SHINE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! Shelby Cobra meets the Microfiber DA system!

[Joe@Superior Shine]

I recently was asked to correct a very nice (but not gorgeous.... yet) Shelby Cobra GT500 of a very "orange peely" finish.

When a vehicles finish is described as having orange peel, it means that the finish is bumpy much like the peel of an orange. The flatter the paint the brighter, shiner and more reflective it will appear.

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In my arsenal I has everything I needed to take this OEM finish to a much higher level. I have sanding papers and disks of various grits that I will use by hand and with various sanding machines to "level" the paint. I also will be using Meguiars W5000 wool polishing pad and the new Microfiber D.A. correction system to polish the finish to a SUPERIOR SHINE.

Superior Shine has had the privilege to be "in" on the development of Meguiars Dual Action Microfiber Correction System for the pass three years or so. I can finally brag about how well the system works!!


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[Joe@Superior Shine]

The first order of business is to wash and then mask off the trim. Masking the trim will protect it from being damaged if a sanding disk or polishing pad were to bump up against it.

When I masked off the vehicle I made certain that I taped over the gap between the trim and the body panel. This will keep sanding slurry out of the gap and facilitate clean up.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt7.JPG


After the vehicle was masked it was time to sand. I started by wet sanding the panels with 1500 grit sanding disks on an air dual action sander.

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Some areas had the orange peel texture so bad that I block sanded them by hand with 1500 grit to get it extra flat.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt10.JPG


The 3 inch dual action sander that is included in Meguiars headlight restoration kit made quick work of sanding smaller hard to reach area such as around this cobra badge.

These following photos I will demonstrate how I use masking tape to protect raised body lines.

I first tape up the areas that would be prone to getting damages by a machine sander.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt11.JPG



Then I will proceed to machine sand.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt12.JPG



I then remove the masking tape and sand the raised areas by hand.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt13.JPG


The result is a perfectly sanded panel.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt14.JPG


Here in the center of the quarter panel I did a test spot using only the cutting microfiber pad on a G110v2 with #105.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt15.JPG

[Joe@Superior Shine]

Here is a lightly sanded area where I just nipped off the peaks of the high part of the orange peel.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt10B.JPG



I will continue to sand until the panel is completely hazed with no shiny paint remaining. Here are what properly sanded panels look like.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt17.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt16.JPG

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When I completed sanding with 1500 grit I went over the vehicle again with 2000 grit sanding paper and discs to make polishing easier.

The entire process removes about .1 to .2 mils from the vehicles finish. OEM recommends no more that .3 to .5 of clear be removed. We fall well under the max.

Here is what the orange peel is now, clear coat sanding slurry on the ground.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt18B.JPG

[Joe@Superior Shine]

The sanded finish can easily be polished with the microfiber system but I found it a little faster to polish it with a rotary first.

Here I use the 3 inch MF cutting pad on an air tool to polish a test spot.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt19.JPG


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt20.JPG

You can see how crisp, flat and defect free the test spot is!


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt21.JPG



I proceeded to polish the larger panels with a rotary polisher.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt22.JPG


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt23.JPG


I had my trusty assistant follow me with a microfiber cutting pad and #105 to further refine the finish and to bring it up to and incredible shine.


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt30.JPG


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt24.JPG



I love to use the 3 inch microfiber cutting pad to polish small area.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt29.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt28.JPG

[Joe@Superior Shine]

It is amazing how close you can polish up to trim and edges. Here I am perfecting the bumper that was polished with only the MF disc.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt25A.JPG


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt25B.JPG


I sanded under the mirror but I couldn't get any of my polishing machines to reach the area. I used the 3 inch pad by hand and got great results.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt26.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt27.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/mr.JPG

[Joe@Superior Shine]

After a bath to wash off the polishing dust and sanding slurry we see the results of over 40 hours of sanding and polishing, a smooth defect free finish.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt35.JPG

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt35.JPG

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Here is a reflection of my over head florescent light ...

BEFORE,

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt1.JPG


AFTER,

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt31.JPG

[Joe@Superior Shine]

I have been polishing cars since I was about 14 years old (29 years ago) and this introduction of the MF system to the auto detailing industry is revolutionary!!! The results are fanatical!! I have never been able to take a finish to such a high degree of shine so effortlessly. The real test to the MF systems ability........ DIRECT SUN PICS!


http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/1723/sgt38A.JPG


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[C. Charles Hahn]

Holy crap. That's about all I can say.

:urtheman:

[Rayaz]

That is some seriously nice work!

[oldmodman]

Just an incredible result!

I just love seeing a brand new car's finish taken to a show car level like that.

Do the MF pads take the place of a coarse or wool pad? Or are they used after them.

[mingraygt]

Thats nice! How long did it take to finish?

[dad07]

AWESOME!!!!!!! Great work Joe,as usual. Thanks for sharing the results with us.

[SeaJay's]

Great job! So far everyone has had only great things to say about this new system.

[jkk7479]

This is Epic! I am blown away by the work done here to that Shelby! Truly amazing work!

:dblthumb2:

[Yeoj]

Holy crap! That looks amazing!