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Some pre-holiday projects
The owner of this recently purchased used Astro van was going to have graphics installed by a local installer. After we looked the van over, we decided to polish it just a bit before covering most of the vehicle with graphics.
Upon closer examination after washing and claying, we discovered the van had previously had vinyl lettering and that lettering had been removed by someone using a tool that severely scarred the paint. I was unable to remove most of those scratches. Also the letters had "protected" the paint under the lettering while the exposed paint was aged. So in some locations the absence of lettering was obvious. Although most of the surface was eventually going to be covered with new vinyl, I decided to do a mild correction.
Van was washed, clayed and I started with D300 and the MFDA system on a Porter-Cable. The paint was hard and resisted correction, so I ran the buffer at five, slow arm speed and heavy, very heavy, pressure. Not satisfied with that, I tried M105 and a yellow pad running at speed 5-6. Still not happy I mixed D300 and M105 and went at it again with a foam pad. The scratches were just too deep for me to comfortably remove them, however most of the "ghosting" was improved and many of the swirls and minor scratches were removed.
In the photo below, the left side has been polished.
In the photo below notice the dull areas. Those dull areas were exposed to the elements while the surrounding
areas were covered with lettering.
The black lettering was added with Photoshop to represent previously installed lettering on the van, which the
previous owner removed with a tool that damaged the finish. (hammer and chisel???)
The blue tape divided this side. Polishing had been done on the left of the tape. Notice the
"ghosting" is still present under where the tape was and had been pulled off. The old lettering
preserved the original finish on the vehicle and around the old lettering had weathered and was
dull and swirled.
Completed van. Van was completely wiped down with Eraser to remove any remaining traces of
D300 and M105. I did not install the graphics, just polished underneath them....well hidden efforts!!
Note the shadows of the previous lettering is gone. Thank you D300 and M105.
This Bronco below was purchased as a Christmas present and the giver asked that I try and polish it up
before it was revealed to the new owner.
.
Below are some before photos of the paint.
Some defects would not be corrected.....paint chips....
A clear protective film, sunburned and aged...we left it in place.
The silver metallic paint on the tailgate was very thin in a few areas.
I wonder if this is single stage paint? Hummm...red tainted clay....
After pictures, polished area on the right of the tape. I had some Ultimate Compound laying around,
so I decided to use it. Paint was a bit dry, but the UC remained very workable during the buffing.
Polished area on the left of the tape.
Polished area on the right.
Polished area on the right.
Again polished area on the right.
Polished area on the right.
Polished area on the right.
Single stage paint for sure....
Metallic Silver before
After polishing
Before
After polishing
Polishing with Ultimate Compound completed. Would be followed up with Ultimate Wax.
Photos below show a Mazda 6 in need of a polish and wax. Used Paint Reconditioning Creme and yellow pad, two
passes one heavier and slower, one lighter and faster. Followed with Ultimate Wax.
Before
After
Before
After
Here is the only after photo I got of the whole car. Didn't get one in the shop so I stopped by his house.
....winter, yeah gotta love it.....
The owner of this recently purchased used Astro van was going to have graphics installed by a local installer. After we looked the van over, we decided to polish it just a bit before covering most of the vehicle with graphics.
Upon closer examination after washing and claying, we discovered the van had previously had vinyl lettering and that lettering had been removed by someone using a tool that severely scarred the paint. I was unable to remove most of those scratches. Also the letters had "protected" the paint under the lettering while the exposed paint was aged. So in some locations the absence of lettering was obvious. Although most of the surface was eventually going to be covered with new vinyl, I decided to do a mild correction.
Van was washed, clayed and I started with D300 and the MFDA system on a Porter-Cable. The paint was hard and resisted correction, so I ran the buffer at five, slow arm speed and heavy, very heavy, pressure. Not satisfied with that, I tried M105 and a yellow pad running at speed 5-6. Still not happy I mixed D300 and M105 and went at it again with a foam pad. The scratches were just too deep for me to comfortably remove them, however most of the "ghosting" was improved and many of the swirls and minor scratches were removed.
In the photo below, the left side has been polished.
In the photo below notice the dull areas. Those dull areas were exposed to the elements while the surrounding
areas were covered with lettering.
The black lettering was added with Photoshop to represent previously installed lettering on the van, which the
previous owner removed with a tool that damaged the finish. (hammer and chisel???)
The blue tape divided this side. Polishing had been done on the left of the tape. Notice the
"ghosting" is still present under where the tape was and had been pulled off. The old lettering
preserved the original finish on the vehicle and around the old lettering had weathered and was
dull and swirled.
Completed van. Van was completely wiped down with Eraser to remove any remaining traces of
D300 and M105. I did not install the graphics, just polished underneath them....well hidden efforts!!
Note the shadows of the previous lettering is gone. Thank you D300 and M105.
This Bronco below was purchased as a Christmas present and the giver asked that I try and polish it up
before it was revealed to the new owner.
.
Below are some before photos of the paint.
Some defects would not be corrected.....paint chips....
A clear protective film, sunburned and aged...we left it in place.
The silver metallic paint on the tailgate was very thin in a few areas.
I wonder if this is single stage paint? Hummm...red tainted clay....
After pictures, polished area on the right of the tape. I had some Ultimate Compound laying around,
so I decided to use it. Paint was a bit dry, but the UC remained very workable during the buffing.
Polished area on the left of the tape.
Polished area on the right.
Polished area on the right.
Again polished area on the right.
Polished area on the right.
Polished area on the right.
Single stage paint for sure....
Metallic Silver before
After polishing
Before
After polishing
Polishing with Ultimate Compound completed. Would be followed up with Ultimate Wax.
Photos below show a Mazda 6 in need of a polish and wax. Used Paint Reconditioning Creme and yellow pad, two
passes one heavier and slower, one lighter and faster. Followed with Ultimate Wax.
Before
After
Before
After
Here is the only after photo I got of the whole car. Didn't get one in the shop so I stopped by his house.
....winter, yeah gotta love it.....
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