ColorX questions (attn: Mike Phillips)

[BryanMR2]

Just saw the hard drive crash post. No wonder my old username didn't work and I couldn't find the post that I had written on 5/31.

Anyway I posted some questions about using ColorX on my car in the Bronco II makeover thread, and didn't get a chance to check back for any answers (to tell the truth I forgot until now!).

Luckily I had saved my post on my hard drive. So here it is again. I'll appreciate any responses.

-----------------------------------------------


Found my way to this thread while on a research binge looking for the best way to restore my car's finish.

Mike, first of all great comparison photos! Now, a few questions if I may.

Is ColorX at all abrasive to a single stage paint? A previous detailer of my 'Super Red' 1987 Toyota MR2 apparently scraped off the top faded/oxidized layer of paint to expose a fresh layer, and now the paint is very thin, almost down to the primer in spots. Is it still safe to use ColorX on this car? Parts of it are badly oxidized and faded a dull pink now since it had to bake in the sun unprotected for a long while (blown engine -- I'll spare the gory details of my misfortunes ).

In the same vein, is it safe to use a clay bar on thin paint?

Suppose I clay the car, give it the ColorX treatment, and then finish it off with NXT Tech Wax. If I use the booster once every 2 weeks on a freshly cleaned car, can I expect the deep shine and protectant to last a full year? Some red paints such as the one Toyota used around this time are notorious for fading very quickly.

Have not detailed a car myself before other than thorough washings and windowcleaning, so I'm finding the tips in this thread very helpful. Thanks!

[rusty bumper]

Seems like I remember posting in this thread...

I don't think ColorX will harm your paint at all, but if the paint is thin, then almost any cleaner will make it thinner.

I wouldn't hesitate to use ColorX on your paint, but it looks like you will have to repaint the area down the road anyway...Whether you use a cleaner or not.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: ColorX questions (attn: Mike Phillips)

Originally posted by BryanMR2
Just saw the hard drive crash post. No wonder my old username didn't work and I couldn't find the post that I had written on 5/31.

Sorry about that...

Found my way to this thread while on a research binge looking for the best way to restore my car's finish.

Mike, first of all great comparison photos! Now, a few questions if I may.

Is ColorX at all abrasive to a single stage paint?

A previous detailer of my 'Super Red' 1987 Toyota MR2 apparently scraped off the top faded/oxidized layer of paint to expose a fresh layer, and now the paint is very thin, almost down to the primer in spots.

Is it still safe to use ColorX on this car?

Parts of it are badly oxidized and faded a dull pink now since it had to bake in the sun unprotected for a long while (blown engine -- I'll spare the gory details of my misfortunes ).

Hi BrianMR2 and welcome to Meguar's Online!

To answer your first question, Yes, ColorX is safe to use on single stage paints. However, by your description above, you are not working on single-stage paint, you are working on a base coat paint because the clear coat has been removed. The base coat portion of a two stage paint system is often a different type of paint than the type of paint used in a single-stage paint system.

Often times, base coats will not polish to a high gloss. It is the clear coat, over the base coat that gives the base coat its gloss.

In the same vein, is it safe to use a clay bar on thin paint?

Yes it's relatively safe. Once your paint becomes so thin that primer is showing through, there is probably no product or procedure that is absolutely safe. Yet claying is non-abrasive so you should be okay. Again, if your working on an exposed base coat paint type, all your hard work may be for nothing.

Suppose I clay the car, give it the ColorX treatment, and then finish it off with NXT Tech Wax. If I use the booster once every 2 weeks on a freshly cleaned car, can I expect the deep shine and protectant to last a full year? Some red paints such as the one Toyota used around this time are notorious for fading very quickly.

I don't think this is going to work no matter which companies wax you use.

Have not detailed a car myself before other than thorough washings and windowcleaning, so I'm finding the tips in this thread very helpful. Thanks!

Do you have any type of cleaner polish, cleaner/wax or paint cleeaner that you can do a test spot on the roof area?

Does any other part of the car have a clear coat?

You want to find out if the car was clear coated from the factory, and whether or not it has any clear coat left.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Re: ColorX questions (attn: Mike Phillips)

Originally posted by BryanMR2
Just saw the hard drive crash post. No wonder my old username didn't work and I couldn't find the post that I had written on 5/31.

Sorry about that...

Found my way to this thread while on a research binge looking for the best way to restore my car's finish.

Mike, first of all great comparison photos! Now, a few questions if I may.

Is ColorX at all abrasive to a single stage paint?

A previous detailer of my 'Super Red' 1987 Toyota MR2 apparently scraped off the top faded/oxidized layer of paint to expose a fresh layer, and now the paint is very thin, almost down to the primer in spots.

Is it still safe to use ColorX on this car?

Parts of it are badly oxidized and faded a dull pink now since it had to bake in the sun unprotected for a long while (blown engine -- I'll spare the gory details of my misfortunes ).

Hi BrianMR2 and welcome to Meguar's Online!

To answer your first question, Yes, ColorX is safe to use on single stage paints. However, by your description above, you are not working on single-stage paint, you are working on a base coat paint because the clear coat has been removed. The base coat portion of a two stage paint system is often a different type of paint than the type of paint used in a single-stage paint system.

Often times, base coats will not polish to a high gloss. It is the clear coat, over the base coat that gives the base coat its gloss.

In the same vein, is it safe to use a clay bar on thin paint?

Yes it's relatively safe. Once your paint becomes so thin that primer is showing through, there is probably no product or procedure that is absolutely safe. Yet claying is non-abrasive so you should be okay. Again, if your working on an exposed base coat paint type, all your hard work may be for nothing.

Suppose I clay the car, give it the ColorX treatment, and then finish it off with NXT Tech Wax. If I use the booster once every 2 weeks on a freshly cleaned car, can I expect the deep shine and protectant to last a full year? Some red paints such as the one Toyota used around this time are notorious for fading very quickly.

I don't think this is going to work no matter which companies wax you use.

Have not detailed a car myself before other than thorough washings and windowcleaning, so I'm finding the tips in this thread very helpful. Thanks!

Do you have any type of cleaner polish, cleaner/wax or paint cleeaner that you can do a test spot on the roof area?

Does any other part of the car have a clear coat?

You want to find out if the car was clear coated from the factory, and whether or not it has any clear coat left.

Mike

[BryanMR2]

Re: Re: ColorX questions (attn: Mike Phillips)

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
I don't think this is going to work no matter which companies wax you use.

How often would you recommend doing the clay/wax/polish routine then? Keeping in mind this isn't a show car but I like my vehicles to stay shiny and presentable. Soon it will be garaged.

The paint is definitely not clear-coated. Some colors were for this car, Super Red was not. For what it's worth, here's a picture comparing my car when I first got it, and then after the first detailing I had done to it.



The horizontal paint surfaces look like the top picture again. Pretty ugly huh?

The paint isn't showing primer in all areas... just some low spots, like the trailing edge of the spoiler.

[jfelbab]

I own a 1991 MR2 in Crimson Red, another single stage paint. I keep it looking fresh by using this routine.

1. Wash
2. Clay as needed
3. MPPC (low abrasive cleaner)
4. #7 Show car glaze
5. #26 or NXT

Since it sounds like this car sees lots of sun and the great outdoors, you will have to repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 frequently to keep it looking like new. Sooner or later you will need a re-paint.

The above products are very low in abrasives and should work well while the paint lasts.

My 91 MR2 can be seen here.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by jfelbab
Since it sounds like this car sees lots of sun and the great outdoors, you will have to repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 frequently to keep it looking like new. Sooner or later you will need a re-paint.

I would agree with what jfelbab posted above. if your finish is dying back to the faded look, over time and after exposure to the sun, this is a sign that your paint has become unstable, or at some level... dead.

Too bad, because the bottom photo makes your car look pretty good!


As far as how often to clay? When your surface evaluation tell you that you car's finish has bonded contaminants. If after washing the car you feel little bumps on the surface, then you need to clay.

As far as how often to apply a paint cleaner, polish and wax, the answer is as often as you need to in order to maintain the quality of finish you desire. If your finish is dying back to the above photo in a week, then you should re-apply the polish and the wax. If your getting a month, then every 3-4 weeks. You shouldn't have to use the paint cleaner as often, depending on the paint.

Hope this helps...

Mike

p.s.
Are you saving up for a new paint job?

[BryanMR2]

Well I was... three engine failures in a row have eaten up the paint job budget and then some.

It's probably taken at least a year of sitting outside for the paint to turn that bad, it hasn't happened overnight.

I actually want to get the car looking very nice so that when I sell it later this year, I'll get more for it.