C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

[Demon_C5]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use



Finally got around to trying the ColorX today and HOLY ****!! It's dang near PERFECT. I put tape on the trunk and did a 50/50 and its just night and day. The black is just briliant and shiny, where the other half is cloudy/micromar swirled. This just is amazing.

I don't know if it fixed it or just covered it, but I have to be honest here...I don't really care. I need to get the car done (going on 7weeks here working on it) and will touch up the micromar stuff this coming winter when the car is off the roads for the season. Right now...its so much better its like a whole new paint job.

I think I may be able to finish the car this afternoon, or next weekend at the very latest. I just have the hood/front bumper to do with the 105, but I'm going to do the rest of the car right now with the ColorX and finish glaze/wax on all of it but those two areas. Then I have to back the car up a bit and do the front bumper/hood (small garage!!).

Guys...THANK YOU. Going to take photos real quick of the 50/50 job. Remember, it's not perfect...but it's good enough for now. I'll show a section that I was going to do by hand that is an example of the car untouched (going to pass on doing those hard areas for now). The car is so much better!!!

Back to work!

[Desertdawg]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

I agree Mike, I worked on a black C5 with dog claw scratches along the top of the door a couple of years ago.
3000 grit sand paper feathered out and you wouldn't believe the pressure I was applying with the rotary and M84 to get the sanding marks out...

I looked like this guy ---->
.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Wouldn't it be nice if car manufactures would demand from the paint suppliers, paint systems that the average person can work on?

It's seems like a no-brainer but as far as I can tell that's not a features they ever ask for and Corvettes have a bad reputation for paint that is just horrible to work on.

[Demon_C5]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Have you tried the ColorX on your test section? I would like to see if it's going to finish off the hazing you have?

Not yet. I should be able to do the test either this Friday or Saturday. I'll try and remember to post some photos and tape off a section for a 50/50 comparison.

You're not going to get very good results using the edges of a PC as you do not have the correct action to do any real correction IMHO.

Yeah, it definitely didn't do any good. I'll be doing those areas by hand. Hopefully I can find the pad I need at my local supply store...they seem to have everything else. Otherwise I'll have to work it in with a regular Meguiars applicator pad.

[IMSHAKN]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Huh? This seems conflicting at first glance. I've tried running the buffer up slowly and pressing a bit harder to get it to kind of "roll" the pad over those area...but it doesn't really seem to work. When I finish and look at the spot again, it appears that it didn't do anything at all.

You're not going to get very good results using the edges of a PC as you do not have the correct action to do any real correction IMHO. With a rotary you can do this albeit very carefully as the margin for error becomes dramatically smaller when you are using the edges on rotary due to the way this type of polisher works.

And others have already said, in tight areas the use of some UC or Scratch X should do you just fine with some elbow grease.

[Desertdawg]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Have you tried the ColorX on your test section? I would like to see if it's going to finish off the hazing you have?

[Bounty]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Huh? This seems conflicting at first glance. I've tried running the buffer up slowly and pressing a bit harder to get it to kind of "roll" the pad over those area...but it doesn't really seem to work. When I finish and look at the spot again, it appears that it didn't do anything at all.

Sorry....too many posts tend to scramble the brain!

What I was trying to say was the 6.5" pads I linked in the previous post have two unique features that allow you to do this. The first is the "constant pressure" foam backing. The second is the round beveled edge. The combination of the two allows you to get both effective pressure and "cut" at the ends of the pad and easily transition over the subtle body curves of a C5.

I would just stick with the hand application. The German Foam Applicator is relatively cheap and does have way more cutting ability than a standard Meguiar's applicator. Good luck and let show us the final results...

[Demon_C5]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Trying to manuever your G110 at odd angles to use just the edges or corners of pads can be dangerous to you, your machine, and your paint. I'd stick to a hand applicator that has some cutting ability.

Your best bet is to hand polish the most difficult areas and try to "roll" your pad into the curved areas with the G110.

Huh? This seems conflicting at first glance. I've tried running the buffer up slowly and pressing a bit harder to get it to kind of "roll" the pad over those area...but it doesn't really seem to work. When I finish and look at the spot again, it appears that it didn't do anything at all.

If you can find a used PC7424 or someone to let you borrow one or trade or whatever you can go with the 4" buffing pads. But if not, you're stuck with the G110 and its limitations (large pads only).

I'll just stick with doing it by hand. I'm not going to run around trying to beg and borrow equipment to do it, and am certainly not going to buy another D/A or Rotary. I'll give it a shot with what I have currently and see how it works. There aren't really any scratches in those areas to work, just the hard swirls that blanketed the whole car. Surely I can eliminate those by hand with an Meguiars applicator pad and M105/M205/ScratchX/ColorX? I have all those already, hopefully one of them might work.

Those twin sided "German" type pads still look tempting, especially if they might provide a bit more cutting power.

[Bounty]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Wolfgang German Polish N’ Wax Applicator

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/german-polish-applicator.html

I purchased a few a while back from Autogeek but I believe they are the same. I prefer this aplicator to the regular Meg's yellow foam because of the added ability the cutting and finishing pad material gives you. Obviously when you work with the G110 you're using a polishing pad for the M105 and a finishing pad for the M205. Why should hand application be any different? This tool gives you that ability. Just take it nice and easy and remember that multiple passes will probably be required to acheive the desired results by hand...

Where can I find the smaller 4" black pad that you mentioned? I assume it has more of a "cut" than the regular 4" wax applicator pads that Meguiars carries or like the one included in the NXT Tech Wax box right? I found Lake Country 4" pads, but they were to be used on the D/A Polisher. Does Meguiars carry either of these pads? I they do, I'd prefer to get those. Just making sure I didn't miss it, don't see them on their site.

As I stated above, with the Meg's machine you don't have access to using these tools, only PC owners. Perhaps you could borrow one locally from a friend or associate. If you were anywhere near me I would have just gone over and done it already...

Here's the link to the pads I used in the pics... http://autogeek.net/4inch-spot-buffs.html . Don't get too caught up in the colors I used as I just grabbed the first two out of my box. The varying "cut" and "bite" of the pads follows the standard Lake Country CCS coloring: yellow>orange>white>green>black>blue>red.

Heading out for the week on a business trip, so I can get these ordered and hopefully have them here waiting for me when I get back. I might have had this done a couple weeks ago if I didn't have to leave for a week at a time!!

Your best bet is to hand polish the most difficult areas and try to "roll" your pad into the curved areas with the G110. If you can find a used PC7424 or someone to let you borrow one or trade or whatever you can go with the 4" buffing pads. But if not, you're stuck with the G110 and its limitations (large pads only).

Two other options would be these 6.5" pads from PAC which have a nice rolled edge with a constant-pressure foam backing to let you transition over those curves and apply adequate cutting power with the outer edges of the pad... http://www.properautocare.com/hi612infopaa.html . Another cool product they offer is basically the large CCS pads cut-down to hand applicators similar in size to the German Foam Applicator. They have all the colors (meaning cutting ratings) and are really cheap... http://www.properautocare.com/euhapoap.html . Sorry I couldn't be of more help but given the tools you are using it's really the best I can offer.

Seriously, you guys are amazing!

Thanks...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Does Meguiars carry either of these pads? I they do, I'd prefer to get those. Just making sure I didn't miss it, don't see them on their site.

At this time we don't offer anything smaller than our 6.5" buffing pads.


As for the hard to work areas, just tackle these by hand with either UC or M105 and a foam applicator pad.

Give the oval shaped applicator pad a try to see if it works for you, I found it too large to be practical for working out defects in small areas, for this I just use the normal foam applicator pads Meguiar's sells. The trick to working swirls and scratches out of hard to work areas is time. That is get comfortable by sitting down at a level so you're looking across from the area you're working and rub the paint out methodically and thoroughly.

Any of these should give you good cleaning/abrading power for working out swirls and scratches by hand,

M105
Ultimate Compound
ScratchX 2.0


Heck, I rubbed out each one of the louvers on this Mosler by hand using ScratchX 1.0 (I wish we had SMAT products out back then)



LSP applied (NXT in this case after machine cleaning and polishing)




LSP removed

[Demon_C5]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

I tried finding the exact pads that you showed in your photos. I would like to work those areas by hand. I think I found the German Applicator pad that you mentioned, but can't find the other 4" softbuff black pad. For clarity, and for hopefully the benefit of anyone monitoring this thread:


Wolfgang German Polish N’ Wax Applicator

http://www.superiorcarcare.net/german-polish-applicator.html

Where can I find the smaller 4" black pad that you mentioned? I assume it has more of a "cut" than the regular 4" wax applicator pads that Meguiars carries or like the one included in the NXT Tech Wax box right? I found Lake Country 4" pads, but they were to be used on the D/A Polisher. Does Meguiars carry either of these pads? I they do, I'd prefer to get those. Just making sure I didn't miss it, don't see them on their site.

Heading out for the week on a business trip, so I can get these ordered and hopefully have them here waiting for me when I get back. I might have had this done a couple weeks ago if I didn't have to leave for a week at a time!!

Gotta love the dedication of the MOL community. Thanks for going the extra mile Bounty. Two big thumbs up

Seriously, you guys are amazing!

[Markus Kleis]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Gotta love the dedication of the MOL community. Thanks for going the extra mile Bounty. Two big thumbs up

[Bounty]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Ok, my neighbors officially think I am nuts now. It's 3:00 a.m. here but I just got in and figured I'd go out and take some pics and upload them before I forgot...

For the areas in the picture above you can do one of two things if you had a Porter Cable 7424:

Use an adaptor backing plate and a 4" CCS Spot Buff pad like this (use the DA, I'm just holding it up for size reference)...





Or you can use a German Foam Applicator (which has both an orange polishing side and a black finishing side) like this...





Unfortunately since you only have access to the much larger pads I would go hand application to be safe. Trying to manuever your G110 at odd angles to use just the edges or corners of pads can be dangerous to you, your machine, and your paint. I'd stick to a hand applicator that has some cutting ability.

In your second pic I would also attack the area with the smaller 4" Soft Buff pads. As you can see in these next two pics it's perfect for it...



and



But further back it's just too narrow and awkward a space to use a specific pad at a right angle. As such, here is where the bigger rounded-edge pads work well in that you can buff up to and adjust to the curve of the body line while buffing. It's hard to describe but you'll be able to feel where you can buff with the big pads and where you'll have to buff by hand or 4" pad. Here's an example of where the body curve is just too gradual and small for the 4" pad...



Hope this helps....and don't mind that the car is filthy, I just drove back in the rain. No swirls in the flash though and plenty of metallic flake and reflection so that's always nice...

[Demon_C5]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

Bounty

Since you have a lot of experience with Corvettes, what have you done to polish the areas that I've circled on these old photos I have of mine?

In this first image I am having a hard time getting in between the lights and above them on the rear. Also, as you know...the top of the rear bumper curves slightly outward. This is a pain to work around and I can't seem to polish those areas successfully.



In this second image, I'm having a hard time with another piece that curves a bit. Near the bottom of the door, that piece just above the lower sideskirt curves out a bit and eventually forms the brake ducts. I can't seem to get that polished either.




Are these types of areas something that should be buffed by hand or is there a "trick of the trade" that you guys use? All I have left to buff is the front bumper and hood. Then I'm going to work a section or two a few times to eliminate some long scratches I found. Then I can quickly go over the car with the M205 and take out what's left of the micro marring, or at least decrease it substantially like I've managed to do with my test spot. It looks like I will be buffing the mirrors and door handles by hand.

[akimel]

Re: C5 Vette - 1st DA Use

What a great thread! It's packed with so much information and good advice.

I hope, Demon, you are able to accomplish the degree of paint correction you are striving for. It sure ain't easy, is it? Good luck!

Al