Detailing help

[stryped]

I have a 1990 Mustang and a 1996 chevy truck. The mustang was repainted about 6 year ago. The truck has been repainted in a few areas after hitting a deer.

Anyway, I want to be able to get a showroom finish. I am thinking about buying a buffer at autozone. I want to learn to detail.

By the way the mustang has cat scrates in it but I cant catch them with a fingernail.

One last thing. I know Dual Action buffers are better but they are very expensive. But is a dual action sander that is used with an air compressor as good?

Anyway, sorry for all the questions. I just want to be able to have good looking cars even if they are old as it is all I have. Actually the truck has 319,000 miles on it.

Also, I have pictures but cant post them yet and dont have acess to a photo hosting site. Is there any way I can directly email someone the pictures?

Thanks!

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help

You can go to your gallery here to upload the pics. Then just insert the URL from the pictures properties.

As far as the cheap buffers.... maybe. Some of the newer products seem to work a bit better with the cheap buffers than older products did. Still a bit iffy.

But can get solid results by hand pretty often as well.

[stryped]

Re: Detailing help

You can go to your gallery here to upload the pics. Then just insert the URL from the pictures properties.

As far as the cheap buffers.... maybe. Some of the newer products seem to work a bit better with the cheap buffers than older products did. Still a bit iffy.

But can get solid results by hand pretty often as well.

Try this: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/pho...0&ppuser=30411

I admit the pictures ar enot great but the best I could do with what I have.

[stryped]

Re: Detailing help

Try this: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/pho...0&ppuser=30411

I admit the pictures ar enot great but the best I could do with what I have.

2,3 and 4 are of the truck, the rest are the car I believe.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help

Looks fixable.

But I think you uploaded thumbnails, not the full picture?

[stryped]

Re: Detailing help

Looks fixable.

But I think you uploaded thumbnails, not the full picture?

Where do I go from here? Thinking of buying a 10 inch buffer at Autozone and trying some polish. What should I use to go over the whole car and truck? (Not just in spots).

I am limited to my local Autozone or Wal Mart for supplies.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help

If you ever shop online, Autodetailingsolutions.com is a good option.

You want to start with a test spot of course. Then move to the whole vehicle.

It would be good to wash (Gold Class, good towels, sponges) and clay (Smooth Surface Clay kit).

Then you will want SwirlX on your shelf, so you can do a test spot with it and see if you need anything stronger. If you do, you would probably want to go up to Ultimate Compound. Then whichever fixes your paint up in the test spot, you would do over the rest of the vehicle.

Both products can be used by hand or machine, so you are good there. If you have time you can try by hand, or whichever you choose. As mentioned above, the cheap buffer may help, it may not, cant really say.

And then wax after of course.

And no idea bout the air powered machines.

[stryped]

Re: Detailing help

If you ever shop online, Autodetailingsolutions.com is a good option.

You want to start with a test spot of course. Then move to the whole vehicle.

It would be good to wash (Gold Class, good towels, sponges) and clay (Smooth Surface Clay kit).

Then you will want SwirlX on your shelf, so you can do a test spot with it and see if you need anything stronger. If you do, you would probably want to go up to Ultimate Compound. Then whichever fixes your paint up in the test spot, you would do over the rest of the vehicle.

Both products can be used by hand or machine, so you are good there. If you have time you can try by hand, or whichever you choose. As mentioned above, the cheap buffer may help, it may not, cant really say.

And then wax after of course.

And no idea bout the air powered machines.

With the buffer I was just thinking of savign time. Every time I do somethign by hand I always leave some sort of residue?

Is it ok to use scratch x or similar over the whole car? I dont want to create any problems. I would like a DA but cant afford the $ right now.

I have the clay bar. So What should be the process, wash, clay bar, scratch x over whole car, some sort of polish, then wax?

Could I skip several steps by just using some sort of paint cleaner?

What about M80?

I really appreciate the help. I want to buy some supplies. I have my wife's 2006 Escape that is brown, and my red 1990 Mustang and red 1996 truck to keep in shape.

Thanks!

[seth1066]

Re: Detailing help

But is a dual action sander that is used with an air compressor as good?

Not recommended for the novice, but an air powered DA sander is workable, but you have nowhere as much control as with a DA polisher designed for use on an automobile finish. Before using the sander as a buffing tool, it has to be one that is able to work at low speeds similar to an auto paint DA. Generally, the speed control is not easily set to a nice constant slow speed.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help

Not sure why you would be leaving residue by hand. Could be applying things a little wrong, or maybe a lower quality towel not helping to remove things well.

I really wouldnt worry about ScratcX, it is kind of in the middle. SwirlX is milder, and will be good for use in the future. UC is stronger, and so you would kind of cover the range with those 2 products.

#80 is a good product, however it is one of the 'older' products that tended not to work as well with the cheaper buffers, and wont do quite as well by hand either. Probably would avoid it for your situation.

SwirlX, ScratchX, UC, #80 are paint cleaners.

With your paint being a bit older, a pure polish could be beneficial. It is an extra step of course, and optional.

A full detail would look like:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - SwirlX or UC as needed. Test spots like I said, see what you need. And of course can ask us more questions. Dont do the whole car until the test spots and first panel, etc are good.
4. Polish - Optional - Deep Crystal Polish is easy to use.
5. Wax - Nxt 2.0, Gold Class +, etc
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

7. Maintain - UQW is good after future washes, and QD or UQD for bird droppings, etc.

[stryped]

Re: Detailing help

Not sure why you would be leaving residue by hand. Could be applying things a little wrong, or maybe a lower quality towel not helping to remove things well.

I really wouldnt worry about ScratcX, it is kind of in the middle. SwirlX is milder, and will be good for use in the future. UC is stronger, and so you would kind of cover the range with those 2 products.

#80 is a good product, however it is one of the 'older' products that tended not to work as well with the cheaper buffers, and wont do quite as well by hand either. Probably would avoid it for your situation.

SwirlX, ScratchX, UC, #80 are paint cleaners.

With your paint being a bit older, a pure polish could be beneficial. It is an extra step of course, and optional.

A full detail would look like:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - SwirlX or UC as needed. Test spots like I said, see what you need. And of course can ask us more questions. Dont do the whole car until the test spots and first panel, etc are good.
4. Polish - Optional - Deep Crystal Polish is easy to use.
5. Wax - Nxt 2.0, Gold Class +, etc
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

7. Maintain - UQW is good after future washes, and QD or UQD for bird droppings, etc.

is it even worth it buying a cheaper buffer? What I am finding is the stuff I am putting on like waz is hard to remove by hand with a microfiber towel. I am leaving part of it.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help

Is it worth it? Wont know till you try unfortunately. The newer products seem to have a better chance of working ok with cheap buffers, but not going to get any guarantees.

Probably a little improper technique. Cleaners and polishes you want to remove right away, before they dry. Waxes need applied thin, and then left to dry for 15 minutes or more until they are dry, and then removed.

Having the paint prepped with clay/cleaner will also help wax apply and remove easier.

[stryped]

Re: Detailing help

I just remembered I have a black and decker "sander/polisher" Will this work ok?

Also, can I use Mequire's "Paint Cleaner" then wax to see if that works ok before using the more agressive stuff?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Detailing help

I just remembered I have a black and decker "sander/polisher" Will this work ok?

Also, can I use Mequire's "Paint Cleaner" then wax to see if that works ok before using the more agressive stuff?

I have one of these. Really and truly it is not a good option,imho.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help

Which product are you refering to as Meguiars Paint Cleaner? Able to pull up a full name?