New to Detailing and car needs TLC

[botan]

Hey all,

I've got a used car that is great, but it needs some restoration and detailing. It seems like the previous owner really neglected the exterior. I'm a newbie so I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing and would appreciate some help.

1. I have horrible scratches on my car, I'm not sure what product I should use to get rid of them (car is clear coated).



2. There are swirl marks all over (see my arm reflection). Is there one product that's good for removing both the fine swirls and scratches like the one above?



3. There is oxidation/chemical etching of the paint below the rust spots on my door (picture with unhappy faces). Is it still possible to revive the paint so I can avoid repainting the entire door?



For sure I will go over my car with clay, the surface feels rough in some areas, obviously it was never polished/clayed before.

Thanks!

[fromthecoast]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

That rust will be a little tought to defeat I guess. Someone on here should be able to give you some pointers.

I would think the rest of those streaks, scratches, and blemishes should "buff out." Do you have any products right now?

[botan]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

As of yet I only have ScratchX 1.0.

[Murr1525]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

Well, you are definately going to have to sand out those rust spots, and get some new paint on them. And then you will want to avoid working on that paint for 60-90 days. Though I guess you could try removing the marks on the door first, to be sure.

As far as the rest of the car, you'll just have to try somethign and see what happens.

1. Wash - Use a good wash like Nxt or Gold Class. You may want to try a little Dawn on those streaks.

2. Clay - Smooth Surface Clay kit, extra bottle of QD.

3. Clean - I hope that Ultimate Compound has made its way into Canada by now, that is what you are going to have to try. It may even want followed up with SwirlX.

4 .Wax - Nxt 2.0 is a good wax to use.

5. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

Any chance of more close up pics of that door?

[Eddie6th]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

How's the rest of the car for rust?

That's going to be your first priority before detailing.

It looks quite bad.You'll need to check the severity of it.It looks on the top only(Clean it out and fill it),but if it's on the inside aswell(or has made a hole),you'll have to get new cuts put in their place.Can you easily remove the interior door panel and look inside? Can you remove the side mirror and check?

If you are new to this sort of thing,I think you'd be better off to take it to a body shop.

If you really like your car,you'll need to get this attended to pretty quick.If left unattended it'll keep eating away at your door,to the point where you'll need to go and get a new door.

[rgcurtis]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

...
If you really like your car,you'll need to get this attended to pretty quick.If left unattended it'll keep eating away at your door,to the point where you'll need to go and get a new door.

Ed was very accurate with the statement quoted. The point is no matter what you do you will need to get the rust handled. You can have the most swirl and scratch free car around but if you have that rust it will be the first thing you see. As for the other stuff, I recommend Ultimate Compound. Do you have a DA or Rotary? If so then the door just opened up for other options. Let us know what you have.

[Eddie6th]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

Just to add ontop of what has been mentioned.If you go ahead and detail,before attending to the rust(not really much point),you run the risk of picking up particles of rust and carrying them on your applicator or microfibre.

Another point.If and when you get your door checked out,and repaired,the norm would be to respray the door.Your metallic paint might be about 100$ a litre.A good painter can do a blending in job for you,which can save you a bit of money here.You might be able to get away with it.I've done this on 'lower' panels and side skirts and you can't see them.In your case it's on the top of the door. The painter will advise you there.

Let us know how you get on.....

[botan]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

How's the rest of the car for rust?

There is rust on both front fenders. It doesn't appear the rust has made a hole in the door, but then again I can't tell and it would be hard to see from the other side without taking off the clear plastic cover (I don't want to tear it). The fenders will be replaced, but the door may either be fixed or replaced, depending on which costs less. It seems like some effort and money to do all this on an old car, but I like to do a restoration just for fun to see what I can do.

I may be getting a bit ahead of myself, but assuming I get the body repaired soon, I think the next step would be removing the scratches. Murr1525 suggested using Ultimate compound. Would I apply Ultimate compound all over the body to get over all the swirls and blemishes, or would I just apply it to the bigger scratches and use something like SwirlX to do the rest?

[Murr1525]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

You can use the UC all over. Looks like it needs it.

[Eddie6th]

Re: New to Detailing and car needs TLC

Hi,if some paint has to be made up anyway,you might be just aswell to repaint the door,now that you've mentioned that other bits will be getting done.

The plastic you mention on the door is normally held in place with a compound that is 'non-setting' like hylomar blue.So you should be able to peel it off carefully.I've had to do mine several times in the past and they can tear,but I just stick them up again with Duck tape.I mean,nobody see's them anyway.

The reason I say this,is because you need to assess what the rust damage is.If it's on the inside.If you're putting it into the bodyshop,they'll check this out for you.

But you really need to get that done before starting with your detailing.Also,when it comes out of the bodyshop,you'll probably have to go through the whole proccess of claying etc.,anyway.