How-To: Opti-Coat 2.0 - 1977 Can Am Corvette with Rainbow Metallic Black Paint
How-To: Opti-Coat 2.0 - 1977 Can Am Corvette with Rainbow Metallic Black Paint
Time Stamp for this article: September 22nd, 2011
Optimum Polymer Technology Opti-Coat 2.0
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BEFORE
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AFTER
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Autogeek's Car of the Week!
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We're all set-up and ready go... Dave said he'll be here right around 5:00pm
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[B]Dave's 1977 CanAm Corvette[/B
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It has a wild custom paint job with a beautiful multi-color metallic flake under the clearcoat and our goal will be to restore 100% clarity to the clear coat to really get the metallic flake to *pop* when you look at the finish.
We're going to have roughly 4 hours to remove the swirls and get the paint perfectly prepared for a coat of wax so I'm looking for a team of people ready, willing and able to lend me a hand.
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We'll be using the brand new formulas for Optimum Hyper-Compound and Optimum Hyper-Polish
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Along with a combination of tools and pads...
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Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
The Can Am Vette has arrived...
Robert and Adam inspect the paint...
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Prepping the car for rotary buffer work...
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Robert is my "Test Spot Guy", he's very good at dialing in the pad, product and process for the paint system at hand...
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Here's Robert using the new Optimum Hyper-Compound with a Flex PE14 Rotary Buffer and a Hydro-Tech Cyan Foam Cutting Pad
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Anytime you're working on a clear coat the only color you want to see on your buffing pad is the color of the pad and the color of the compound, polish or wax. If you see the color of the paint... that's a bad thing... a real bad thing...
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[IMGAfter testing and inspecting the results we start buffing out the paint...
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Here's Adam aka Harleyguy working with Robert aka Impressions as Chavron watches and learns a few tips and techniques. In the background Chavron's wife gets caught up on her own projects...
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There's no glory in buffing out the side panels. It's important to be able to look directly across from the paint you're buffing...
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Here we sizing up some experimental small pads for use with rotary buffers, note the extension to create some wiggle room by extending the pad away from the buffer.
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After the rotary work, Chavron helps by re-polishing using a Griot's Garage DA Polisher with a Crimson Finishing Pad and Optimum Hyper-Polish
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Adam using a Crimson Finishing Pad and Optimum Hyper-Polish on a Flex 3401
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There was some thin looking paint and rough edges that needed a light touch around the T-tops...
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Small buffing pads enable you to do precise buffing close to edges or emblems...
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More to come...
:)
Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
All products used for this extreme makeover can be found on Autogeek.net
Power Tools
Flex PE 14 Rotary Buffer
Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher
Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher
Griot's Garage Dual Action Polisher
Products
Optimum Hyper-Compound
Optimum Hyper-Polish
Optimum Opti-Coat II
Pads
Lake Country Hydro-Tech Pads
Misc
Kreepstool Utility Chair
Racedeck Tiles
Extension for Rotary Buffer
Autogeek's Customer Care is top in the industry, if you have any questions about any of the products used to transform this diamond in the ruff into a glistening gemstone call during business hours where are staff is always ready to answer your questions.
1-800-869-3011
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Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Wow almost looks like I knew what I was doing . I just wanted to thank Robert and Chavon and a big thanks to Mike and Auto Geek for putting this all together . I live just about an hour away so it's an easy trip for me . I missed the last two makeovers due to my full time job .
What I really enjoy doing these makeovers is the one on one time Mike spends with anyone who participates in one of these projects .As Mike mentioned I was able to use some new HT pads so being one of the first to use it was a big thrill . If and when these pads come out I can only say buy them you will be glad you did .
Other then that I look forward to another makeover and spending time with Mike and Robert again it's always fun to get together with them we had plenty of laughs and plenty of cold drinks .
Re: Picture & Comments - 1977 Can Am Corvette - Extreme Makeover
Adam,
I've been asking Mike to put a picture in with a hot guy showing off the cars. Thanks for being in the one with you and the girls. I am now satisfied and will stop asking Mike.
