Need a lot of help with black Cadillac

[K38chomponTHIS]

Hey guys, I just joined these forums, a couple of guys from the Cadillac forums suggested I come here to seek advice on my paint. The owner before me must not have taken very good care of it, because it doesn't look that good. There are tons of swirls and small clear coat scratches, as well as these little white blemishes on the hood and side view mirrors (casings, not the mirrors themselves).

All I've ever done to the car is wash with a brush, let air dry, and wax once a month with meguiars paste wax. After perusing through your website a little, I see there is a lot more to it than just that.

I've included a few recent pictures of what I have to work with. I DO NOT want to pay the money to go have it professionaly done, but I am willing to put money into it to do it myself. I don't need it perfect, but I want to get it as near perfect as possible.
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p46/K38chomponTHIS/P6031673.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p46/K38chomponTHIS/P6031674.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p46/K38chomponTHIS/P6031670.jpghttp://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p46/K38chomponTHIS/P6031672.jpg
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p46/K38chomponTHIS/P6031671.jpg

[Islander]

Being new to this site, as well as working with a Porter Cable 7424 Oribital Polisher (PC) I would tell you ti investigate the Pinacle WXT Swirl Remover Kits. I just used XMT with an Orange CCS pad followed by XMT 1 with a white CCS pad on a much newer black car and was very happy with what the results. The XMT 3 or 4 with an orange or possibly yellow cutting pad on a PC will likely be necessary here. While the PC & kit will cost as much as what a professional detailer may charge for doing the car, you'll at least have the tools & products to keep your cars looking great for years. After the XMT swirl remover, you'll want to look into a glaze or sealant as well as a wax. Lot's of great choices at the AG store.

The senior members and moderators here are just great. They're happy to share their knowledge with you.

[P1et]

It definitely looks like that paint could use some help!

Recently, AG introduced the Menzerna line. I would suggest purchasing one of their kits along with the Porter Cable.

You'll have that Cadillac looking perfect in no time!

[Gnarboots11]

you also should watch the Pinnacle videos here:

Pinnacle Natural Brilliance car care products are made of natural ingredients & modern science! souveran, signature series, carnauba, paintwork (http://www.autogeek.net/pinnacleprod.html)

That guy does a polish job and shows exactly how to work the polish with the Porter Cable Polisher. Also, you going to need to do the clay bar and stuff too. Just go ahead and watch the whole thing, it's pretty sweet. That guy kicks A at washing cars!

[sparkie]

All above has it right, need a PC and a good line of polishes. This would be good sanding job for Toto (another member) to do. So sorry about your paint, it's hard to say if a PC would get that out. It would help. Do a search for Totoland Mach and look at some of his work, he's fix some paints like yours. .

[Al-53]

That paint is in need of wetsanding and a rotary...A pc will just give you glossy scratched paint....and the rock chips are there to stay....you can touch them up before you wet sand but you have a ton of them....the hood looks like a ice skating rink....It can be fixed..to a point..but with proper tools...

sorry to be so harsh..just given you the facts so you can start right...

Good luck....I hope you get it fixed....

AL

[ScottB]

get some Menzerna polishes and a PC ... with IP and nano-polish you will be back in black in no time at all.

[K38chomponTHIS]

alright, thanks for the replies, guys

How exactly do you wetsand a car? I wetsanded my catamaran sailboat last summer, but that was fiberglass... how exactly should I go about trying to wetsand a car?

I did get two cans of base coat / clear coat of my paint code pro mixed a week ago, I prepped and painted the gray plastic rocker panels to match the car, and I still have some paint left. To touch up things like rock chips. should I just carefully put tape around each rock chip and paint it / clear it?

Sorry for so many questions guys

[richy]

That paint is in need of wetsanding and a rotary...A pc will just give you glossy scratched paint....and the rock chips are there to stay....you can touch them up before you wet sand but you have a ton of them....the hood looks like a ice skating rink....It can be fixed..to a point..but with proper tools...

sorry to be so harsh..just given you the facts so you can start right...

Good luck....I hope you get it fixed....

AL
I totally agree with AL (o.k. what else is new?) Check out this link to my old STS which I detailed for the new owner. I spent 10 hours on it and had to wet sand and use some aggresive measures to get the paint back in decent shape. If you mess it up wet sanding or polishing with a rotary and a wool pad, you will have to pay to get a re-paint. It would be cheaper for you to get a good professional to get it in good shape for you and then you can maintain it with a p.c. and polish/glaze and sealant/wax. You probably should just have the hood repainted anyway...just make sure the clear is on good so you can polish to your heart's content after!
Here's that link and not that I'm any ####-hot detailer, it's a hobby that has grown into a little sideline for me:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/5534-10-year-old-sts.html

[D]

I agree with Al and richy.

[K38chomponTHIS]

alright, I think I'm going to pick up a PC 7424 soon

The thing about the hood, is that those white marks aren't chips, they're like white spots/dots, and I have a feeling they are going to come right off, judging by the above videos I watched. The scratches aren't as bad as they really look in the pictures.

It's weird, you can clean the car, dry it off, and stand 10 feet away, and you'll swear it's the nicest, cleanest and most expensive looking paintjob ever. It shines great. But that's just it: it's a 10 foot car. Once you start getting closer, you see all this spider webbing and swirling, little imperfections that just piss you off.

If I f the the hood up, which I think is doubtful, I'll get it professionally done, but I plan on attempting the car soon, does anybody have product recommendations for black? I'm getting the pc7424, I know I need certain types of polishing pads, certain polishes, sealants, waxes, etc. etc., can anybody point me in the right way for some good stuff at good prices? There's just so much out there.

Thanks for all the info, you guys are super helpful
This forum kicks ass, tons of info everywhere you look

[K38chomponTHIS]

alright, I'm almost ready to make my order, I have almost everything picked out except polish and pads. You guys have seen the pictures (page 1), how far do you suggest I go with polish and pads and a pc7424? Should I get the most heavy duty stuff there is, or will it harm the paint? and what about compounds etc. etc.?

Thanks

[richy]

Menzerna products will rescue this beast from being a "10 footer". You may find however that you cannot get the correction you need to get rid of all of those scratches without a rotary...you'll just have to try..and with a p.c. at least there's no harm in trying!! I would suggest SIP with a green or yellow pad followed up with 106ff with blue or white pad and either menz glaze after that (optional but will give a wet look to the killer shine that 106ff will provide) and then the LSP of your choice (and boy the choices keep getting larger). But most important of all..pls update with lots of pics!! We all love pics!! Automotive porn hahaha!

[K38chomponTHIS]

Alright, this shall be my order list - if anybody has any suggestions on anything I missed or any product I should swap for a different one, please let me know



Porter Cable 7424

The Supreme Guzzler Waffle Weave by Cobra
Sheepskin Wash Mitt
Meguiars Shampoo Plus, 1 gallon
Cobra Indigo Microfiber 3-pack
Four Star Detailing Clay
Four Star Clay Lubricant

Menzerna Super Intensive Polish (comes with a free orange light cutting pad)
Menzerna Nano Polish (also comes with a free orange light cutting pad)
As far as pads go, I think I'll go with CCS 6.5 inch Smart Pads, unless anyone objects to this, but do you guys think I should use the free orange pad for the super intensive polish, or should I buy a yellow? I think then I'll get a white polishing pad for the nano polish, and a blue pad for applying wax and sealant
Also, a dual action hook & loop 5" flexible backing plate.

Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
P21S Concours Carnauba Wax




I was also wondering -
I have read a bunch about how you're supposed to put on a coat of sealant, then a coat of wax, for maximum shine.

Sealant, as everybody knows, obviously lasts a lot longer than carnauba, so my question is - why don't you put the carnauba on BEFORE, and then seal it, as to hold in the extra wet and glossy shine, for as long as the sealant lasts (several months +)? Does this not seem more logical? Rather than applying new wax every couple of weeks, the oils and all the other good stuff in the caranauba would be trapped under a layer of sealant... Anybody tried this?

Thanks for all your help guys