How-to Machine Apply Wax using a DA Polisher
How-to Machine Apply Wax using a DA Polisher
3M's but not 3M
Mike the owner and Mike his buddy joined me, (Mike Phillips), here at Autogeek's Show Car Garage to put a Show Car Finish on a 1954 Corvette
This Corvette was restored as part of a car collection and painted approximately 20 years ago using a basecoat/clearcoat paint system. Although from 5 feet away it looked great, we felt the paint and could feel Above Surface Bonded Contaminants of some type all over the paint, even the sides using Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette002.jpg
These are the contaminant after claying just the passenger side door, a vertical panel that is often times skipped by most people. Although contaminants primarily build up on horizontal surfaces, you can still have Above Surface Bonded Contaminants on vertical panels. Because we wanted to maximize the gloss we clayed all the paint panels.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette003.jpg
There were some very light swirls in the paint but Mike aka Merlin will be doing a complete swirl removal process on this car down the road so for today the goal is just to apply a coat of wax to protect the paint and create a show car finish.
In most cases, claying will remove a majority of anything off the top surface of the paint, so after claying you really need to apply a coat of wax or a paint sealant.
What we want to do with this project is show that with just two simple steps, claying and waxing with a true show car wax, you can bring out the full richness of color and maximize the glossy look everyone loves...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette004.jpg
Applying Paste Wax By Machine
Souveran Paste Wax can be applied by hand or machine, I personally prefer to apply all my waxes and paint sealants by machine plus the owner Mike has never used a DA Polisher before, only rotary buffers, so I wanted to introduce him to one of the most popular types of machine polishers in the industry.
Using a microfiber glove to hold the wax, you can pop the wax out of the jar and then simply swipe the wax a few times across the face of the foam finishing pad and you're ready to machine wax. Sometimes it helps to lightly heat the outside of the plastic jar with a Hair Blow Dryer as this will loosen the grip crated by surface tension the wax has with the jar.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette005.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette006.jpg
Here's Mike the owner using a DA Polisher to machine wax his Corvette...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette007.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette008.jpg
Next up I get Mike aka Merlin on our forum set-up to machine wax...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette009.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette010.jpg
Then I put some wax on the face of my pad and we thoroughly waxed this Corvette in less than 10 to 15 minutes...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette011.jpg
Notice the cord over the shoulder to prevent it from marring the finish...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette012.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette013.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette014.jpg
Pinnacle Souveran Wax does not need to dry before removing, so after we machine applied the wax we then slipped on Microfiber Gloves and removed the wax using Cobra Indigo Microfiber Towels.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette015.jpg
The microfiber gloves make it real easy to grip the microfiber towels plus you never leave any finger print smudges should your hand touch the paint in the process. For show car quality work, you can't go wrong taking the extra step to wear microfiber gloves.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette016.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette017.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette018.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette019.jpg
:)
Re: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Re: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Nice!!!! Thanks for the pics and vid!!!
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Now that's what I call a professional team with professional results!! :props:
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Great pics and video! :dblthumb2:
btw whats the difference between application of wax by red/gray/blue pads?
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sohail99
Great pics and video! :dblthumb2:
btw whats the difference between application of wax by red/gray/blue pads?
Just trying to show that all three can be used for this kind of procedure, they are all very soft and gentle to the paint.
Good question...
:xyxthumbs:
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
That car really goes well with Pinnacle Souveran, what a beauty!
Re: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike.Phillips@Autogeek
As the wax comes off the gloss appears...:)
Thank you very much Mike P. or taking your time to explain the paint and finish that you found on the '54 Vette.
Your expertise explaining what you discovered about the paint, avoided what could have been a VERY co$tly mistake.
Thanks again Mike P.! Thanks to you, I now know the correct four P's path (paint, pads, product, process) to take.
This new knowledge will allow me the ability to produce a brilliant, swirl free, show car finish on this very sweet car.
Just a FYI...Mike S. (the '54 Vette owner) told me that he did clay bar this car last week!
As Mike P. explained, this is a VERY important step to creating that deep, wet, glossy finish.
When claying, take your time, and (cellophane test) check your work to make sure it's clean.
In the picture you can see how much was left behind on just one door panel.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette003.jpg
BTW - We had a great time and the Pinnacle Souveran paste wax is just flat out awesome!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...54Vette035.jpg
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Thanks for bringing Mike and his 1954 Corvette to Autogeek's Show Car Garage Merlin, it was a lot of fun to work on...
Just to note for anyone reading this, originally Mike and Merlin were bring this car to our facilities because the owner thought it had a paint run in the door, after close examination, it appears to be a stress crack in the fiberglass under the paint.
I offered to remove the run and was going to document the process for a how to article, but after determining the run wasn't a run but a crack under the paint, I cautioned the owner against sanding on it because sanding wouldn't fix the problem and chances are very good sanding would have went through the high points of the "line" in the door and exposed primer which is probably white in color, this would have looked horrible and opened an expensive can of worms.
Merlin, can you call Mike and see if he wants to bring his 1959 Cadillac down for a paint polishing session this week?
I will look cool parked next to the other 1959 Cadillac arriving here today...
The Caddy King's Hidden Collection of 1959 Cadillacs!
This is Ted's daily driver, a silver 1959 Coupe de Ville...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...ddyKing022.jpg
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...ddyKing023.jpg
Re: Video: A Show Car Wax for a Show Car Finish at Show Car Garage
Awesome writeup, I like the step by step detail. You gotta Love those first Generation Corvettes, they are my favorite. This car looks awesome. Nice job to the professional crew!Im the MAN
Re: How-to Machine Apply Wax using a DA Polisher
Awesome write up. Beautiful after shots :dblthumb2:
Re: How-to Machine Apply Wax using a DA Polisher
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Wills.WindowsAndWheels
Awesome write up. Beautiful after shots :dblthumb2:
It was this car project that led me to write this article
How to correctly fold and use a Microfiber Towel
Which is now also in my how-to book...
E-book
(Displayed on iPad - iPad not included)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...ashingPage.jpg
Paperback
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...lingBook01.jpg
:)
