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DeadlySheds
05-02-2012, 05:14 PM
Hey all,

Started detailing my 2011 Nissan Frontier a while back. It's my first 'real' polishing experience with a machine, and the learning curve has been steep. I posted a few pics in a thread I created a while ago, but thought I'd share my progress.

This is the turck. It's pretty awesome, but gets used as a truck, is my DD and came with the premium package DISCO (which I didn't notice until a few weeks after purchase...they must have glazed it to peices).

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/DSCF2167.jpg

I've only been able to work a section or two a week as I only get a few hours each weekend to dedicate to buffing. It's a bit of a pain but the results will be worth it I hope.

This weekend I tackled the drivers side pan and experimented a little. I tried some Optimum compound II on a white pad but it was WAY too aggressive, so i went with Optimum Polish II on an orange CCS pad, & Meguiars scratch X for the RIDS. Turned out pretty good for a rookie! For my LSP I've been doing Opti-Seal and Collinite 845 combo.

Before polishing:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-28165156.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-28165256-1.jpg

Here's a few shots of it after polishing, but before LSP application. Sorry about the lint all over, but I have been having NO luck in finding MF's that don't shed all over my black paint. Even the cobras are linting on me!!

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-29115613.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-29115748.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-29115901.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-29120153.jpg

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj79/banfieldca/Truck/2012-04-29120202.jpg

Thanks for looking!
jjkacz
05-02-2012, 09:38 PM
Looking good! They having a black car is like having a second job. What polisher are you using>
Bates Detailing
05-02-2012, 09:53 PM
Very nice man - How many pics did it take you to get those 50/50s lol?!?!?! It takes me about 30 pics with 2 good ones.... looks great man :dblthumb2:
AutowerxDetailing
05-03-2012, 02:52 AM
I have always liked those newer Frontiers. Paint looks great. Nice job!
DeadlySheds
05-03-2012, 06:01 AM
Thanks guys,

I'm using pc7424xp with 5.5" lake country CCS pads.

Yes, owning a black truck is pure punishment. I went from an old white beater frontier, to a brand new black one. I go much slower in the woods now!

B&B - Thanks for helping me out with advise! I took about 50 pics to get a few that weren't too bad. My shed (garage) is my 'playhouse/bar' so its dark and somewhat uninviting (to keep pesky wives & girlfriends from getting too comfortable and actually wanting to hang out in there). That makes getting any decent photos tough, especially using a cell phone!

I've still got some work to do on it, but it's looking much better!
swanicyouth
05-03-2012, 07:33 AM
Dude your a noob? With that tape job, halogens, and great results you look like a pro! They are some nice pics! My 01 Pathfinder had a "hard clear coat" sticker on it and it took a yellow pad to remove defects with TSR. Sounds like newer Nissans may not be as hard ?
DeadlySheds
05-03-2012, 08:55 AM
Dude your a noob? With that tape job, halogens, and great results you look like a pro! They are some nice pics! My 01 Pathfinder had a "hard clear coat" sticker on it and it took a yellow pad to remove defects with TSR. Sounds like newer Nissans may not be as hard ?

Ha, thanks! I am a noob, but I spent countless hours researching products before I ordered anything, and countless more researching techniques, watching video etc before I even turned my buffer on. I also had some advise from professionals (B&B) who have worked these trucks before.

I used my tailgate as my test area. Devided it into 5 sections and tried 5 different combos. I wanted it to be as simple as possible (least amount of steps with a decent result....I wasn't looking to get show car results, just a nice swirl free shine). I spent about 10 hours on the tailgate and found that optimum polish II with an orange pad gave me the amount of correction I was looking for in one easy step.

I have nothing to compare it too as far as hardness, but I'm finding the paint on this truck quite sensitive to scratches. I definitely would not say it's a hard clearcoat. Both megs UC , and Optimum compound II were far to aggressive for me and left too much marring/hazing that I wasn't interested in dealing with.

My wife thinks I've gone crazy. She doesn't understand why I would spend so much of my free time cleaning a truck that's just going to end up dirty again in no time (rains /snows a lot in my area).
BorisC
05-03-2012, 09:25 AM
Looks good. It's amazing how much you'll notice on your own as well as other vehicles now that you've been bitten by the detailing bug.