Chrono
04-20-2014, 10:04 PM
So I was riding my Kawasaki Concours 1400 perhaps a bit close to those 4' high reflectors that are supposed to keep you from changing lanes. I guess one of them didn't like me being there, because it came over and hit my left saddlebag. Dang. That's some thin SOFT paint. Time for a correction, but I didn't want to break out the Lake pads and have to clean them for this small job. This entire job was done with a kitchen sponge, with one step being a 1" x 3" piece of 3000 grit foam backed 3M sandpaper.
here's the damage:
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-t6gbqGw/0/XL/1_bag_damage-XL.jpg
Cleaning with ONR (detail strength) revealed just what I was dealing with. A few nail catchers along with some clear coat abrasions.
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-wGx9n9K/0/XL/2_bag_afterClean-XL.jpg
Good reliable 3M Compound eradicated the abrasions, leaving only the actual scratches. This took 2 rub-downs, again, with a slightly moist kitchen sponge!
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-BB8d8Bt/0/XL/3_bag_compound-XL.jpg
Those scratches weren't going anywhere fast, so I resorted to a 3000 grit wet sand, lubed with Poorboy's Spray & Wipe, cleaned with 20% IPA.
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-ZqRtNfQ/0/XL/4_bag_300Grit-XL.jpg
Menzerna 2500 took care of the sanding scratches, revealing a 85%+ corrected surface:
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-CfVCRHm/0/XL/6_bag_afterMenz-XL.jpg
Then some Megs Ultimate Polish. Have you ever noticed that the bottle says "glaze"? That's why I reached for it!
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-TZ4tDQB/0/XL/7_bag_afterMegs-XL.jpg
Looking good, maybe 90% corrected. I decided against my original idea of Collinite 915 wax, opting instead for Megs Gold Class. I though it might have some hiding abilities - maybe it will cheat a bit whereas the 915 will just display what's underneath in glowing brilliance. I rubbed the wax in the direction of the defects, with my fingers, thinking that "feeding the paint" this way would result in better cosmetics.
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-d72TTDB/0/XL/8_bag_wax-XL.jpg
All done! It's 90%, and some of that may be cosmetic influence, but I'm 100% satisfied considering how easy the repair was. Here's the results:
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-ZHVQmM3/0/XL/9_bag_final-XL.jpg
here's the damage:
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-t6gbqGw/0/XL/1_bag_damage-XL.jpg
Cleaning with ONR (detail strength) revealed just what I was dealing with. A few nail catchers along with some clear coat abrasions.
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-wGx9n9K/0/XL/2_bag_afterClean-XL.jpg
Good reliable 3M Compound eradicated the abrasions, leaving only the actual scratches. This took 2 rub-downs, again, with a slightly moist kitchen sponge!
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-BB8d8Bt/0/XL/3_bag_compound-XL.jpg
Those scratches weren't going anywhere fast, so I resorted to a 3000 grit wet sand, lubed with Poorboy's Spray & Wipe, cleaned with 20% IPA.
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-ZqRtNfQ/0/XL/4_bag_300Grit-XL.jpg
Menzerna 2500 took care of the sanding scratches, revealing a 85%+ corrected surface:
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-CfVCRHm/0/XL/6_bag_afterMenz-XL.jpg
Then some Megs Ultimate Polish. Have you ever noticed that the bottle says "glaze"? That's why I reached for it!
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-TZ4tDQB/0/XL/7_bag_afterMegs-XL.jpg
Looking good, maybe 90% corrected. I decided against my original idea of Collinite 915 wax, opting instead for Megs Gold Class. I though it might have some hiding abilities - maybe it will cheat a bit whereas the 915 will just display what's underneath in glowing brilliance. I rubbed the wax in the direction of the defects, with my fingers, thinking that "feeding the paint" this way would result in better cosmetics.
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-d72TTDB/0/XL/8_bag_wax-XL.jpg
All done! It's 90%, and some of that may be cosmetic influence, but I'm 100% satisfied considering how easy the repair was. Here's the results:
http://sorrells.smugmug.com/Utilitarian/i-ZHVQmM3/0/XL/9_bag_final-XL.jpg