Baumeister
11-05-2011, 01:36 PM
Been lurking for about a month, finally joined up!
After a few bad experiences with local detailers years ago, I decided to learn the latest in detailing and try my hand on my wife's 2003 VW New Beetle TDI. The hood and front bumper are heavily chipped after 120k of freeway driving, as well as countless automated washes. Cobwebbing is severe and everywhere on this car, of course.
With the rock-hard Sundown Orange paint on this car it became evident quickly that I'd need to learn a rotary right off the bat. A test pass on the trunk with 3M Imperial Hand glaze did next to nothing and tired out my arms awfully quick.
Picked up the new DeWalt DWP849X at Amazon along with a variety of 8" pads.
Last weekend decided to go at the hood, which I'm resigned to respraying in the near future anyway. 3 passes of Megs #1 did very little, took a look in my supply cabinet and found a bottle of 3M Imperial Microfinishing compound in medium cut. It's ancient (late 90s? used it by hand on my '88 BMW) but looks to be in good shape. Still has the price sticker of $8/pint. Figure I'd try a pass or 2 of it before throwing it out.
Finally, some success!
Spent about 6 hours on the hood and driver's side of the car.
Used the 3M Hand glaze with a finishing pad, then some P21S Paintwork cleanser followed by Blitz wax. Not perfect, but not bad for a first timer either.
Looks like I've got the bug.(pun intended). Menzerna products on the way, and a paint depth gauge in my near future. Hesitant to utilize the Power Gloss, but this rock-hard paint and some online research are steering me that way. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/images/smilies/feedback%5B1%5D.gif?
I've had ZERO issues learning this rotary. Maybe its my experience at DIY furniture refinishing?
Anyways, thank you to all the regular contributors!
Once I get this Beetle sorted I'll move on to our '99 Tahoe (gold mettalic,IIRC) and our 2004 Passat in Silver Blue Metallic.
Got a '92 Jayco travel trailer in need of de-stickering/striping as well.
A bit dirty, but still looking pretty good:
After 1st day on driver's side/hood.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6313226392_a19efa57cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313226392/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313226392/) by erickbau (http://www.flickr.com/people/20346041@N02/), on Flickr
Trunk attempted polish by hand(don't mind the slung machine polish!)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6313227102_3a04f8c643_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313227102/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313227102/) by erickbau (http://www.flickr.com/people/20346041@N02/), on Flickr
Passenger side that hasn't been touched yet(cobweb city!)http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/6312706189_a555be73cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6312706189/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6312706189/) by erickbau (http://www.flickr.com/people/20346041@N02/), on Flickr:
After a few bad experiences with local detailers years ago, I decided to learn the latest in detailing and try my hand on my wife's 2003 VW New Beetle TDI. The hood and front bumper are heavily chipped after 120k of freeway driving, as well as countless automated washes. Cobwebbing is severe and everywhere on this car, of course.
With the rock-hard Sundown Orange paint on this car it became evident quickly that I'd need to learn a rotary right off the bat. A test pass on the trunk with 3M Imperial Hand glaze did next to nothing and tired out my arms awfully quick.
Picked up the new DeWalt DWP849X at Amazon along with a variety of 8" pads.
Last weekend decided to go at the hood, which I'm resigned to respraying in the near future anyway. 3 passes of Megs #1 did very little, took a look in my supply cabinet and found a bottle of 3M Imperial Microfinishing compound in medium cut. It's ancient (late 90s? used it by hand on my '88 BMW) but looks to be in good shape. Still has the price sticker of $8/pint. Figure I'd try a pass or 2 of it before throwing it out.
Finally, some success!
Spent about 6 hours on the hood and driver's side of the car.
Used the 3M Hand glaze with a finishing pad, then some P21S Paintwork cleanser followed by Blitz wax. Not perfect, but not bad for a first timer either.
Looks like I've got the bug.(pun intended). Menzerna products on the way, and a paint depth gauge in my near future. Hesitant to utilize the Power Gloss, but this rock-hard paint and some online research are steering me that way. http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/images/smilies/feedback%5B1%5D.gif?
I've had ZERO issues learning this rotary. Maybe its my experience at DIY furniture refinishing?
Anyways, thank you to all the regular contributors!
Once I get this Beetle sorted I'll move on to our '99 Tahoe (gold mettalic,IIRC) and our 2004 Passat in Silver Blue Metallic.
Got a '92 Jayco travel trailer in need of de-stickering/striping as well.
A bit dirty, but still looking pretty good:
After 1st day on driver's side/hood.
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6239/6313226392_a19efa57cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313226392/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313226392/) by erickbau (http://www.flickr.com/people/20346041@N02/), on Flickr
Trunk attempted polish by hand(don't mind the slung machine polish!)
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6099/6313227102_3a04f8c643_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313227102/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6313227102/) by erickbau (http://www.flickr.com/people/20346041@N02/), on Flickr
Passenger side that hasn't been touched yet(cobweb city!)http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6056/6312706189_a555be73cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6312706189/)
Untitled (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20346041@N02/6312706189/) by erickbau (http://www.flickr.com/people/20346041@N02/), on Flickr: