250K mile Silverado Correction

[mrclean81]

This truck was recently purchased by a friend of mine who had been after me to "buff a few scratches out". The ok was given by my boss to use the shop, and I knew I had 8 hours to get it done in. It was covered in dirt and mud when it arrived, so I still couldnt really get a good look at the condition of the paint. After a good wash, I was horrified and had no idea how I was going to do this in what had become 7 hours. Bumper to bumper scratches deep in the clear, RIDS everywhere, rock chips everywhere, and rusted rockers and cab corners. I explained to my friend not to expect every scratch to come out because there was no time to wetsand. He was also informed that the rust would have to be repaired at a body shop, and the rock chips were a no-go as well because no auto parts store carried his color in touch up paint. He agreed to carry on, and the nightmare began.

 

[mrclean81]

The truck was clayed with CM Blue, and everything was masked off.

Using an ATD rotary and wool pad with 3M Perfect It 2 compound (and a lot of patience), the scratches slowly worked out.

3M Ultra Fine polish was used with 3M's Ultra Fine pad on the rotary, and 2 coats of Ardex Gold Supreme wax was applied by hand. This was certainly not a 100% correction, but it was 100% better than where it started out at. The owner was thrilled, I finished within the 8 hour time slot, and now I need a chiropractor assout:

Thanks for looking

Edit - It was also in the agreement that he gets to finish cleaning the compound out of the cracks

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

1000x better! Great work as always.

 

[polisher]

wow cant even tell it has 250K..good job

 

[mrclean81]

Thank you guys

 

[Old Pirate]

Wow, those scratches that were remove had to be a pain to work with, awesome turnaround on the Silverado ( 2000% better )and hope someday you get to play with again but with lots of time to tackle them. :bigups

 

[mrclean81]

Wow, those scratches that were remove had to be a pain to work with, awesome turnaround on the Silverado ( 2000% better )and hope someday you get to play with again but with lots of time to tackle them. :bigups

Thank you. I know this guy well, and Im sure in 6 months its going to look just like it did before I started, so I'll have another shot at it Im sure. He says hes going to baby it and never take it off road....soon followed by "I think Im gonna lift it and find some Super Swampers" :wall

 

[TLMitchell]

Hope your friend doesn't find out you downgraded his GMC Sierra to a Silverado. :nana:

I had an '04 like that. Loved the wide open spaces for polishing, you could really cover some ground. I've still got a new-in-the-box set of those chrome Putco fender trims for flared fenders sitting in the back of the garage I'd part with for shipping if I could find someone that could use them.

My current truck's sides looked like that when I bought it... like someone regularly drove through the woods with branches etc brushing against the sides. I had the rotary and wool out when UPS pulled up with the first Meg's MF/DA products I had bought to try so I pulled out the DA to give it a whirl. Super finish (with mucho pressure on the worst defects) and I don't think I've pulled the rotary out since except to jewel. Matter of fact, I gave my trusty ATD away since it was such a heavy beast! I haven't been to the chiropractor since either. Man, that machine used to knock the crap out of me!

BTW, ever compare the ATD to a Makita side by side? Guess who makes the ATDs? Pretty good tool for around 70 bucks or so.

Very nice result on a challenging job! :bigups

TL

 

[mrclean81]

Hope your friend doesn't find out you downgraded his GMC Sierra to a Silverado. :nana:
TL

Wow I just noticed that I did that :inspector::lol2:
The ATD is a really heavy and unforgiving machine. I would put it right up there the the DeWalt and Milwaukee as far as weight and power (its still half the weight of an old school Milwaukee). I dropped an 849 behind my head a few years ago while on a ladder (correcting a Freightliner) and done some serious damage to my back and shoulders. The ATD has made it 10 times worse because it fights like a bull, especially when using wool pads. Its determined to kill me lol. Thanks for the compliments btw. They make doing jobs like this worth it.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

Really really great job. 7 hours of polishing time... I am sore just reading the thread!

 

[mrclean81]

Really really great job. 7 hours of polishing time... I am sore just reading the thread!

Thanks Todd. I must have missed your post but better late than never

 

[TLMitchell]

The ATD is a really heavy and unforgiving machine. I would put it right up there the the DeWalt and Milwaukee as far as weight and power

After using the Flex PE14 I gave my ATD away. The fact that your arms don't look and feel like Popeye's when you're finished made the expense entirely worthwhile, IMO. YMMV.

TL

 

[mrclean81]

After using the Flex PE14 I gave my ATD away. The fact that your arms don't look and feel like Popeye's when you're finished made the expense entirely worthwhile, IMO. YMMV.

TL

Well, I may be in the market for a new rotary now, because I just smoked the ATD. Im gonna have to change brushes and blow it out really good and hope it runs again, but its not looking good. The front end made a screeching noise and then it quit. Not likely anything to do with the brushes but Im gonna try it anyway. Maybe a Flex or 3M rotary will be in my near future. I really want to try the new 3M machine out.