How to buff around emblems?

[Alfisti]

How would you buff swirls, etc, from aroung emblems and the like?

For example, here's a photo I borrowed from one of Mikes' posts (thanks Mike ):



How would you deal with the swirls around the emblem with a PC?

[Lt1Corvette]

Hey Alfisti,
When you are buffing around any kind of a painted emblem like on the c5 Corvette, you want to put some painters tape over the emblem. You don't have to put the tape down hard; however you want to make sure you cover the emblem as well as anything where you might pull the paint off. Next I would get a hand applicator and what ever product you are using be it scratch X or 80 or color x and work the area right around it by hand. This reduces the risk of damaging the emblem by pc even if it is taped. Also if you are feeling courageous work the area in-between the emblem.
Also a side note, when working on most new corvettes, both the rear and front emblem bolt off under the hood. I often simply take mine off when I am working and waxing the area. Not necessary but less time consuming.
Also be careful to remove to tape slowly and parallel to the hood, this reduces the risk off pulling paint off the emblem with the tape.
Good luck

[Alfisti]

Thanks, Lt1Corvette, will do.

It would be great if all emblems could just unbolt!

[Chris Nemlich]

I second the tape idea. I tend to tape off any emblems and trim I will be getting close to when I am detailing. Also, around emblems I usually have to do it by hand and it is tough to get the PC close most of the time.

Hope this helps!

Chris

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

For around emblems, which are usually a painted-chromed plastic, you should always tape them off. Then, using a chunk of 100% cotton Terry Toweling and Meguiar's ScratchX followed by #80 Speed Glaze around the emblems as close as you can get.

In my eyes, those little details are the ones that stand out the most to me.

Tim

[Marc08EX]

Actually, painter's tape is a really good idea to put where you don't want your wax or chemicals to hit.. this will really help you out in the clean out portion and will save you some time and grief.

[Alfisti]

2hotford, thanks for the good advice.

A couple more questions, if that's ok.

1) How would you clean and polish the build-up at the bottom edges of windscreens? What do you use? Its often like baked on clay.

2) Also, what about the brown residue/oxidation on the paint around trim edges and, especially, at the almost inaccessible corners under boot lids, etc? Is there a product that can dissolve it a bit before hitting it with a paint cleaner?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,


You are very welcome!

When you say build-up at the bottom of the windshield, are your referring to on the hood of the car, the bottom of the glass or on the cowl (the plastic part between the hood and the glass)?

For the residue that is between the trim edge and paint, what I like to do is to use a piece of cotton toweling wrapped around a toothbrush. I spray a little of Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner (10:1)onto the towel. I then gently work free the brown road grime. Be careful not to scratch the paint on the car around the trim.

Cheers!

Tim

[Alfisti]

Originally posted by 2hotford
When you say build-up at the bottom of the windshield, are your referring to on the hood of the car, the bottom of the glass or on the cowl (the plastic part between the hood and the glass)?

The bottom of the glass. I assume you can get a bit more aggressive than with the paint surface.

Now that you mention it, what about the cowl as well?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

With the bottom of the glass, if it is quite bad, I would probably clay the glass. If that area is not that accessible, then you could use the same APC and toothbrush trick. Then clean the entire windshield with Meguiar's excellent Glass Cleaner Concentrate from the Detailer Series. Awesome stuff!!

As for the cowl, if it is plastic, then I like to use #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner and then top it with #38 Tire and Trim Dressing Gel. Be sure to apply the #38, leave it on for a good 3-5 minutes and then come back and wipe off the excess thoroughly with a MF towel. It will look fantastic!

Tim

[Alfisti]

Great! Thanks.

[Don]

I took the chicken's way out and de-badged my whole car