paxfish
01-02-2014, 08:34 AM
I worked on the Wife's 2002 SC430 this past weekend. I focused on horizontal surfaces.
The car's first ten years were spent mostly in a garage, but I can see swirls remaining from years of good lovin' by the previous owner. I found out how thin the clearcoat is after I punched through in a small spot while trying to compound out a scratch. Just as the scratch disappeared, I realized a quarter-sized section was down to the paint! Ah well.
The paint is a very dark purple metallic - looks black in low light.
I guess the question is, how far must you go? Will those swirls impact the life of the coatings I apply? It is a daily driver, kept outside in Maryland weather.
Here are the results of my efforts - Swirl X and Meguiar's Ultimate polish, followed by BlackICE Paint sealer. Soon to be topped with some 845.
I can see the swirls still, but she certainly has no idea and thinks it is gorgeous.
The question remains - how far do you go?
http://imageshack.us/a/img191/7636/i1zu.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/3732/5s5s.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img571/9260/1h8n.jpg
The car's first ten years were spent mostly in a garage, but I can see swirls remaining from years of good lovin' by the previous owner. I found out how thin the clearcoat is after I punched through in a small spot while trying to compound out a scratch. Just as the scratch disappeared, I realized a quarter-sized section was down to the paint! Ah well.
The paint is a very dark purple metallic - looks black in low light.
I guess the question is, how far must you go? Will those swirls impact the life of the coatings I apply? It is a daily driver, kept outside in Maryland weather.
Here are the results of my efforts - Swirl X and Meguiar's Ultimate polish, followed by BlackICE Paint sealer. Soon to be topped with some 845.
I can see the swirls still, but she certainly has no idea and thinks it is gorgeous.
The question remains - how far do you go?
http://imageshack.us/a/img191/7636/i1zu.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/3732/5s5s.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img571/9260/1h8n.jpg