Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

RDVT4ME: Do you have a hard top? If so do you generally tape the black trim above the windows and the gaps between trunk, headlights, hood and such? What about the brake lights and the front marker lights? I would really appreciate your input as this is specific to the application I am working on.

I have a coupe. I do tape the trim around the windows and rear hatch. Most times I don't tape the other items you mention.

The main reasons to tape are:
1. Keep an area clean from the buffing/waxing product. And the main reason for that is the time it would take you to clean it. If it takes you longer to tape the area than to clean it, then you may not want to spend the time taping. The choice is yours. If getting product on the area will discolor it, then you would protect it.

2. Prevent damage to an area. With any kind of buffer you have the risk of damaging surrounding area's. Such as emblems or other surfaces. You don't want to run a buffer (especially a rotary) over a painted trim part as you may remove paint from that part and damage it.

I hope that helps. Keeps those questions coming until you feel comfortable with the process.

[techguru]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

I have a very good plan now thanks to the wealth of information offered up by RDVT4ME and Mike, thanks so much for this info. As I said before, it sure does seem like the community here is very friendly, definitely not the same as any other forum I am a member of.

As Promised I will post back some before/after shots when I get the hood done, for now it looks like I need to order some 105 and 205 first.

[Desertdawg]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

Wow Mike, great replies, with killer info!!!

[JLTSX07]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

So, there's no way that Swirl X would remove his swirls if he applied it with a DA?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

So, there's no way that Swirl X would remove his swirls if he applied it with a DA?

Not sure where you got this from?

SwirlX is a cleaner/polish that has the ability to to remove swirls. How effective it will be at this depends upon,

* How hard the paint is
* How deep the swirls are
* The users skill and ability


If SwirlX is not aggressive enough to do the job we offer more aggressive products.

If you have a project you're working on please start your own dedicated thread for your questions.

Thank you.

[vetterc5]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

Talk about perfect timing!

Techguru, I have an '02 Vette, a black coupe, and I must concur with Mike and all contributors.... the clearcoat on your 'vette is very very hard. I have a similar scenario to contribute and hope it will reinforce what everyone else has said.

I tried to detail my newly acquired 'vette last fall. With great input from Mike and the gang, I did the whole car in my garage in about 6 hours under florescent lights. I used my new d/a and started with M80, and ended with a polish and finally a hand applied application of NXT tech wax. (hand applied the wax as my d/a failed after 2 hours due to a faulty switch, but meguiars made it right and I have a new one,) It looked pretty darn good under the florescent lights, but when I drove into the sunlight, I realized I should have done a thorough test spot. The scratches and swirl marks (and even some water spots) were still there and looked as though I hadn't done a thing!

As Mike says, the paint (clearcoat) on our late model Corvette's is very hard. I will probably never really understand how such a hard clearcoat can scratch so easily. My 'Vette is used, but only has 28 k miles on it, and there are plenty of scratches in the clearcoat, some deep, some not so bad. I now know it will take every bit of those 2 hours on just the hood with the m105 with a few more hours to apply the polish and sealant to do the job right. I will use the hood as my test area and make sure the sequence of product application works before wasting the effort on the rest of the car.

I plan on using the m105, the m80, #7 show glaze for a final polish, then the #21 synthetic sealant. I will spend the day on the hood only and make sure it passes the sunlight test before continuing on to the rest of the car. (I'm open to any suggestions for improvements on the mentioned process)

Good luck on your Red Vette, techguru. Make sure you use that Xenon light, or at least use the sun on a bright sunny day, to check your work on that all-important test spot. Wish I did.

Thanks to all who contributed to this thread. You saved me a lot of question asking.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

VetterC5, good luck with your detail! You came to the right place for help.

You may find out that you are good to go with just the M105. M105 is really an amazing product, given how high it is on the abrasive scale.

Post some pictures with your results.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

I did the whole car in my garage in about 6 hours under florescent lights.

I used my new d/a and started with M80, and ended with a polish and finally a hand applied application of NXT tech wax.

It looked pretty darn good under the florescent lights, but when I drove into the sunlight, I realized I should have done a thorough test spot.

The scratches and swirl marks (and even some water spots) were still there and looked as though I hadn't done a thing!

Good luck on your Red Vette, techguru. Make sure you use that Xenon light, or at least use the sun on a bright sunny day, to check your work on that all-important test spot. Wish I did.

Thanks for sharing your experience, hope you don't mind that I carved out just a portion of your statements to both emphasize the value of doing a Test Spot and inspecting it under at least two kinds of light and to cite in future posts when explaining the importance of a Test Spot to new forum member's trying do the same things you and Techguru are trying to do.

Investing a small amount of time upfront to dial-in a successful process and prove it on a small section of paint will insure you're getting the results you're expecting and hoping for.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

I plan on using the M105, the M80, #7 show glaze for a final polish, then the #21 synthetic sealant.

(I'm open to any suggestions for improvements on the mentioned process)

Use the SMAT Team, use M105 Ultra Cut Compound to remove the swirls and scratches, then switch to the M205 Ultra Finishing Polish to maximize the gloss and clarity.

Then apply your favorite wax or paint sealant.


M205 will tend to finish out nicer on most clear coat finishes than M80. M80 is a great product but SMAT will work better on your car's clear coat than DAT.

SMAT vs DAT

[vetterc5]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

No problem on the carve-out of my original message, Mike. You put the emphasis right where it was needed.

Thank you RDVT4ME for your suggestion that the m105 alone may be all I need, but I think I'm going to go with Mike's suggestion to finish polish with the m205. I tried it my way and failed miserably. The product is available locally (I found a supplier about 25 miles away) so I'm going to try Mike's suggestion this time.

"Investing a small amount of time upfront to dial-in a successful process and prove it on a small section of paint will insure you're getting the results you're expecting and hoping for."




Thank you both for the input. Much appreciated.

I will post pics when the hood is done. Test spot, here I come!

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

Hey VetterC5,

Looking forward to the pix!

Too bad your vette is the wrong color. (see my signature).

[blackmachdown]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

Hey VetterC5,

Looking forward to the pix!

Too bad your vette is the wrong color. (see my signature).

yeah the black ones are the worst mistakes because they are FASTEST

but seriously, ill be in that boat here soon except ill be going at it with UC and Swirlx, for now though, its cruizing time!

[vetterc5]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

I read the book, which prompted me to promise myself i'd own a c5 one day when I could. I just love black, even with it's inherent difficulties. The price was right with low mileage. And, here in CT, they don't call it "arrest me red" for nothing!



Of course the full time orange DRL's don't help either.



Black is a little more stealthy, but a vette is a vette and it's profile is a magnet for the boys in blue.

I have a call in to the local vendor for the M205. Will pick up today if he has it and will start on the hood with the M105. Pics forthcoming. Enjoy the Spring RDVT4ME!

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

yeah the black ones are the worst mistakes because they are FASTEST

Good come back!

[blackmachdown]

Re: Proven combos for C5 Vette and DA?

Good come back!

honestly though if it wasnt for my unhealthy love for black, id be in a torch red z06