autogeekonline car wax, car care and auto detailing forum Autogeek on TV
car wax, car care and auto detailing forumAutogeekonline autogeekonline car wax, car care and auto detailing forum HomeForumBlogAutogeek.net StoreDetailing Classes with Mike PhillipsGalleryDetailing How To's
 
Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 23
  1. #1
    Super Member richy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Windsor, Ontario
    Posts
    5,158
    Post Thanks / Like

    2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    This gentleman came to see me and I debated doing the car now or in the Spring. I had quite a few personal commitments, but he was agreeable to having me keep the car for 2 weeks so that I could work on it a little here, a little there until I could get it done. Well, during that time, SEMA comes and Essence gets announced for sale. After reading about it from several reputable detailers, I decide to give it a shot too. The customer is more than happy to wait and let me use his baby as a guinea pig for this new polish.

    So, here it is as it arrived. I had seen it in the sun and knew there were a TON of swirls in it, and it was going to be some serious work. He also decided (wisely I believe) to have the wheels pulled and the barrels coated as well. The shots are from outside on the first day with late day sun showing no swirling, to inside shots showing it, to some shots a week later after the wheels were done and 1/2 the hood compounded:




















    There were quite a few chips that needed to be filled as well:
































    After doing the wheels, it was a beautiful sunny day, so I pulled it out to shoot the swirls in the sun. Note the hood: the driver's side has been compounded (only) with TB black wool + M100 + Flex 3401. You can see the swirls on one side and not on the other:





















    OK, OK, maybe I'm beating a dead horse here with all the swirls shots, but my point is that there was not one single panel that didn't need some serious correction.


    First up was to clean the wheels, barrels and wells. The barrels were shot with Tarminator which was followed by Zep Citrus. The faces were cleaned with Megs HW and a demoted wash mitt. The tires were cleaned with Zep 505. The wells were cleaned with LATA.

    The car was then washed with Megs HW followed by a second decontamination wash using IronX paste. It was then brought inside and clayed using my CarPro clay towel.


    First up was going to be wheel removal. Each one was individually removed and given another intensive cleaning. The barrels were then polished using my Megs DA and a 4" yellow B/S pad with Reflect. That was followed by Duragloss Squeaky Clean and then given a double coat of CQuartz Finest. The face was chemically cleaned and coated too. The calipers were also coated although the paint has a really rough finish to them, so I honestly don't know how well it will work on them. I informed the customer of that. While waiting for the coats to cure, I cleaned the plastic wells and coated them with Duragloss beta trim coating. Here's some shots of 2 of the wheels:























    Once the wheels were done, they were torqued back to spec. The tires were shot with OptiBond via my air gun prior to being lowered back down.


    Now it was time to smoke a cigar...oops, I meant play with some paint! Corvettes are notorious for having hard paint, and this 2002 model was to be no different. I used my reliable combo of Flex 3401 + M100 + black TB wool. Even that was taking a few times to get some panels as good as I wanted them to be. I usually go panel by panel, compound and polish as I make my way around the car. This time I couldn't as I was waiting for the Essence to be shipped to me. I had the whole car looking pretty damned good and even invited the customer to come check out the progress (I'd had it a week by this time). My combo had really turned the paint around!

    Oh, one thing: I had texted Corey about the order of operation for using touch up paint with Essence: ie, before or after. He suggested before, so I went around the car filling all those spots (and many more) that you saw in the above pics a few days before my Essence had arrived.

    Finally my Essence arrived. I have used M205 with a yellow B/S on hard paint before with good results, so I tested that pad with the Essence on 1/2 the hood and then the other half I used the CarPro Gloss pad. The gloss pad won for glossiness. I've read that some people find it to have a short working time, but I was not finding that. I could work it almost as long as I do with 205. I was thrilled with the results I was getting from it. The surface sure seemed smoother too! I dropped the top and polished the convertible folding cover as well as the waterfall piece that goes between the seats. Both pieces subsequently got coated too. The exhaust tips were hand polished by Reflect and subsequently double coated with CQF.

    So, my impression of Essence: A+!



    Next I coated the windshield, but with a Richy twist: I polished 1/2 of it with Essence and not the other half. Forte seemed to go on the same way on both sides, but the polished side was sure smoother prior to coating. I've asked the customer to let me know how one side compares to the other. Corey hadn't been asked that yet, so I took a flier on it. My belief is that the polished side will fare better, but I'll have to wait and see. It will affect how I do future Forte jobs.


    The paint was then double coated with CQF and baked with my IR light.

    The convertible top was sealed with Duragloss 341 which also made the top look more black and dark too. It's a great product!!


    Here we go!






































    Outside shots next...

  2. #2
    Super Member richy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Windsor, Ontario
    Posts
    5,158
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence














    Some reflection shots:














    Gorgeous metallic in this paint when the sun hit it!

















    Thanks for looking! Comments always appreciated.

  3. #3
    Super Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    297
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    That looks great!

  4. #4
    Super Member fly07sti's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    SF Bay Area, Cali
    Posts
    2,939
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    This is what I've been waiting to see. Paint looks fantastic. I'm anxious to test drive my bottle of Essence. Happy Thanksgiving to you my friend.

  5. #5
    Super Member davey g-force's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    1,225
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    Wow, very nice Richy!
    Quote Originally Posted by Jason Rose
    I am cursed for life because I can never look at beautiful paint without seeing the defects

  6. #6
    Super Member Sicoupe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Oklahoma
    Posts
    3,352
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    Your the man Richy! Beautiful as always my friend

  7. #7
    Super Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Minot, ND
    Posts
    12,365
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    Beautiful work Richy! That blue paint looks great.

    What machine process did you use between the seats?

    Thanks for sharing.

  8. #8
    Super Member FrankS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    West Palm Beach, FL
    Posts
    1,560
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    Outstanding work as always Richy!

  9. #9
    Super Member hoyt66's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Oakland Mi.
    Posts
    2,432
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    Richy,
    You're definitely one of my favorites here on AG. Another great job. Thanks for the thorough posts and solid detailing The vette looks amazing!!
    2012 Dodge Challenger RT Classic Bright Silver
    2018 Ford F150 Xlt Sport 4X4 Magnetic Grey

  10. #10
    Super Member Avi@CarPro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Posts
    544
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: 2002 Corvette: 1st Time Using Essence

    Thank you Richy, thats great report and detailing work.

    Next I coated the windshield, but with a Richy twist: I polished 1/2 of it with Essence and not the other half. Forte seemed to go on the same way on both sides, but the polished side was sure smoother prior to coating. I've asked the customer to let me know how one side compares to the other. Corey hadn't been asked that yet, so I took a flier on it. My belief is that the polished side will fare better, but I'll have to wait and see. It will affect how I do future Forte jobs.

    this is very interesting test!!!, i would be very happy to hear the results from this, we didnt think of glass priming with Essence . so it will be very interesting to find out how it came out.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Essence cure time?
    By fightnews in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 11-23-2018, 12:34 PM
  2. Carpro Essence first time use???
    By Bicycle in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 38
    Last Post: 10-14-2017, 05:51 PM
  3. 2002 Black C5 Corvette Coated with Optimum Gloss Coat
    By The Guz in forum Show N' Shine
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 02-27-2017, 09:22 AM
  4. Polishing a car with Essence for a second time
    By dpk20x in forum Auto Detailing 101
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-20-2016, 02:07 PM
  5. Replies: 23
    Last Post: 12-10-2010, 07:07 PM

Members who have read this thread: 0

There are no members to list at the moment.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

» March 2024

S M T W T F S
2526272829 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31 123456