Clear Mirror Reflection

[Underdawg736]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

Yup that's orange peel!

Looks like you did produce a pretty good clear reflection, except for the orange peel.

Your Mustang needs to be wet sanded, if your unable to do it properly yourself then I would shop around your area and find a reputable detailer that can do it the right way!

[nick98338]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

The last picture, of the driver's side door, below the door handle and around the door lock... *that* is orange peel.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

Yup that's orange peel!

Looks like you did produce a pretty good clear reflection, except for the orange peel.

Your Mustang needs to be wet sanded, if your unable to do it properly yourself then I would shop around your area and find a reputable detailer that can do it the right way!

See our post above this - it is NOT recommended to wet sand factory paint in order to remove orange peel. There simply is not enough clear coat present to allow for long term overall health of the paint.

Consider this: let's say you decide to ignore the manufacturers warnings (not Meguiar's but the car manufacturer) and you have the paint wet sanded and buffed and you manage to stay within that 0.5 mil max removal window. You'll most likely pull very close to that limit in order to eliminate the orange peel. But now what? What happens if you get a defect of some sort in the future? You can't buff it out now since you've already buffed away the majority of the UV protection present in the clear coat (the UV screeners tend to migrate to the surface while the clear is curing) and any further buffing is going to seriously compromise the integrity of the clear.

Wet sand and buff factory clear coat and you are essentially done for the life of the car - you can't do any more serious defect correction on that paint. Ever.

[Ravi_1992]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

The shine doesn't look bad, I would say more 50% of the cars on the road have orange peel so don't feel bad

[ADPGT]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

Thanks all. Is it possible to rip the clear coat off down to the beginning of the base coat? And then after that, put a new layer of clear on top of it?

I will obviously have this done by some shop if it actually can be done.

[cd36]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but that is pretty minor orange peel compared to some vehicles I've seen.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

Thanks all. Is it possible to rip the clear coat off down to the beginning of the base coat? And then after that, put a new layer of clear on top of it?

I will obviously have this done by some shop if it actually can be done.

In theory, maybe. In reality, why? Even if you could find a shop that could do this, or would even be willing to do it, the cost to have it done properly would be several thousand dollars. Honestly, the paint looks good and healthy as is and any attempt to repaint could lead to a lesser overall finish than what you already have. Unless you spend serious money to have the car repainted. But again, why?

This appears to be a very clean Mustang, but it's essentially a bone stock, mass production vehicle. Yes, it appears to be in fantastic shape and from a strictly personal perspective I happen to love the color, love the wheels - it is a great looking car. It may well be your pride and joy, and a fantastic weekend therapy vehicle for you, but is it really worth putting a ton of money into what is an otherwise perfectly "normal" paint job?

What are you goals with the car? Are you planning on modifying it heavily and showing it? Or do you just want a really, really nice looking finish on it? If the former, and you're prepared to spend a pile of cash, then do it right and have the whole car stripped and fully resprayed, including enough clear that it can safely be sanded 100% flat. And if you have those funds available to you why not take a shot at the process we outlined in our post above and see where that gets you first? We're willing to be that, if done properly, you'll be extremely pleased with the level to which this existing finish can be taken.

[ADPGT]

Re: Clear Mirror Reflection

Yeah thats what I thought. Anyways, I will go buy some M205 and use UC to clean the paint up with my D/A that should arrive in a couple days. I'll be sure to ask if I need any help.