to stay....you can touch them up before you wet sand but you have a ton of them....the hood looks like a ice skating rink....It can be fixed..to a point..but with proper tools...

sorry to be so harsh..just given you the facts so you can start right...

Good luck....I hope you get it fixed....

AL

I totally agree with AL (o.k. what else is new?) Check out this link to my old STS which I detailed for the new owner. I spent 10 hours on it and had to wet sand and use some aggresive measures to get the paint back in decent shape. If you mess it up wet sanding or polishing with a rotary and a wool pad, you will have to pay to get a re-paint. It would be cheaper for you to get a good professional to get it in good shape for you and then you can maintain it with a p.c. and polish/glaze and sealant/wax. You probably should just have the hood repainted anyway...just make sure the clear is on good so you can polish to your heart's content after!
Here's that link and not that I'm any ####-hot detailer, it's a hobby that has grown into a little sideline for me:
10 year old STS

[D&D Auto Detailing]

I agree with Al and richy.