5 Week Old Paint Job Job

[Michael PALERO]

I was asked last-minute if I could detail a truck for a photoshoot tomorrow.
The owner says the truck has a 8 week old House of Kolor paintjob.

I'm hesitant to say "yes" since I've never worked on virgin paint before.
What can & can't I do to this fresh paint?

[bmrfan]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Since the paint is 8+ weeks old, it shouldn't be a problem applying polish & wax.

What detailing work is the owner expecting?
- wet sanding to remove orange peel?
- sanding mark removal?
- buffer swirl removal?
- "light" swirl removal?

[Murr1525]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Can always clay, clean, polish...

#80 is good for new paint, if not wanting to wax.

[Michael PALERO]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Owner states truck was color sanded and only driven to shows.
Swirls are bad enough the owner notices them.

[Michael PALERO]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Going to throw this guy some phone numbers-- I can't make his timetable!

[bmrfan]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Since the paint is fresh and its a show vehicle (not abused by an automatic car wash), I'm guessing the swirls are probably left over from the color sanding & polishing process.

Depending on how bad the swirls are - 105/205/UC/SwirlX should be fine for the fresh paint.

FWIW - Since the photo shoot is tomorrow - you probably don't have enough time to complete a full swirl removal detail. I'd wash, clay (if needed), polish (M07), and wax.

[Michael PALERO]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Yeah I was thinking glaze to fill as well. I told him to use the NXT 2.0 he had. My reasoning is that the oils in NXT would help fill the swirls somewhat.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Did you end up passing on this then, Mike?


Just for future reference, a relatively new respray can be very easy to work on or very difficult. It all depends on what paint was used, how the hardener was mixed, how it was dried (any sort of oven bake done, etc). There are a lot of variables involved even when a very skilled painter is doing the work, so the end result from a defect correction standpoint can be just as variable with a respray as it can with factory paint.

[Michael PALERO]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

I did pass on it. =( The earliest I'd be able to touch the truck would be 7AM tomorrow-- there'd be no way I'd be able to meet his 12NOON deadline for his El Segundo photoshoot.

I'd need at least 4 hours for 1 correction pass, and then another 4 for M205, glaze & wax.

Ideally, I would have had plenty of notice so I'd have ample time to test pads and chemicals on the truck & polish it out but the owner said the magazine shooting just called him TODAY for tomorrow's shoot!

[bmrfan]

Re: 5 Week Old Paint Job Job

Smart move passing on this job - with 3-4h available to work on the truck, you'd have a hard time getting much more than a wash, clay, M07 polish & wax before the photo shoot.