fst89lx
08-14-2013, 06:14 PM
Hello everyone, I am looking to buy a DA polisher and some supplies to take care of my and my parents vehicles. I will probably be ordering the Griots Garage 6" random orbital but aside from that, I'm kind of scratching my head on what I need.
I will be working on a 1989 mustang w/ single stage red paint, ~2003 grey metallic toyota tundra, and ~2006 white toyota rav 4. The mustang is heavily oxidized in spots (hood, roof, and trunk) and of course has scratches/swirls. The other two vehicles are just scratches/swirls.
I have read two articles by mike on single stage paint restoration:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/25304-secret-removing-oxidation-restoring-show-car-finish-antique-single-stage-paints.html
and
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/66800-4-steps-restore-single-paint-paint-1972-mercedes-benz-280-se.html
I am slightly confused since there are a couple different steps used in both of the articles. In the first article, the paint is clayed, but it is not in the second. Also in the first article the megs#7 is applied with a microfiber towel, but it is applied with a terrycloth towel in the second.
In post #13 of the second link there is this quote:
"If you clay the paint, you'll load your expensive clay up with dead paint. Rubbing the paint down AGGRESSIVELY with the terry cloth will remove the top dead layer of paint and with it much and even most or all of any above surface bonded contaminants. Things are different when you work on single stage than when you work on clear coats.
Chances are you won't need to clay but check with the baggie test AFTER the first polishing step, (after wiping off the #7)."
I didn't see any info on the terrycloth vs microfiber for applying the #7, so I am guessing that since the second article is newer that the information in it supersedes the first article?
So my current plan is to follow the second article to try to restore the mustangs single stage paint. For the other two vehicles, the plan would be wash and clay, then use the same pinnacle polishes I used on the mustang (also will NOT be using the #7). Does this sound acceptable?
I will be using Meguiars nxt 2.0 tech wax.
Pads are another area that I'm unsure of. I am thinking of getting the 5" backing plate and using lake country 5.5" CCS pads. I am thinking of getting 2 orange light cutting pads for applying the swirl remover, but I don't know what colors would be best for applying the finishing polish, and nxt tech wax, maybe gray and red? Lastly, for cleaning the pads, use a conditioning brush and dish soap then DP pad rejuvinator or similar product?
What should I use to wash the cars with? I have always used dish soap (I didn't know any better). I live in the "country" in Michigan with no water restrictions and I like the traditional wash style so in the warmer months I think Optimum Car Wash is a concentrated auto shampoo that washes away grime on your car & protects wax. (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-car-wash.html) will be good, and in the winter I will wash in the garage with Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine: clay lubricant, optimum rinseless wash, no rinse car wash, optimum detailing products (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html)
What do I use to strip off old waxes and polishes? Is that what a pre wax cleaner is for or do I use all purpose cleaner?
As far as detailing supplies that I currently own, I have:
6 Super Soft Deluxe Blue Microfiber Towels, microfiber detailing towels, buffing towels, micro fiber towel, detail cloth (http://www.autogeek.net/super-soft-microfiber-towels.html)
2 Cobra Guzzler towels
Meguiars clay kit
one and a half bottles of #7 glaze
1 Super Plush Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt, microfiber wash mitt, car wash mitt (http://www.autogeek.net/super-plush-wash-mitt.html)
is 6 microfiber towels enough or should I pick up some more? I also do NOT own a grit guard but will be picking one up or do I need to get two so I have one in each bucket?
WOW, what a long post full of newbie questions lol, I appreciate any help you guys can give me! I am just so overwhelmed with the amount of products/information here that it feels like my head is spinning.
Lastly, here are some pictures of the oxidized paint on the mustang.
Roof
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/600_roof5.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/61502)
Hood, not as bad as the roof and trunk lid but still pretty bad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/600_hood.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/61499)
Door, very little/no oxidation
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/600_door.JPG
(http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/61497)
I will be working on a 1989 mustang w/ single stage red paint, ~2003 grey metallic toyota tundra, and ~2006 white toyota rav 4. The mustang is heavily oxidized in spots (hood, roof, and trunk) and of course has scratches/swirls. The other two vehicles are just scratches/swirls.
I have read two articles by mike on single stage paint restoration:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/25304-secret-removing-oxidation-restoring-show-car-finish-antique-single-stage-paints.html
and
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/66800-4-steps-restore-single-paint-paint-1972-mercedes-benz-280-se.html
I am slightly confused since there are a couple different steps used in both of the articles. In the first article, the paint is clayed, but it is not in the second. Also in the first article the megs#7 is applied with a microfiber towel, but it is applied with a terrycloth towel in the second.
In post #13 of the second link there is this quote:
"If you clay the paint, you'll load your expensive clay up with dead paint. Rubbing the paint down AGGRESSIVELY with the terry cloth will remove the top dead layer of paint and with it much and even most or all of any above surface bonded contaminants. Things are different when you work on single stage than when you work on clear coats.
Chances are you won't need to clay but check with the baggie test AFTER the first polishing step, (after wiping off the #7)."
I didn't see any info on the terrycloth vs microfiber for applying the #7, so I am guessing that since the second article is newer that the information in it supersedes the first article?
So my current plan is to follow the second article to try to restore the mustangs single stage paint. For the other two vehicles, the plan would be wash and clay, then use the same pinnacle polishes I used on the mustang (also will NOT be using the #7). Does this sound acceptable?
I will be using Meguiars nxt 2.0 tech wax.
Pads are another area that I'm unsure of. I am thinking of getting the 5" backing plate and using lake country 5.5" CCS pads. I am thinking of getting 2 orange light cutting pads for applying the swirl remover, but I don't know what colors would be best for applying the finishing polish, and nxt tech wax, maybe gray and red? Lastly, for cleaning the pads, use a conditioning brush and dish soap then DP pad rejuvinator or similar product?
What should I use to wash the cars with? I have always used dish soap (I didn't know any better). I live in the "country" in Michigan with no water restrictions and I like the traditional wash style so in the warmer months I think Optimum Car Wash is a concentrated auto shampoo that washes away grime on your car & protects wax. (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-car-wash.html) will be good, and in the winter I will wash in the garage with Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine: clay lubricant, optimum rinseless wash, no rinse car wash, optimum detailing products (http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-no-rinse.html)
What do I use to strip off old waxes and polishes? Is that what a pre wax cleaner is for or do I use all purpose cleaner?
As far as detailing supplies that I currently own, I have:
6 Super Soft Deluxe Blue Microfiber Towels, microfiber detailing towels, buffing towels, micro fiber towel, detail cloth (http://www.autogeek.net/super-soft-microfiber-towels.html)
2 Cobra Guzzler towels
Meguiars clay kit
one and a half bottles of #7 glaze
1 Super Plush Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt, microfiber wash mitt, car wash mitt (http://www.autogeek.net/super-plush-wash-mitt.html)
is 6 microfiber towels enough or should I pick up some more? I also do NOT own a grit guard but will be picking one up or do I need to get two so I have one in each bucket?
WOW, what a long post full of newbie questions lol, I appreciate any help you guys can give me! I am just so overwhelmed with the amount of products/information here that it feels like my head is spinning.
Lastly, here are some pictures of the oxidized paint on the mustang.
Roof
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/600_roof5.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/61502)
Hood, not as bad as the roof and trunk lid but still pretty bad
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/600_hood.JPG (http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/61499)
Door, very little/no oxidation
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/600_door.JPG
(http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/61497)