These are the kind of details that question your manhood. When you first see the car, what comes to your mind? Do you think how can I get out of working on this car or do you see a swirl free car in the end? When you are driving home after the first full day totally spent do you wish that you didn't have to come back or do you think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel? Is that light showing a defect free surface?
I digress......
2004 Black Lexus LS430 with 60K miles. The client just purchased this car a few weeks ago. When I showed up, the client had the largest halogen tripod setup I have ever seen. Next time I attend an outdoor sporting event at night, I am going to be reminded of these lights. I knew then that this was no ordinary detail. I knew this car would have to be 100% perfect for the client to be happy. In the end this is what matters.
Upon arrival:
The car was dusty so I did a QEW wash, clayed and another quick QEW wash. The trunk and rear of the car had the most bonded contaminants.
So I started with the right rear door as a test panel. I did the following:
Green Edge wool/P1500/Metabo 1600
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
I was suprised at what a good job this combo did. But there where too many RIDS left. They are hard to see in this shot:
So on the right rear quarter panel I tried:
Yellow Edge wool/P1500/Metabo 1600
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
This came out nice as well, but still not getting all of the RIDS out:
So then I tried the following:
Yellow Edge wool/3M extra cut/Metabo 1600
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
This really hammered the paint with the 3M extra cut and yellow wool. The ultra fina worked about 95% in getting the wool marks out, but I am looking for 100% here. So I did the following:
Yellow Edge wool/3M extra cut/Metabo/hitachi 1700 2x in some spots to get out the deep RIDS.
Green Edge wool/P1500/Metabo 1500
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
This process worked for the side panels, trunk and the roof, the roof seemed to be the least damaged by the brush washes. I polished the right side of the car and the trunk.
I then wanted to give the hood a go. I tried the above combo that worked so well on the side panels, but there where many RIDS left. I even broke out the black wool and strada 1000 compound and cranked up the metabo to 2000. I made passes with the black wool 3-4 times, followed with the green wool/P1500 and the ultra fina. Still too many deep RIDS. During the black wool polishing the metabo went into thremo shutdown. I almost left my hitachi at home. I used an air mover to cool the metabo while I did heavy compounding with the hitachi on the hood.
Its getting late at 7pm or so and I am spent. I figure its best to pack it in for the night and return the next day.
I arrive the next day and decide to have a go at some wetsanding on the hood. I start with 2000 and finish with 2500.
I then tried a yellow wool pad with presta 1500 to get the sanding marks out. This was not enough, so I stepped up to a black wool pad and 3M extra cut with the hitachi. I followed with green wool/p1500 and the ultra fina with the metabo.
Still a few RIDS, I had the client come out and inspect the area with the halogens. I told him I could wetsanding it again, but I do not advise against removing any more clear coat from the hood. He agreed.
I took the car out and check for holograms, no pics and that was the last of the sun that we saw.
I polished the left side of the car and the front bumper area. I asked the client to come out and inspect the car before I washed it. He looked around the car with the halogens and approved.
Sorry about the polish smudge near the door handle:
I took the car out, rinsed off the dust and wool with my pressure washer and gave it a foam wash with my lance and 2oz of Z7 and the rest water in my 32oz bottle. I used a sheepskin mit and 2 bucket method. I rinsed the car off again with my pressure washer.
I then tried to scrub off the dealer applied "tar" that they put on the tires. I ended up using AM red hot APC mixed 1:4 and scrubbed each tire 4 times. I made a good reduction in the amount of grease that was on the tires, but could not get them 100% clean. At least they will not sling on the paint now.
I dried the car with two WW MFs and took the following pics. The late day low sun was covered by clouds, but I figured I'd better take some outside shots. It was sure to be dark by the time I got done applying the zaino.
After 3x of Zaino Z5pro and Z8:
I digress......
2004 Black Lexus LS430 with 60K miles. The client just purchased this car a few weeks ago. When I showed up, the client had the largest halogen tripod setup I have ever seen. Next time I attend an outdoor sporting event at night, I am going to be reminded of these lights. I knew then that this was no ordinary detail. I knew this car would have to be 100% perfect for the client to be happy. In the end this is what matters.
Upon arrival:
The car was dusty so I did a QEW wash, clayed and another quick QEW wash. The trunk and rear of the car had the most bonded contaminants.
So I started with the right rear door as a test panel. I did the following:
Green Edge wool/P1500/Metabo 1600
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
I was suprised at what a good job this combo did. But there where too many RIDS left. They are hard to see in this shot:
So on the right rear quarter panel I tried:
Yellow Edge wool/P1500/Metabo 1600
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
This came out nice as well, but still not getting all of the RIDS out:
So then I tried the following:
Yellow Edge wool/3M extra cut/Metabo 1600
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
This really hammered the paint with the 3M extra cut and yellow wool. The ultra fina worked about 95% in getting the wool marks out, but I am looking for 100% here. So I did the following:
Yellow Edge wool/3M extra cut/Metabo/hitachi 1700 2x in some spots to get out the deep RIDS.
Green Edge wool/P1500/Metabo 1500
3M blue foam/3M Ultra Fina/Metabo 1500
This process worked for the side panels, trunk and the roof, the roof seemed to be the least damaged by the brush washes. I polished the right side of the car and the trunk.
I then wanted to give the hood a go. I tried the above combo that worked so well on the side panels, but there where many RIDS left. I even broke out the black wool and strada 1000 compound and cranked up the metabo to 2000. I made passes with the black wool 3-4 times, followed with the green wool/P1500 and the ultra fina. Still too many deep RIDS. During the black wool polishing the metabo went into thremo shutdown. I almost left my hitachi at home. I used an air mover to cool the metabo while I did heavy compounding with the hitachi on the hood.
Its getting late at 7pm or so and I am spent. I figure its best to pack it in for the night and return the next day.
I arrive the next day and decide to have a go at some wetsanding on the hood. I start with 2000 and finish with 2500.
I then tried a yellow wool pad with presta 1500 to get the sanding marks out. This was not enough, so I stepped up to a black wool pad and 3M extra cut with the hitachi. I followed with green wool/p1500 and the ultra fina with the metabo.
Still a few RIDS, I had the client come out and inspect the area with the halogens. I told him I could wetsanding it again, but I do not advise against removing any more clear coat from the hood. He agreed.
I took the car out and check for holograms, no pics and that was the last of the sun that we saw.
I polished the left side of the car and the front bumper area. I asked the client to come out and inspect the car before I washed it. He looked around the car with the halogens and approved.
Sorry about the polish smudge near the door handle:
I took the car out, rinsed off the dust and wool with my pressure washer and gave it a foam wash with my lance and 2oz of Z7 and the rest water in my 32oz bottle. I used a sheepskin mit and 2 bucket method. I rinsed the car off again with my pressure washer.
I then tried to scrub off the dealer applied "tar" that they put on the tires. I ended up using AM red hot APC mixed 1:4 and scrubbed each tire 4 times. I made a good reduction in the amount of grease that was on the tires, but could not get them 100% clean. At least they will not sling on the paint now.
I dried the car with two WW MFs and took the following pics. The late day low sun was covered by clouds, but I figured I'd better take some outside shots. It was sure to be dark by the time I got done applying the zaino.
After 3x of Zaino Z5pro and Z8:
