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This Dale Earnhardt autographed, black, 1994 Camaro was in need of some swirl removal. The car was washed, clayed and taped up. I like to put tape arrows on defects I believe I will not be able to correct and more importantly document for the owner the defects were severe and hopefully some improvements were made by the time the project is completed.
After establishing four test areas on the rear spoiler, a determination of the corrective action and product was made. Area one was ColorX, area two was SwirlX, area three was Ultimate Compound and area four was for M205. Although the Camaro had a great shine before I started, it was damaged enough that ColorX created just a greater shine; but the swirls were only mildly diminished. SwirlX eliminated more swirls, Ult. Compound got rid of many more and M205 did a really great job on the swirls, but left the more significant damage.
Reviewing the test areas, I decided to use M105, followed by Ult. Compound, followed by M205, followed by Ultimate Polish.
Please feel free to comment on the excessive nature of this workflow.
As I worked the surface, it became painfully obvious the paint was the ever popular, delicate paint. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44344 In my opinion, this was miserable, delicate paint. Miserable, because misapplication of a pad, or speed, or pressure and poor technique with a microfiber could result in putting swirls back into the finish. Actually breathing heavily on the paint would create an area of swirls. It was no wonder the car was covered with swirls, there would be no way someone could wash this car and not swirl the finish.
One of the prior owners had also discovered this miserably, delicate paint while using a clay bar. Several areas had both parallel scratches and wild, out of control scratches from using a clay bar contaminated with particulates or lacking in proper lubrication.
Each step in the process reduced the haze produced by the previous step until a reasonably swirl-free finish was created. It was finally to the point you could see tiny micro-flecks of blue buried deep within the black depths of the paint. Hazing of the clear coat was reduced to a tolerable minimum by the time Ultimate Polish was used first as a cleaner and next as a polish.
Once completely polished, the finish received a coat of Ultimate Wax and 12 hours later another coat of Ult. Wax. That is except the driver's side, rear quarter panel which was waxed three times. There is no need to discuss streaks with Ultimate Wax, as I had none. It went on fine and came off fine.
When done, the sun broke out of clouds and the owner took the Camaro outdoors just so I could take some pictures and I was able to get a couple good reflection photographs.
Thanks for stopping by.
Products Used:
Autographed dashboard. If anyone has any ideas how to preserve this signature without blurring the letters, I'd like to know. The owner covers it with a towel to avoid it fading.
This is the car sitting in the wash bay before soaking with a Gilmour Foam Gun and Super Soap, followed by hand washing with Gold Class. Tires got soaked with APC+ and brushed with Deep Crystal soap. Rims were soaked with All Wheel Cleaner and brushed with Deep Crystal soap.
The Camaro appeared to have a great shine and looked pretty good...from a distance.
Clay-barring didn't take off too many bonded contaminates, but did leave a nice smooth surface to begin corrective work.
The hood had many defects beyond the ever present swirls. Defects were marked with green tape strips. This helps me identify spots requiring more attention, identify spots I may not be able to fix and gives the owner a point of reference for the types of defects in the paint.
This is a contour of the hood, however the top was damaged like something had been dragged over the crown of the contour. The owner uses a car cover, but the cover is soft and may not have done this damage.
This is a scratch on the hood.
Clay bar damage. The current owner said he attempted to clay the car. He insists the clay was new, clean and he used an appropriate lubricant.
More clay bar damage. Several such damaged spots were scattered around the hood, doors, fenders and rear spoiler. I didn't find any on the roof.
Even more clay bar damage and water spots.
Defects on hood.
Swirls on the hood.
Here you see clay bar damage caused by a single particle on the surface of the clay. The squiggly line was caused by that particle.
Front bumper and Chevy logo. Swirled up, bug bites and rock pits.
Passenger side front bumper.
I'm hoping someone reading this will tell me what had happened to the rear bumper.
When I clayed the rear bumper, it was covered on both sides with what at first looked like spray paint. Overspray from painting the yellow traffic lines on the highway.
The surface of the bumper was rough and almost felt pitted. What was strange was the damage was located above and near the mouths of the exhaust pipes.
The damage was also on the top of the bumper and it had a very definite border, like the bumper had been masked or taped prior to whatever had been done.
This photo shows that clear border or edge of the damage like the bumper had been masked off or taped before this damage occurred; whatever caused the damage.
Random scratch on the bumper. I HATE scratches on plastic bumpers. I'm not very successful in removing them.
Swirls, swirls, swirls. The X represents damage I decide I will not be able to fix. Most likely the damage was caused by the gas pump nozzle.
Swirls, swirls, swirls.
Yep, more defects.
I used the spoiler for the test areas for the project.
The spoiler was divided into four test areas. I had seen some of the pros on the Meg's forum performing work in the dark, except for their halogen lights. So I tried that during the test phase.
Starting on the left, I tried ColorX, SwirlX, Ultimate Compound. The far right area was used for the full treatment.
My test areas showed that Ultimate Compound and M205 would handle the swirls and hazing, but M105 would be need for the severely swirled and scratched clear coat. Here is an area of Ultimate Compound, M205 and Ultimate Polish.
Here is the 50/50 of SwirlX and Ultimate Compound. The coin is sitting on top of the "before" where the tape had been.
Here is a completed test area.
50/50 (colors are way off on this photo. The Chevy logo is supposed to be red/white/blue)
50/50
50/50
50/50
50/50
Interior detailing is not my cup of tea, so I usually advise the owner I don't open the doors. However I usually do the door jambs. I treated the plastic door sills with Ultimate Protectant.
I spray the rims with Ultimate Quik Wax and work it in with a microfiber glove, let it dry and wipe with a microfiber cloth. The tires will be coated with 2010 gel Endurance.
I ran into to some single stage on the mirrors and you can see the blackened pads on the buffers.
Project completed and ready for final photos.
The dynamic duo.
Reflection shot with camera on tripod.
Here is the rear bumper after corrective work. Whatever was all over the bumper was removed by the use of M105, Ultimate Compound and M205.
Front bumper reflections
Front bumper reflections
Reflections on hood
After working on and off for a few weeks, the sun finally came out so the owner took the car outdoors for a few photos. Here is the reflection of the owner giving the car the once over.
Sun shot of the spoiler, 80 to 95% of the swirls, scratches and defects have been removed.
I did not perform any engine cleaning, but the owner wanted a photo of the car with the hood open.
Finally a reflection shot of the black Z28 logo on the front quarter panel.
Three-fourths of the way through this project, I discovered I had been leaving some swirls of my own on the car when I was wiping the compounds and polish off of the car. The clear coat is the most delicate paint I have run across in my short paint correcting career. I told the owner it would be difficult to maintain a swirl free finish as I thought even touching the paint would marr it up. I gave the car a quick wipe off with Ultimate Quik Detailer while we had it outdoors so the owner could dust the car, if needed.
Thanks for stopping by.
After establishing four test areas on the rear spoiler, a determination of the corrective action and product was made. Area one was ColorX, area two was SwirlX, area three was Ultimate Compound and area four was for M205. Although the Camaro had a great shine before I started, it was damaged enough that ColorX created just a greater shine; but the swirls were only mildly diminished. SwirlX eliminated more swirls, Ult. Compound got rid of many more and M205 did a really great job on the swirls, but left the more significant damage.
Reviewing the test areas, I decided to use M105, followed by Ult. Compound, followed by M205, followed by Ultimate Polish.
- M105, yellow pad, speeds 5 and 3, medium to light pressure
- Ultimate Compound, yellow pad, speeds 5 and 3, firm to medium pressure
- M205, yellow pad, speeds 5 and 3, medium to light pressure
- Ultimate Polish, yellow pad, speeds 5 and 3, medium to light pressure
- Ultimate Polish, black pad, speed 3, very light pressure
Please feel free to comment on the excessive nature of this workflow.
As I worked the surface, it became painfully obvious the paint was the ever popular, delicate paint. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44344 In my opinion, this was miserable, delicate paint. Miserable, because misapplication of a pad, or speed, or pressure and poor technique with a microfiber could result in putting swirls back into the finish. Actually breathing heavily on the paint would create an area of swirls. It was no wonder the car was covered with swirls, there would be no way someone could wash this car and not swirl the finish.
One of the prior owners had also discovered this miserably, delicate paint while using a clay bar. Several areas had both parallel scratches and wild, out of control scratches from using a clay bar contaminated with particulates or lacking in proper lubrication.
Each step in the process reduced the haze produced by the previous step until a reasonably swirl-free finish was created. It was finally to the point you could see tiny micro-flecks of blue buried deep within the black depths of the paint. Hazing of the clear coat was reduced to a tolerable minimum by the time Ultimate Polish was used first as a cleaner and next as a polish.
Once completely polished, the finish received a coat of Ultimate Wax and 12 hours later another coat of Ult. Wax. That is except the driver's side, rear quarter panel which was waxed three times. There is no need to discuss streaks with Ultimate Wax, as I had none. It went on fine and came off fine.
When done, the sun broke out of clouds and the owner took the Camaro outdoors just so I could take some pictures and I was able to get a couple good reflection photographs.
Thanks for stopping by.
Products Used:
- Super Soap
- Gold Class Shampoo
- All Purpose Cleaner Plus
- All Wheel Cleaner
- Meg Versa Brush (rims)
- Generic Brush (tires)
- Meg Microfiber Mitt
- Absorber Chamois
- Meg Waffle Weave
- Mild Blue Professional Clay
- Last Touch Detailer (1:1)
- M105
- Ultimate Compound
- M205
- Ultimate Polish
- Ultimate Wax
- Meg Yellow Pads
- Meg Black Pads
- Lake Country 4", Black, White, Orange, Green Pads
- Meg Black and Yellow Applicator Pads
- Ultimate Quik Wax (rims and door jambs)
- Endurance Gel (2010 Version Gel for tires)
- Black Magic Spray (wheel wells)
- Ultimate Protectant (door sills)
- M40 Rubber and Vinyl (door gaskets, window seals)
- Alcohol Wipe Down (between each corrective step)
- Glass Cleaner Concentrate (10:1)
- Ultimate Wipes
- Supreme Shine Towels
- Microfibers Assorted
- Microfiber Gloves
- 3M Blue and Green Tape for sensitive surfaces
- Toothpicks
- Q-Tips
Autographed dashboard. If anyone has any ideas how to preserve this signature without blurring the letters, I'd like to know. The owner covers it with a towel to avoid it fading.
This is the car sitting in the wash bay before soaking with a Gilmour Foam Gun and Super Soap, followed by hand washing with Gold Class. Tires got soaked with APC+ and brushed with Deep Crystal soap. Rims were soaked with All Wheel Cleaner and brushed with Deep Crystal soap.
The Camaro appeared to have a great shine and looked pretty good...from a distance.
Clay-barring didn't take off too many bonded contaminates, but did leave a nice smooth surface to begin corrective work.
The hood had many defects beyond the ever present swirls. Defects were marked with green tape strips. This helps me identify spots requiring more attention, identify spots I may not be able to fix and gives the owner a point of reference for the types of defects in the paint.
This is a contour of the hood, however the top was damaged like something had been dragged over the crown of the contour. The owner uses a car cover, but the cover is soft and may not have done this damage.
This is a scratch on the hood.
Clay bar damage. The current owner said he attempted to clay the car. He insists the clay was new, clean and he used an appropriate lubricant.
More clay bar damage. Several such damaged spots were scattered around the hood, doors, fenders and rear spoiler. I didn't find any on the roof.
Even more clay bar damage and water spots.
Defects on hood.
Swirls on the hood.
Here you see clay bar damage caused by a single particle on the surface of the clay. The squiggly line was caused by that particle.
Front bumper and Chevy logo. Swirled up, bug bites and rock pits.
Passenger side front bumper.
I'm hoping someone reading this will tell me what had happened to the rear bumper.
When I clayed the rear bumper, it was covered on both sides with what at first looked like spray paint. Overspray from painting the yellow traffic lines on the highway.
The surface of the bumper was rough and almost felt pitted. What was strange was the damage was located above and near the mouths of the exhaust pipes.
The damage was also on the top of the bumper and it had a very definite border, like the bumper had been masked or taped prior to whatever had been done.
This photo shows that clear border or edge of the damage like the bumper had been masked off or taped before this damage occurred; whatever caused the damage.
Random scratch on the bumper. I HATE scratches on plastic bumpers. I'm not very successful in removing them.
Swirls, swirls, swirls. The X represents damage I decide I will not be able to fix. Most likely the damage was caused by the gas pump nozzle.
Swirls, swirls, swirls.
Yep, more defects.
I used the spoiler for the test areas for the project.
The spoiler was divided into four test areas. I had seen some of the pros on the Meg's forum performing work in the dark, except for their halogen lights. So I tried that during the test phase.
Starting on the left, I tried ColorX, SwirlX, Ultimate Compound. The far right area was used for the full treatment.
My test areas showed that Ultimate Compound and M205 would handle the swirls and hazing, but M105 would be need for the severely swirled and scratched clear coat. Here is an area of Ultimate Compound, M205 and Ultimate Polish.
Here is the 50/50 of SwirlX and Ultimate Compound. The coin is sitting on top of the "before" where the tape had been.
Here is a completed test area.
50/50 (colors are way off on this photo. The Chevy logo is supposed to be red/white/blue)
50/50
50/50
50/50
50/50
Interior detailing is not my cup of tea, so I usually advise the owner I don't open the doors. However I usually do the door jambs. I treated the plastic door sills with Ultimate Protectant.
I spray the rims with Ultimate Quik Wax and work it in with a microfiber glove, let it dry and wipe with a microfiber cloth. The tires will be coated with 2010 gel Endurance.
I ran into to some single stage on the mirrors and you can see the blackened pads on the buffers.
Project completed and ready for final photos.
The dynamic duo.
Reflection shot with camera on tripod.
Here is the rear bumper after corrective work. Whatever was all over the bumper was removed by the use of M105, Ultimate Compound and M205.
Front bumper reflections
Front bumper reflections
Reflections on hood
After working on and off for a few weeks, the sun finally came out so the owner took the car outdoors for a few photos. Here is the reflection of the owner giving the car the once over.
Sun shot of the spoiler, 80 to 95% of the swirls, scratches and defects have been removed.
I did not perform any engine cleaning, but the owner wanted a photo of the car with the hood open.
Finally a reflection shot of the black Z28 logo on the front quarter panel.
Three-fourths of the way through this project, I discovered I had been leaving some swirls of my own on the car when I was wiping the compounds and polish off of the car. The clear coat is the most delicate paint I have run across in my short paint correcting career. I told the owner it would be difficult to maintain a swirl free finish as I thought even touching the paint would marr it up. I gave the car a quick wipe off with Ultimate Quik Detailer while we had it outdoors so the owner could dust the car, if needed.
Thanks for stopping by.
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