cutting new paint job

[Chrismak]

hey guys,

I recently completed a paint job on an older mercedes 300d. 1984.. Not a five star paint job but decent. Sand down and removed moldings etc..primer, base coat with good coverage and couple coats clear.

I am in the process of rubbing it down with 1500-2000 paper to clear the orange peel and a couple of runs.
This is going to be my sons first car and we did this together.

What would you recommend in step process to compound this?
I also read somewhere that I shouldn't wax it for a couple of months as the paint is still curing.

Also who carries Meguiars in NY metro area?

Thanks

Chris in NY

[Michael Stoops]

Re: cutting new paint job

Hi Chris, and welcome to MOL!

Nice project you and your son have going there - he gets a nice first car and you both get to create some great memories along the way.

OK, if this is your first venture into this sort of thing you really should pick up a body panel from a junk yard and practice using the rotary buffer on it before tackling the Benz. You are going to need a rotary buffer, a wool pad and a compound to remove those sanding marks. This combination can easily burn through paint, especially on the edge of a body panel where the paint tends to flow off the edge, leaving a thinner coat than you'll find in the middle of the panel.

The Meguiar's W5000 Double Sided Wool pad used in conjunction with our M105 Ultra Cut Compound should make fairly quick work of the sanding marks and leave minimal swirls behind. You'll need to run this combo a machine like the DeWalt 849, Makita 9227 or similar rotary buffer. A dual action polisher like our G110 just isn't going to cut it.

You should first read through the Stickies in our Mastering the Rotary Buffer section, as well as some of the other threads there, to get an idea of what's involved working with this tool. Forgive me if you've done this before and already know your way around the process - we never know for sure what someone's skill level is without either asking or seeing previous work. We hate to give completely basic or overly generalized advice to novices as it tends to get them in trouble.

In any event, several of the threads there will discuss proper technique, potential pitfalls, etc. They'll give you some good, basic knowledge that you can put to the test on a junk panel. You'll get a feel for the machine and how quickly it can get things done - both good and bad!

In a nutshell, you'll do your primary cutting or removal of the sanding marks with M105 and the wool pad, then follow that with M205 and a either a foam polishing or finishing pad to remove any light marring (holograms, swirls, etc) left by the wool pad/M105. Those are just part of the deal - don't let them frustrate you when they show up after the first rotary pass. But we really want you to read up on the process a bit because a couple of part numbers just doesn't give you the whole story.

We want you to be successful with this project, and there are a LOT of very knowledgeable people here who can help you out along the way. Ask questions, show us some pictures. We'll do everything we can to help you achieve your goals.

[Chrismak]

Re: cutting new paint job

Hey Michael,
thanks for encouragement and advice on product. Do you have a link to distributors in the NY city region for the ultimate 105 compound.

Do Pep boys or Autozone carry your line. I usually only see the wax/polish but not the more elaborate detailing products.

To post pictures do I have to host on external server?

thanks again,
Chris

[Calais]

Re: cutting new paint job

Hey Michael,
thanks for encouragement and advice on product. Do you have a link to distributors in the NY city region for the ultimate 105 compound.

Do Pep boys or Autozone carry your line. I usually only see the wax/polish but not the more elaborate detailing products.

thanks again,
Chris

The only Meguiar's Mirror Glaze items I've ever seen in stores were M21, M40, M06, M09 and M07. I doubt Meguiar's or local retailers would want to put a product as aggressive M105 on the shelf next to Turtle Wax and, potentially, in the hands of untrained of people who don't even know how to wash their cars.

Your best bet is to order from Autodetailingsolutions. They have every Meguiar's product you could ask for, great shipping rates and really good pricing.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: cutting new paint job

Chris, have a look at www.meguiars.com/dealerlocator - just enter your zip code and then select "Meguiar's Professional Products". You may a FinishMaster or CarQuest in your area and both are usually excellent sources for our Mirror Glaze line.