Making the best of a bad paint job.

[cavemanlarry]

Hi, this is my first post.

I have a 1986 toyota corolla I just purchaced.


It has VERY bad orange peel in the paint. Some of it is worse than this.


I wet sanded the hood with 2000 grit and buffed it with meguiars ultimate compound (It was what I had I purchaced it before I found this site) and a wool pad on a mikita rotary buffer.



You can't see it in the pic but I put holograms in it other than that it looks good.



What I want to do is make the paint look as good as possible. It is NOT a show car it's just an old toyota DD.

I can't spend a ton on compounds. I would be willing to buy a DA buffer though.

What do I need to buy to fix this paint as economically as possible?

[tenzin]

Welcome to AG, nice car you got there.

You definitely have more experience than me but i recently bought PC7424. AG has a lot of packages depending on what you looking for.
Porter Cable 7424 XP Dual Action Polisher - dual action orbital car polisher, car care kits, buffer kits, PC 7424,7424XP, 7424 XP, porter cable

[ROMEO]

The porter cable is a great machine from what I have seen so far, (I'm a noob and just do this on my own cars or some of my friends) but if you can afford it, go for the flex 3401, I got them both, and the flex is my go to buffer all the time...

[cavemanlarry]

Welcome to AG, nice car you got there.

You definitely have more experience than me but i recently bought PC7424.

Cool I have no experience at all. I thought I knew how to clean and wax a car until I owned a black one.

I will look into the PC buffer.

I have no idea what kind of compounds to use or what pads. I've been told to use 3M perfect-it rubbing compound with a wool pad to take out the wet sanding marks.

What after that? A swirl remover or a less aggressive compound?

Then I assume some sort of micro polish then a sealant and wax? Or should I use a glaze? Or a polish made for black cars?


I'm overwhelmed with the amount of products and information on this site.

[ROMEO]

First at all, let me start by saying that I am a noob, I have been spending lots of time reading this boards, and you will find lots of good info here, Ether way, I will tell you my guess...

-Orange or yellow pad with menz intensive polish
-White pad with finishing polish
-Grey pad with wofgang glaze
-Grey pad and menz power lock sealer
-Grey or blue or red pad with your favorite nuba wax (I have been using p21s 100&#37

Now, you said that you already have a mikita, and you seem to be able to use it just fine, so why not try to use that and use the money that you would spend on the porter cable to get some products???

[ROMEO]

This might help you some too...

Removing Orange Peel & Sanding Marks with the Griot's ROP and the Wolfgang Twins


Autogeek Swirl Removers & Compounds Comparison Chart

[rakkvet]

Where do you live? Maybe a fellow Autogeeker can help. If you are in Columbus Ohio drop me a pm.

Tim

[cavemanlarry]

I live in atlanta.

[cavemanlarry]

Now, you said that you already have a mikita, and you seem to be able to use it just fine, so why not try to use that and use the money that you would spend on the porter cable to get some products???

Sounds like a plan to me. I suppose if it still has holograms when I'm done I'll buy or borrow a DA.

[ryandamartini]

I live in atlanta.

There are TONS of good detailers (members) here in Atlanta. You are welcome to come by whenever Im in Douglasville.