Care for paint living outdoors

[Eggme]

Hi - I'm new to Autogeek and have read some threads.....but thought i"d cut right to my question. I have a 4 year old part extruded aluminum (not shiney)/ part painted horse trailer that is living outside.

I was washing it on Saturday and noticed that the white painted parts were yielding "white wash" on the sponge.....the white seemed to be coming off on the sponge looking like skim milk.

The painted panels are still a bit shiney but clearly have a few streaks running down them from roof detritus that ran down during rain. I called my trailer guy and he said "just wax it".

Coming to Autogeek that statement got super complicated very quickly. My first guess would be that I could use the Klasse Car Kit which has a polish (which might clean off the streaks) and then the sealant (to make it stop the skim milk effect).

Would this work?

Is this the best course of action? If it gets up to 60 degrees this weekend for a couple of hours will these products be effective......given that the night time temsp will be in the 40's????

Thanks for entertaining these questions!!

Eggme

[Eggme]

I guess I must be on the right track with my game plan......I'll order the products and see how it goes. Thanks for reading. Eggme

[Mike Phillips]

I was washing it on Saturday and noticed that the white painted parts were yielding "white wash" on the sponge.....the white seemed to be coming off on the sponge looking like skim milk.




The white wash you see is oxidized, dead paint coming off.

You want to use a cleaner/wax to

Clean
Polish
Protect


The Klasse Twins, as they are called, is an option but the Klasse All-In-One is a chemical cleaner only and my guess is something with a little more bite will do a better job faster and more effectively.

Check out the XMT 360 Cleaner/wax I show in this extreme makeover. The paint on this Toyota was also oxidized.

KISS Detail - Extreme Makeover - Toyota Highlander (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/30979-kiss-detail-extreme-makeover-toyota-highlander.html)

A friend of mine who's not really into cars but knows I'm into cars asked me if his paint could be saved and if it could be saved if I could recommend the products he would need to restore the finish. At first I told him a handful of products to get and then I said, heck... why don't you bring it down to the studio and I'll help you to buff it out and I'll use this project to make a point about matching your services to your customer.

In this case, this is a daily driver which is parked outside 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's an older S.U.V. and but it still runs great but after we polish it out it's still going to be a daily driver that sits out side 24x7. The point is this, match your services to your customer and in this case if a person were to bring you a detailing project like this the right approach would be the simple approach, that is a KISS Detail.

KISS = Keep it Simple Simon

KISS Detail = Keep it Simple - Wash, Clay use a One-Step Cleaner/Wax


The owner, John has NEVER used any kind of machine to buff out car paint. He's heard about the horror stories associated with improper machine buffing but never actually used an electric buffer to buff out a car. After this detailing project he is no longer worried about instilling swirls, burning through the paint or making a mistake when machine polishing.


Without further ado... here's the rig and here's the process...

The paint is chalky and dull with extreme oxidation on the horizontal surfaces. There's absolutely no gloss, slickness or shine left in the paint.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite001.jpg


Pinnacle XMT Series 360 (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-360.html) is a one-step cleaner wax specifically for machine application and it does a great job of cleaning, polishing and leaving behind a coat of protection in one, easy step.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite002.jpg


Note how flat and dull the paint is...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite003.jpg


This is the paint near the windshield squirter, it's so oxidized it looks more like white primer than a high gloss auto paint.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite004.jpg


The mirrors actually have a texture to them...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite005.jpg


Right now in Florida we're going through a cold spell (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/off-topic/30912-ice-scrapers-fla.html), so instead of washing this rig outside, we opted to use Optimum No Rinse (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html) or ONR
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite006.jpg


After washing and drying the exterior we then clayed the paint using XMT Speed Clay (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-speed-clay-bar.html) and Pinnacle XMT Speed Clay Lube (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-speed-clay-lubricant.html). John had also never used detailing clay before.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite007.jpg



After a little information on how DA Polishers work and how to do a "Section Pass" (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/24074-show-car-garage-video-how-do-section-pass-when-machine-polishing-da-polisher.html) , I turned John loose on the Driver's side of the hood while I tackled the roof.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite008.jpg


We placed some 3M Painter's Tape (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-auto-masking-tapes.html)down the middle of the hood to show the before and after difference in results.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite009.jpg


After machine application of the XMT 360 the gloss, shine and slickness have been restored.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite010.jpg


The passenger side is still dull, lifeless and rough looking...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite011.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite012.jpg



From this shot you can really see the difference in gloss and shine between the before and after sides...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite013.jpg


Close-up of the overhead florescent lights reflecting off the machine cleaned, polished and waxed side and no reflection at all on the before side.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite014.jpg



After we proved our system would work to restore the paint I placed some green 3M painter's tape on the hood to show John how a person would normally divide a panel like the hood up into sections. Buffing out a car by machine is simply a matter of buffing out section by section and after buffing out one section and moving onto new territory, be sure to overlap a little into the previous section for good UMR

UMR = Uniform Material Removal

The tape was just for John's benefit to better visualize how to divide a panel up into smaller sections and after the point was made we removed the tape.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite015.jpg


We did about half the Toyota using 5.5" Lake Country Orange Light Cutting Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html) and then so he would have a chance to try out a different pad system for experience we also used the 5.5" Lake Country Yellow CCS Cutting Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/ccs-5-5inch-foam-buffing-pads.html) for the rest of the Toyota.

John used the Porter Cable 7424XP (http://www.autogeek.net/dual-action-polishers.html) while I used the Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-random-orbital-polisher.html).
(The same type of polishers, just different brands)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite016.jpg


John buffing out his Toyota using the Porter Cable 7424XP
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite017.jpg

[Mike Phillips]

Continued...


While John was working below, I tackled the roof which was just as dull and oxidized as the hood... we poured off some XMT 360 from the XMT 360 which is availabe in larger sizes like a quart bottle (http://www.autogeek.net/fco32ozxmt36.html) into a couple of Autogeek Squeeze Bottles (http://www.autogeek.net/autogeek-squeeze-bottle.html) to make it easier to dispense product.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite018.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite019.jpg



Here you can see the gloss and clarity have been restored...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite020.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite021.jpg


The lights in the reflection are the overhead florescent lights and now that we've restored a smooth surface the paint will now reflect images again.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite022.jpg


As I re-position the camera and take another shot you can see the light reflection completely disappears on the side I have not buffed yet.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite023.jpg


There's some plastic black trim surrounding the windows that have oxidized too and some machine polishing with XMT has restored both shine and reflectivity...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite024.jpg


The top portion is how the plastic trim looked before polishing...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite025.jpg



After buffing out the paint, we removed the oxidation from the headlights using a Flitz Mini Scuffpad (http://www.autogeek.net/flitz-mini-scuff-pads.html) and then restored the clarity using some Diamondite Clear Plastic Enhancer (http://www.autogeek.net/dia-clear-plastic-enhancer.html) and my new Flex PE 14-2 150 Rotary Buffer (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-car-garage-how-videos/30206-new-flex-pe14-2-150-rotary-buffer.html).

Before
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite031.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite032.jpg

After
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite033.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite034.jpg



:)

[Mike Phillips]

Continued...

And here are the results... the paint is clear and smooth and because we've restored smoothness we've restored and even amped up the gloss. Just look at how glossy the paint looks anywhere there's a gloss point.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite026.jpg


The mirrors are now smooth and shiny!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite026c.jpg



The roof is now just as smooth and shiny as the lower portions... you can see the gloss on the gloss points.. (the ribs and any curves)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite027.jpg



Before there was zero reflectivity... now you see the Flex logo from the banner on the wall reflecting off the hood with excellent DOI for white paint.

DOI - Distinction of Image
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite028.jpg


Except for the rock chips, the finish on the Toyota is crisp, shiny, slick and very glossy...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite029.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/990/1eoWhite030.jpg



:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

Then entire job took us less than 4 hours working together and this included taking time for one-on-one training and discussion of how products and process work so John will be able to do this on his own in the future and show others how they can do it themselves for their cars.

Each one teach one....


On the Autogeek Store
XMT Speed Clay (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-speed-clay-bar.html)
Pinnacle XMT Speed Clay Lube (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-speed-clay-lubricant.html)
Pinnacle XMT Series 360 16 Ounce Bottle (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-360.html)
Optimum No Rinse (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html)
3M Painter's Tape (http://www.autogeek.net/3m-auto-masking-tapes.html)
Porter Cable 7424XP (http://www.autogeek.net/dual-action-polishers.html)
Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-random-orbital-polisher.html)
Lake Country Yellow CCS Cutting Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/ccs-5-5inch-foam-buffing-pads.html)
5.5" Lake Country Orange Light Cutting Pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html)
Autogeek Squeeze Bottles (http://www.autogeek.net/autogeek-squeeze-bottle.html)
XMT 360 32 Ounces Bottle (http://www.autogeek.net/fco32ozxmt36.html)



:)

[Eggme]

Whoa. This is amazing. I do not have enough confidence in using a power polisher......but I will test out a small area first and report back! Hopefully the temps this weekend will cooperate! Thanks so much, Mike.....amazing.

[Mike Phillips]

Whoa. This is amazing. I do not have enough confidence in using a power polisher......but I will test out a small area first and report back! Hopefully the temps this weekend will cooperate! Thanks so much, Mike.....amazing.


You can apply most cleaner/waxes by hand.

Don't be worried about buffing with a machine, it's really a lot safer than most people think as long as you have the right tools. See my thread here,

It's not that hard... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/55512-s-not-hard.html)


Note these people are not just "learning" on daily drivers aka new cars, they're learning on someone's "toys" or Special Interest Vehicles. More risk for me, more fun for them...



In the below live broadcast I show a 15 year old boy how to machine polish

Live Broadcast Video - 1965 Plymouth Valiant - Extreme Makeover (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-autogeek-s-car-week/49293-live-broadcast-video-1965-plymouth-valiant-extreme-makeover.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1436/1965Plymouth034.jpg




And in this one I show a 21 year old girl how to machine polish

Video & Pictures: 1965 Fastback Mustang - Gtechniq EXO Show Car Makeover! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-autogeek-s-car-week/53807-video-pictures-1965-fastback-mustang-gtechniq-exo-show-car-makeover.html)

Trista working with the rest of the team to machine polish this 1965 Mustang Fastback 2+2
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1511/TristaBuffingFortheFirstTime001.jpg


Trista removing swirls on a show car...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1511/TristaBuffingFortheFirstTime002.jpg



And in this one I show a 80 year old man and a young lady and here boyfriend how to machine polish for their first time...

Video and Pictures - Two 1967 Camaro's - Show Car Makeovers! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-autogeek-s-car-week/51175-video-pictures-1967-camaro-ss-1941-plymouth-coupe-show-car-makeovers.html)


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1465/CamaroNight001.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/1465/CamaroNight002.jpg


PLUS you have everyone on this forum to help you along the way...



:)