Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

[CowboyTruckn]

Hello everybody... I am a huge Mopar fan and love to keep my vehicles looking good. I am a member of various forums about Mopar and car care I have a 2007 Dodge Nitro which is actually my wife's daily driver and it looks better than the day we bought it. I also have a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado that is what I have owned since I first got into detailing. It looks good now but it does have a lot of swirls and spiderwebs because of my beginning detailing skills. Needless to say a lot of things have touched my paint which shouldn't have such as dishsoap, towels, high pressure water, etc. I have learned from my mistakes now however.

I would like to learn how to correct my mistakes. I can keep it looking good but I am not sure of how to correct it. I have used both Mother's and Meguiar's products and have come to the conclusion both are fine to maintain a perfect finish but need some professional products to do some serious correction, which Mother's doesn't offer. So if anybody has any suggestions as to what products to get please feel free to offer it.

[CowboyTruckn]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Nobody talks on this forum?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Are you working by hand or machine?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

If you're working by hand, get the below,

Smooth Surface Clay Kit
M105 Ultra Cut Compound
M07 Show Car Glaze
Wax of your choice

Wash the truck and then clay it if needed, feel the paint after claying and check for little bumps on the paint, if detected that means the paint has accumulated above surface bonded contaminants and the most effective way to remove these is by claying the paint with detailing clay.

Next use the M105 to rub the paint out and remove all the swirls and scratches. Use either quality foam or microfiber applicator pads. You want to work small sections at at time, about a foot squared or so. Experiment first with this product to see how long it takes you to remove the swirls to your satisfaction and then duplicate this process over the entire truck.

Make sure you get your technique down for working the M105 over the surface and successfully removing the swirls and scratches to one small area before tackling the entire truck. If you can't fix one small area you won't be able to do the entire truck. We call doing this a Test Spot.

After you remove the swirls and scratches and other blemishes, apply the #7 Show Car Glaze in much the same way except you don't have to work it as long as with this product you're not trying to remove paint, just maximize gloss and clarity.

After applying and working into the paint in one section, wipe off the excess and move onto the next section.

Neither of these two products need to dry, only your wax needs to dry. From our Hot Topics forum

Which products need to dry before removing?



Now apply your choice of wax. allow the wax to completely dry and then remove with a clean, soft microfiber polishing cloth.

From our How To Articles forum,

The Swipe Test



If you do each step correctly the paint should look as good as new and in many cases better than new.

[BlueZero]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Nobody talks on this forum?

Nope. At least not to Mopar fans.

Oh wait, I drive a Jeep!

In that case... Welcome to MOL!

Everyone is usually pretty good about saying hello and helping with questions. I see this was posted on a Sunday so maybe everyone was away from the computers. In any event. Like Mike said are you working by hand or with a machine? Once we know that we can set you on the right path.

For a ton of great information check out this thread... List O' Links 2.0

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

I see this was posted on a Sunday so maybe everyone was away from the computers.

Good observation...

Yep... we try to take at least one day a week where we "Push away from the keyboard" and invest time with family and friends and Sunday is that day. Kind of norm for America otherwise we would all work 7 days a week and that's not healthy for anyone.

So sometimes when a post is made on a Saturday or Sunday, it gets lost in the mass posts and threads always being made.

Sorry for the late reply, our entire forum community is really very good at helping new members get the information they're looking for.

[CowboyTruckn]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

I've got the tools I need for a good hand application. I have been wanting to move up to something with some power because I heard that is the only way to remove swirls but the wife won't let me. Hers doesn't need any TLC because I knew how to keep it clean from the start. Mine wasn't neglected but cleaned poorly. I have tried other products by hand and have found they only hide the swirls but won't remove them. They are back the next time I wash.

[sudsbyhubbs]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

MOPAR OR NO CAR!!!

[dvtldav]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Welcome to MOL. You have come to the right place to learn how to take care of your vehicles. There is more knowledge here than you could ever imagine. Power is not the only way to remove swirls, but it is the easiest & fastest. When you can afford it, get the G110, the right pads (I have the 8006 & 9006 but those are the old pads, I don't remember what the new pad #'s are) & some M80 & M83 and you will be ready to tackle 75% of the the paint problems you have. It is not that hard because 8 months ago I thought all you could to a car was wash & wax it, now I am removing swirls and keeping mine looking better than when they were new (even the '98 Sonoma w/109K on the clock.)

Dave

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

I have tried other products by hand and have found they only hide the swirls but won't remove them. They are back the next time I wash.

M105 will remove them, not fill them in but you do have to work the product over the paint as that's the only way to remove a little paint and that's how your remove swirls and scratches.

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

You can do it.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Hello and welcome to mol.

This is the place to learn the proper way of detailing. Read over the list of links. Then ask your questions. Enjoy.

[acsuppa]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

A little bit late but welcome. I am also a huge Mopar fan. I absolutely love the Plymouth SuperBird. The screen saver on my computer is my wife and daughter standing in front of a 1970 white Superbird at a Mopar car show. I would love to get one in the future.

[CowboyTruckn]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

We just bought a new Nitro last summer and my next purchase is going to be a new Dodge Ram. My dream car is a 1970 Dodge Daytona. If I could really get what I want it would be the one Richard Petty himself drove - I doubt I will ever get that lucky. Thanks for the advice. I have my wife's Nitro on the detail line this weekend. And I will look around for those products so I can work my truck in a week or two.

[03mach1]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Welcome to MOL.

[captaincog]

Re: Detailing fool and Mopar Fanatic

Welcome.
You are about 1 hour north of me. I would recommend going to a class down in the O.C.
The classes will really help along with lots of practice.
Nice to see another Mopar fan.
I have 3 PT Cruisers, one non-turbo, and two turbos.....fast turbos....anyways,
Glad to see ya here!