Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

[TookayS2K]

Hey guys,
I just recently purchased a PC 7424. I was hoping it could help me with some of my eye sores with my paint job. My fenders were repainted by the previous owners and they did a very bad job.
It looks like they simpily painted over the fender with out sanding/prepping. Now I the clear coat/paint is chipping off, revealing second layer for clear/paint.

I know I'll eventually have to get a respray but I was hoping to hold off till after winter.

Do you guys think it will be possible to sand down and use a polish to bring back the shine?
My inspiration came from this thread.

S2000 Forums -> Scary paint chip repair

Here are some pictures.. brace yourselves!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

There's no way to fix this problem without correctly re-painting either the affected area or the entire car.

Hopefully you got a good deal on the car.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

Like Mike said, missing paint is missing paint. No tools or products intended for detailing will fix that- only tools intended for painting, paint, and a painter.

Keep us updated on what you decide to do...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

Sad thing is if it's doing it in this location it's only a matter of time before it could start happening everywhere this same painter sprayed paint.

Sad...

[TookayS2K]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

Yeah, I know i'll have to get a respray. That one specific fendered was keyed and required a respray. The rest of the car is perfect. The thing is that, I beleive they just painted over the existing paint. The bottom layer (under the chipping) seems to have a clear coat on it. Its perfectly matched and glossy.

Thats why I wanted to try to sand it down as even as possible and polishing over. I'm not trying to get a perfect fix, but just something to hold me over until I can get it to a body shop.

I tried sanding down a edge and it feels pretty even. I just need to know what polish and pad to get it to shine again. I mean, the fender is already messed up, I might as well experiment on it.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

I tried sanding down a edge and it feels pretty even. I just need to know what polish and pad to get it to shine again. I mean, the fender is already messed up, I might as well experiment on it.

What grit sanding paper did you finish with?
What type of foam pads do you have for your PC?
What chemicals do you have?

[TookayS2K]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

What grit sanding paper did you finish with?
What type of foam pads do you have for your PC?
What chemicals do you have?

I will be using 1500 and maybe 2000 grit.

I need help picking what pads and chemicals I need! All I have right now is 3M rubbing compound and megs NXT wax.

I'm not looking for anything high-end. I just want the best bang for the buck for pads and chemicals.

Can you help suggest some? I'm VERY new to the detailing world.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

PC's don't remove sanding marks very well because clear coat paints tend to be hard and when you push down on the polisher the safety clutch kicks in and the pad quits rotating and will just vibrate.

Paint is removed best when the pad is rotating on the surface.

It would be faster to purchase some M105 Ultra Cut Compound and work your sanding marks out by hand.

There's a number of threads on this topic of you and your hand being able to exert more pressure than a PC, I keep the 'Tagged Words" here,

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/tags.php


Look at all the threads with the word exert in them.

Seriously, you can work the sanding scratches out faster and more effectively by hand than you can with a tool that oscillates with a clutch.

Removing sanding marks is the job of a rotary buffer.

Hope that helps...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

Read this members comments and my follow-up...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28093

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

I would highly suggest getting some quality sandpaper for the job as that too will provide faster, more effective, and better results.

Meguiar's sandpaper is VERY good paper.

The one vendor I know carries it in stock for sure is AutoDetailingSolutions.com

I would get some 1,500, 2,000 and 3,000 to finish, and then the M105 to take out the 3,000.

I personally have done a few projects and removed 3,000 grit Meguiar's sandpaper marks with M105 by hand with ease. ADS sells M105 as well.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

Here's another one, very good, this will help you...

Removing #2500 grit wet-sanding marks by hand using M105

And another one,

PC + 83 not "Cutting" it! (The Limits of Dual Action Polisher)

[TookayS2K]

Re: Clear coat problems.. can my pc help?

Thanks guys. I'll check out the threads.

Btw, after I get out the scratches from the sand paper, what polish and pads do you guys recommend?