1970 1/2 Camaro - Show Car Finish by Pinnacle - Modeled by Amy

[Setec Astronomy]

*sigh* its Amy...she's so fine.

side note....I hope she's not no one's lady. I don't want to offend anyone.

I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that Amy will be everyone's lady...everyone who gets a 2012 Autogeek calendar!

[alko]

I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that Amy will be everyone's lady...everyone who gets a 2012 Autogeek calendar!

OMG! They're making a calendar?!?! And she's gonna be in it? aww hecks yeah I'm getting it!!! I have a big crush on her :-D

[Mike Phillips]

Okay... so when the Camaro arrived I took this picture and most people just by looking at the picture or even the car from a few feet away would die to have a custom paint job this nice....




But the Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light reveals the true condition of the paint and that is a surface filled with,

• Swirls
• Scratches
• Pig Tails
• RIDS
• Tracers
• Micro-marring also called DA Haze

You can find a definition for all of the above in either my e-book or in this article here,

Tracers Tracers - RIDS - Pigtails - Cobweb Swirls - Rotary Buffer Swirls - Holograms - Water Spots - Bird Drooping Etchings - Micro-Marring



Check it out...

Pig Tails
If you look closely you can see a scratch that looks like the letter e in cursive writing running horizontally across the paint, this is called a Pig Tail and it generally comes from an abrasive particle that gets trapped between the paint and a sanding disc when machine sanding. The entire finish had Pig Tails plus Tracers randomly dispersed...





Micro-marring also called Tick Marks or DA Haze
The millions of tiny, small scratches highlighted by the Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light are caused by improperly worked abrasives when using a DA Polisher like the Porter Cable 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2, Griot's Garage 6" ROP or Shurhold DA Polisher. These types of scratches are through out the entire car but you can really only see them on the black stripes not the metallic green paint. The point is that even though your eyes can't see them on the lighter colors they still cloud and dull the finish and keep you from seeing the beautiful color and/or metallic finish under the clear. These have to go!





RIDS - Random, Isolated Deeper Scratches
These types of scratches come from normal wear and tear and don't have any pattern to them thus the use of the word random in the description.




More information on RIDS here...
RIDS - The Definition of RIDS and the story behind the term...


Swirls and Scratches
What I see here is a combination of RIDS, swirls, DA Haze and Arc Scratches probably caused by wiping but they are also caused by improper use of a rotary buffer.





And just for the record, the nickname for the Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light is the Cruel Master because it's hard to please...






For my e-book I needed to create a list of categories that would describe the condition of a car's paint AFTER you first wash and dry the car.

That list can be found starting on page 30 of the e-book. After evaluating the condition of the paint on this Camaro I would place it into the category 3 Good Condition as it has way too many below surface defects to fall into category 1 Show Car Quality or category 2 Excellent Condition


So next up is..... the Test Spot


Test Spot - The story behind the story...

[Finemess]

Awesome job guys
and gals.

[Mike Phillips]

We tested out a number of pads and machine and ended up using a combination of rotary buffers, Flex 3401 and DA Polishers together with Hydro-Tech pads, Pinnacle polishes and to remove some of the deeper Pig Tails we used M105 with a wool pad on a rotary buffer.

Here's Adam testing out Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover with a Tangerine Hydro-Tech Polishing pad on a Porter Cable 7424XP, this combination of pad, product and tool easily removed all the swirls, scratches, micro-marring etc but wasn't aggressive enough to remove the deeper Pig Tails.







Here's Adam doing some surgical rotary buffer work using the Flex PE 14 with some brand new prototype 3" foam buffing pads.





Prototype 3" Foam Buffing Pads
When using small diameter foam pads on a rotary buffer you have to be VERY careful as the foam will collapse inward not outward and this can expose the edges of the backing plate to the paint if you're not like Adam and that's focusing on the task at hand...





I'm using the 3" pads on the A-Pillars, the small diameter really helps for thin panels...





Rotary Buffer for removing serious paint defects
Todd breaks out a wool pad with a Makita Rotary Buffer to remove some of the Pig Tails on the roof. Just to note, this car is actually a great candidate for dampsanding to level the paint and in the process remove all the deeper Pig Tails, Tracers and Orange Peel in the paint but that's another project and another day...




This is correct technique, that is focusing on the paint you're working on with intensity...




Focusing on the task at hand especially when using a rotary buffer for isolated defects as you have to be careful you don't get the paint too hot...



While we were dialing-in our process Nicole and Thomas were lollygagging... I put an end to that...




Thomas uses the Kreepstool while buffing out the lower portions of the rear fenders...



Being new to machine polishing Thomas and his daughter Nicole learned very quickly and were both buffing like pros after just a panel or two...







Here's Nicole priming her pad...

How to prime a foam pad when using a DA Polisher





A little hands-on training to get a feel for how hard to push down, how fast or s-l-o-w-l-y to move the DA Polisher and the pattern to use for consistent, repeatable results...




Having fun at Autogeek's Garage!



Focusing on the task at hand... perfect!

[Mike Phillips]

I think the pictures of machine waxing ended up on someone else's camera? If I get them I'll post them, until then after machine applied the Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax it was time to remove it...


No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!





When you have paint polished to the level of a gemstone it's time to put on the Microfiber Gloves!

Increase Your Grip Strength with Microfiber Gloves





Then carefully using good technique... gently remove the wax residue...


Here's a few of the tips and technique we used to remove the wax...

How to correctly fold and use a Microfiber Towel

How to break open a coating of wax and remove it by creeping out...












Hey hey hey! No talking, focus on the task at hand... look at what you're doing...











The Final Wipe Technique after 99.7% of the wax has been removed...

The Final Wipe – Tips for creating a streak-free, show car finish




After we removed the wax Adam gave all the glass a final wipe too...




Time for some beauty shots!

[Mike Phillips]

Classic Camaro with a glassy wet-looking finish created entirely by machine and finished off using Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax...

[Pats300zx]

Great work Guys !!!!

I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that Amy will be everyone's lady...everyone who gets a 2012 Autogeek calendar!

I am definitely ordering a calender if Amy signs it for me

[Mike Phillips]

Products Used

Tools
Flex PE 14
Flex 3401
Makita 9227c
Porter Cable 7424XP
Griot's Garage 6" ROP
Meguiar's G110v2


Pads
Lake Country 5.5" Hydro-Tech Pads
Lake Country 7.5 inch Hook & Loop DuroWool 100% Twisted Wool Cutting Pad
Lake Country 5.5" Jeweling Pad to machine apply wax
Lake Country 3" Prototype pads not available at this time


Compounds
M105 Ultra Cut Compound


Medium Cut Polish
Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover


Fine Cut Polish

Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish


Wax
Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax


Metal Polish
Wolfgang Aluminum Concours Polish


Tire Dressing
Optimum Opti-Bond Tire


Microfiber Towels
Super Soft Deluxe Green Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges


Miscellaneous Items
Gold Wax Finger Pocket
Microfiber Gloves
Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light
Kreepstool Rolling Utility Seat



Special thanks to...

Thomas - The owner of the Camaro for bringing it to Autogeek and placing his trust in our reputation.

Nicole - Thomas's daughter for joining in the fun

Adam aka Harleyguy - For his machine polishing expertise

Todd Helme - For his machine polishing expertise

Max - President and CEO of Palm Beach Motoring Group for providing the first class operation and TV studio for all our projects.

[Bobby B.]

This Camaro is so sexy. I love the color and the wheels. I would love to own this car.

The owner Thomas and his beautiful daughter Nicole