• If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Ferrari and Single Stage Questions

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Ferrari and Single Stage Questions

    I offered to "brighten" up my landlord's Ferrari for a show he was headed to the next day. I don't work quickly, so in the limited time I had I originally thought I could wash it and buff it with M07. I had checked the weather and knew it is going to rain, so after washing I decided instead to buff it with ColorX and follow with a coat of Gold Class Plus. Yes, I know this was a real short cut job, but we agreed to do a full correction at a later date.

    The hood of the engine compartment has a section of solid black. We discussed leaving it, but decided to "brighten" it up like the rest of the car. ColorX did I fair job, but I wasn't happy, so I grabbed a bottle of Ultimate Polish. Holy cow did I make a mess. Streaked up mess. What the heck I've screwed it up, let's try M80. Screw up #2, more of the same streaking. I wiped it down with alcohol and went back to ColorX. What should I have done?

    How in the world do you clean behind the louvers/diffusers/air guides on the doors? Are they removable?

    And finally, when working with single stage paint using a multi-step process, let's say Ultimate Compound, SwirlX, M07 and finally a wax. At what point, or does it ever, stop coloring your pads and towels?

    My first single stage, don't ya know!!

    Thanks,




    Engine Cover looks terrible!!!




    How do you clean behind those air guides on the doors???



    Thanks,

    "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    David
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Ferrari and Single Stage Questions

    The single stage paint will continually keep leaving color on your towels and pads. You actually have lots of clear paint on your pads and towels when working on clear coated cars.

    As far as the engine cover goes. What exactly was it made out of or coated with. Was it paint?

    I once put swirls in my paint just to see what it looked like.
    I don't always detail cars, but when I do, I prefer Meguiar's.
    Remove swirls my friends.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Ferrari and Single Stage Questions

      Originally posted by Andrew C. View Post
      The single stage paint will continually keep leaving color on your towels and pads. You actually have lots of clear paint on your pads and towels when working on clear coated cars.

      As far as the engine cover goes. What exactly was it made out of or coated with. Was it paint?
      Excellent point about the clear. I guess I expected by the time I would be waxing the color transfer would be minimal. Perhaps if I'd done a full fledged correction that might have been true?

      I thought the metal engine cover was painted with dull looking single stage paint. The owner and I discussed leaving it alone, like perhaps it was intended to be dull. Possibly baked by engine heat? I neglected to check if there was insulation under the hood in that area.

      "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      David

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Ferrari and Single Stage Questions

        Single stage paint will stop transferring color to your pads as soon as it's all gone. But if you reach that point, you've gone a wee bit too far.

        Some older Ferrari factory single stage paints are incredibly finicky. We did a mid '80s 512 Boxer at the Marconi Museum a few years ago, factory single stage black, and it took a few hours of test spots to come up with a workable plan. M07 by hand was leaving the paint looking hazy!! It never looked right until we wiped off the NXT 2.0 - then it was stunning! Go figure.

        As for those deep side strakes, that's where you ingenuity comes into play, David!! Unless they are easy to remove and you have the owners blessing to do so, you may need some sort of collapsible tool to reach through and hold a small pad for you. One of glass cleaning wands with the little triangle on the end might do it, if you can find a way to secure a small pad to the end. The good news it since you can't easily reach back there, nothing else can either so it shouldn't be all swirled up in there.

        As for the engine cover, if it's supposed to be a satin black rather than full gloss, then you're going to be challenged to find something that leaves it looking that way. If it's swirled badly, removing those swirls is likely going to increase the gloss to some degree. ColorX often does a great job on these surfaces, but if the swirls are bad enough, well, you know it's limitations. Often on very delicate paint that is easily hazed through more aggressive methods, ColorX does a great job of cleaning up the haze and leaving a very nice finish that can then be topped with another wax or sealant if you so desire.
        Michael Stoops
        Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

        Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Ferrari and Single Stage Questions

          Thanks gentlemen for the comments.

          Michael, I ColorX'ed the whole car and then one-coated with Gold Class +. The black as you indicate, was satin.

          I drenched the engine compartment while cleaning and rinsing the hood and was concerned about it not starting due to all the water. The owner was a little concerned too, so I handed him the leaf blower and said, "have at it".

          The car started fine.

          The next day, Saturday, the car show was a hundred miles away and the owner wished to drive the Ferrari over to the event. I got there later in the morning, but no Ferrari. I saw the owner and said, "what the heck, did I screw up the engine with water??" Nope, he said, "I drove 30 miles and the engine light kept coming on indicating cylinders not firing properly, so turned around and tried to go home and barely made it". Earlier in the week, he'd put on some new catalytic converters and the computer didn't like them.

          To top it off, it didn't rain....perfect day to show off a shiny car...the one sitting at home in the garage...

          Thanks again,

          "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          David

          Comment

          Previous template Next
          Your Privacy Choices
          Working...
          X