How do I carefully restore the original paint on a 1950 Cadillac?

[Mike Phillips]

How do I carefully restore the original paint on a 1950 Cadillac?



Anytime I get questions via e-mail, a PM or a FB message I prefer to invest my typing time where

A: It's easier for me to share links, pictures and videos.

B: More people can read and thus benefit from the information. (no just one set of eyeballs)


So I get an e-mail asking,



Hi Mike, I enjoyed speaking with you on the phone last week about the all original 1950 Cadillac.

I have worked on the chrome and got it straight as can be. I spent about 4 hours just on that.

Due to schedule conflicts with the owner of the car I didn’t get to the paint yet. I have attached several pics. They are of the car when we first pulled it out.

Pic #1 is after wash and chrome done.

In pic #3 you can see the swirl marks and other defects.

The paint has a great gloss to it for the age. Fortunately he had it waxed before it was stored 20 years ago. The initial plan was to follow your article about putting Glaze#7 on first then trying the Menzerna 3 in 1.

The paint doesn’t look dried out.

Do you think I can proceed as we spoke of with the Menzerna 3 in 1?

I am going to test a section and see the results.

Here is what I was considering. Step 1 3 in 1, Step 2 Glaze, Step 3 either pure Carnauba wax or one blended with polymers.

I follow your advice to the letter usually.

So I really appreciate your input. The swirls are numerous, but I want to be as gentle as possible with this.

Thanks,

Tom






















Hi Tom,

I enjoyed talking to you also about this project. I owned a 1949 Cadillac some year ago so I'm very familiar with the body styles of these cars.

The good news is Cadillac used GREAT single stage paint back then and it should shine up like a brand new car.

I'd do the following, since you've already washed it,




Step 1: Clay the paint to remove bonded contaminants, do the Baggie Test and tell me what you find.

If you're not sure how to do the baggie test, here's how-to article.

The Baggie Test as seen on Competition Ready TV with AJ and Mike Phillips




Step 2: Machine apply the Menzerna 3-in-1. This is a great one-step cleaner/wax and it will or should remove a lot of the swirls. I'd test out a simple "polishing" pad first as old single stage paint tends to be dry, brittle and also soft. If a polishing pad isn't removing the swirls and scratches very well you can then test out a foam "cutting" pad.

In order of aggressiveness from most aggressive to least aggressive,

1. Foam cutting pads
2. Foam polishing pads
3. Foam finishing pads
4. Foam waxing pads

Comment: I forget if you have a polisher and if you do what type? You really want to stay safe on paint like this and I would recommend a simple orbital polisher like the Griot's Garage 6" DA Orbital Polishers. Here's an article that goes over this tool, the backing plates and pads for it. There's also a video that shows how to use a simple orbital polisher to compound, polish and wax. By the way, it also shows how to do the baggie test and how to use detailing clay to remove contaminants off the paint.

Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips




Step 3: After you buff out the paint using the Menzerna 3-in-1 cleaner/wax, then machine apply or hand apply an application of the #7. At this point in the game it's not to remove oxidation as that will already be over, this is to gorge the pigments with the TS oils or Trade Secret Oils found in the Meguiar's #7 since the time cars were invented and then car paint was invented. I'd suggest applying to a panel at a time and then remove. #7 is very oily, don't let it dry and wipe it off immediately using either clean microfiber towels or even better, soft well worn cotton terry cloth. I will usually cut up old bath towels, cut off the edging and use terry cloth as the stoutness of the nap or "loop of fiber" helps to slice into the oily film of #7 and break it up to make it easier to remove.

NOTE: When wiping off the #7 you don't have to remove it 100%, just aim to get most it off. If you still see streaks or smears, no big deal, they'll come off with the wax.




Step 4: Apply a traditional Carnauba Finishing Wax. The word finishing means non-cleaning. Another term for a non-cleaning wax would be a show car wax. The Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax is an excellent choice for cars like this after this type of process. Remember to follow directions for whatever wax you use. If the directions say to wipe-on and then wipe-off, the do it. If they say to allow the wax to dry to a haze or dry such and such minutes, then do it. The chemist provides the writer with the technical information for any pro quality products and the chemist knows what they are talking about.

MOST IMPORTANT: All the way through the process and especially for wiping off the wax, be sure to inspect your towels before "touching" the paint with them. If you're unsure, here's an article with a video, directions and pictures.


How, why & when to inspect your microfiber towels when detailing cars




Step 5: Stand back and admire the results. Take the car for a spin and show it off. Invite the neighbors over for a barbecue and feature the car in the driveway.


Most of all have fun.


I've been typing the below for years, I'm actually the only guy that shares this "idea" on the net....


The opportunity to restore the original single stage paint on a classic car is becoming more and more rare. So enjoy it when you can.



And to put things in context, after you restore the original paint on this 1950 Cadillac there will be ONE LESS car in the world, with single stage paint on it, to restore.


Hope the above helps, feel free to e-mail me any "process pictures" and "after pictures" and I'll share them in this thread to inspire others.

[Mike Phillips]

And for those that will find this thread in the future via Google or word-of-mouth, here's all my articles on restoring paint with #7 in one place.


All Mike Phillips #7 Show Car Glaze Articles in one place


And of course, you can get your #7 here,



On Autogeek.com


Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze

[Aaryn NZ]

Nice Mike.

I was hoping you would suggest to send it down to me. What a stunner, I'd be pretty happy to sink my teeth into this. Lets hope the owner is a member or will join Autogeek Online & share the progress & outcome with the forum members.

Another one down aye Mike . . . one less for me.


Aaryn NZ.

[LEDetailing]

That photo of the rear deck/trunk looks like the clarity is ready to be brought out. It's looks like the perfect paint is just sitting there ready to be polished.

I wonder what made the Cadillacs paint so good back in that era. I wonder if they had better skilled painters, or spent more time on the Cadillac vs the other cars back in day.


Mike,

Could you please ask that Cadillac owner to send you photos of the finished product so we can drool over the original polished 70 year old paint

[LEDetailing]

Nice Mike.

I was hoping you would suggest to send it down to me. What a stunner, I'd be pretty happy to sink my teeth into this. Lets hope the owner is a member or will join Autogeek Online & share the progress & outcome with the forum members.

Another one down aye Mike . . . one less for me.


Aaryn NZ.

Great idea Aaryn. Mike, convince the owner to join AGO!

[Mike Phillips]

Great idea Aaryn. Mike, convince the owner to join AGO!

If you pay attention to these types of threads I create for people that contact me via Facebook or via E-mail, I try to include the below in my reply somewhere to make it easy for them...


And of course, your best tool is this forum so instead of sending me e-mails, why not just join the forum and interact with me here where I prefer to type out in-depth answers.


Click here to join the AutogeekOnline Detailing Discussion Forum



That said, some people just don't get on computers or forums.

No big deal but I still bring everything to the forum, not enough time to type for one set of eyeballs.


It's all good in the end....

[TJKII]

Hi here is an update. I am doing this car in stages due to client's schedule. In these pics I have used the claybar and the Menzerna 3 in 1 with a green CCS pad.

[Aaryn NZ]

Fantastic! Welcome to Autogeek Online.

Nice work, the results look stunning for an AIO, I can't wait to see it all completed. Super cool car, & a super rare opportunity to work on some real paint too. Are you planning on giving it a dose of Meguiars #7 afterwards?

Awesome work mate, thank you for the update too.

Aaryn NZ.

[TJKII]

Thanks, It took some time, but the results were better than I expected. Yes and Carnauba wax on top. I had thought about putting a polymer on top like my favorite Pinnacle Black Label 850. But since it will be garaged and not exposed to the elements, I might just stick to the old school formula for the Cadillac.

[LEDetailing]

TJKII,

Thanks for posting the pictures of the super cool Cadillac. That paint looks incredible. Amazing results from an AIO. Good decision on the wax over polymer. Looking forward to the finished product.