My welcome to detailing 2010: '02 NBM Firebird
01-07-2010, 12:36 PM
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My welcome to detailing 2010: '02 NBM Firebird Happy new year to all. I'm going to start the new year with a bang. Here's one that many of you can relate to. This car came in last Saturday for me to work on. It has the typical washing and drying scratches along with deeper random scratches. In this process, over 1000 pictures were taken. You will get to see the highlights of the transformation.
After a light rinse to remove the loose surface dirt, I started with a 2 bucket wash to remove the remaining dirt and road film.
Blue mild Clay bar to remove surface contaminants. We now have the 100 gram mild clay bars available separately at $8.49 each at www.showroomfx.com
Circular scratches for starters:
Almost no clarity here:
What's the chances of removing this?
I picked this pillar to determine what product combination to use. For this project, I have the FLEX, PC 7424 and PC 7424 XP available. I'll be starting with the purple LC foamed wool pads in 4" CCS, 5.5" CCS and 6" Kompressor sizes using Meguiars M105 Compound.
Most parts of this can't be felt with the fingernail:
Remember the scratch. This is after wetsanding with 2000/3000 grit combo and polishing the remove the sanding lines with purple pad/M105.
Full quarter shot after M105:
Rear spoiler "before" example:
Breaking down the Meguiars M105 Compound on the spoiler:
More to follow
After a light rinse to remove the loose surface dirt, I started with a 2 bucket wash to remove the remaining dirt and road film.
Blue mild Clay bar to remove surface contaminants. We now have the 100 gram mild clay bars available separately at $8.49 each at www.showroomfx.com
Circular scratches for starters:
Almost no clarity here:
What's the chances of removing this?
I picked this pillar to determine what product combination to use. For this project, I have the FLEX, PC 7424 and PC 7424 XP available. I'll be starting with the purple LC foamed wool pads in 4" CCS, 5.5" CCS and 6" Kompressor sizes using Meguiars M105 Compound.
Most parts of this can't be felt with the fingernail:
Remember the scratch. This is after wetsanding with 2000/3000 grit combo and polishing the remove the sanding lines with purple pad/M105.
Full quarter shot after M105:
Rear spoiler "before" example:
Breaking down the Meguiars M105 Compound on the spoiler:
More to follow
01-07-2010, 12:38 PM
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After working each panel one by one with the Megs M105/purple combo, the paint started to come to life.
Once completed with the M105, I changed to the Meguiars M205 polish to improve the shine on the surface. This will remove any compounding or dulling haze caused with the purple/105 combo.
After the M205, I applied our black carnauba creme by hand using a LC round polish applicator. While waiting for it to dry, I dressed the tires with our water based White Pearl Tire Dressing.
Questions/comments welcomed.
Once completed with the M105, I changed to the Meguiars M205 polish to improve the shine on the surface. This will remove any compounding or dulling haze caused with the purple/105 combo.
After the M205, I applied our black carnauba creme by hand using a LC round polish applicator. While waiting for it to dry, I dressed the tires with our water based White Pearl Tire Dressing.
Questions/comments welcomed.
01-07-2010, 02:30 PM
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I'm located in north Dallas.
For me to give accurate pricing, I would like to see the car's condition in person.
Reach me directly at steve@showroomfx.com
For me to give accurate pricing, I would like to see the car's condition in person.
Reach me directly at steve@showroomfx.com
01-07-2010, 02:40 PM
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Thanks.
The M105/205 combo is a favorite of many users. Even with the 105/purple combo, I did not have any marring.
Overall, I read a lot of threads where many are afraid to start using machine methods to improve the surface conditions of their cars. Rest assured, the Porter Cable is a very safe way to start this recovery process. Only heavier cutting pads such as yellow or purple foamed varieties can create dull haze or fine marring with their use (when buffing with dry pads). With the PC use, it does take time and patience to get the desired results.
The M105/205 combo is a favorite of many users. Even with the 105/purple combo, I did not have any marring.
Overall, I read a lot of threads where many are afraid to start using machine methods to improve the surface conditions of their cars. Rest assured, the Porter Cable is a very safe way to start this recovery process. Only heavier cutting pads such as yellow or purple foamed varieties can create dull haze or fine marring with their use (when buffing with dry pads). With the PC use, it does take time and patience to get the desired results.
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01-08-2010, 09:10 AM
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Even with the Porter Cable 7424 XP/Lake Country purple compounding pad/Meguiars M105, you will still have to take time to work the product on the surface to make the area flawless on harder clear coats such as F-body or C5/6 finishes. As you slowly pass back and forth over the surface, you will notice the dull haze and finest scratches disappear first. The deepest ones will become more shallow. Continued spot buffing in those areas will improve the appearance of these last blemishes too. After its use, you may finish with the Meguiars M205 to restore clarity on darker colors. On the other hand, we even used the Meguiars M205 polish with a blue finishing pad to show a customer how to remove a great deal of towel marks from the bed area of a black '06 Dodge Ram pickup truck.
01-23-2010, 12:22 PM
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(Its my car and I would know these things)
01-23-2010, 12:30 PM
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02 Formula Firebird Hi Steve
This car is scheduled to be at the Ft Worth Rod and Custom Show in March representing DAPA - I will be in before that for care products and for you to check it out and make sure it is up to your standards for display. :-)
Thanks again STEVE you are a DETAILING GOD!
This car is scheduled to be at the Ft Worth Rod and Custom Show in March representing DAPA - I will be in before that for care products and for you to check it out and make sure it is up to your standards for display. :-)
Thanks again STEVE you are a DETAILING GOD!
