Detailing process, and thanks; regulars, plz read & click link to pix

J

JustinR32

New member
Folks, a lot of the good that you do us acolytes goes unnoticed and unthanked. When I go through Autopia finding information through the "search" feature, or when I lurk, I can find the information I look for but I also lose the social dimension of mentor/trainee, and also the ability to close out an inquiry with a "thanks"!



Here is what I did to "the sandbox", which is what I've called my '97 Miata because of the way the previous owner treated the hood and trunk lids. Keep in mind that for the first two years I owned this car, I washed it weekly at the quarter car wash, using the stiff bristle brush provided!



Using the PC7424:



Twice over the entire car with a wool cutting pad and Meguiar's DACP, three times on the hood



Twice with Menzerna Intensive Polish and a compounding pad



Twice with Menzerna Final Polish and a polishing pad



Once with Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion



Two coats of Pinnacle Souveran Paste.



I haven't done the wheels & tires, trim, or interior yet; I'm all polished out, for now!



Thanks to all for the advice and spirited discussions that I've received second hand, through "search and lurk", that have guided me to my goal!



I'm having a little trouble inserting images (I figured it out once before, but I'm in a hurry right now), so here are the links





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Very nice !!!! That red looks incredible !! I have never tried Menzerna products, but after those pics maybe I'll give them a try :)
 
Mosca- Good job on the Miata. I'll bet it's a night-and-day difference. And I DO relate to the the social aspect of interacting with fellow Autopians, rather than just lurking/searching. A lot of the "go search" response has to to with the NATURE/SCOPE of the questions being asked; I always hope we don't tick off someone that we'd like to have stick around.
 
Oh, I don't mind "go search". Sometimes a poster NEEDS to be told that, as in: "Hey guys, does anyone know of any kewl sites about Cavaleerz?" "Yeah dude, try Google, duh."



But, too much self reliance kills the fun, the, "Hey people, I like to do this, too! What are you trying that works?" part.



So, I searched for the info, applied it, and now I'm here for the :D s!





Mosca
 
Mosca, your Miata looks great, and I'm intrigued by your detailing scheme: three different polishes and pads with diminishing agressiveness, and no swirl-hiding fillers. I'm thinking about something similar for my "sandbox" (only I don't call it that because I am the previous owner), so I hope you don't mind a few questions:



Step 1. What did the paint look like after the DACP/wool work? Did it do OK with the scratches? Were you left with hazing and swirls?



Step 2. How was your paint after the Intensive Polish. Did it get rid of the hazing easily? Was it hard to work with?



Step 3. This is the part that distinguishes your scheme from most that have been described here. By this time I'm guessing your paint looked super good, so why the Final Polish? It's described as having a low cutting level and no fillers, so you're probably not trying to hide anything with it. I have some Final Polish which I plan to use, my theory being that it will make the paint smoother, hence shinier, but will do nothing for any defects I might have left. Did you notice an improvement?



What PC settings did you use?



Would you do anything different if you had it to do over again?



Do you have enough strength left to reply?
 
Bruce,



After the DACP and the wool pad, the paint looked hazy, but felt smooth. I wiped the work area down with water/isopropyl after each pass to see my progress, and if any swirl marks stood out over the haze, I did the area again; that's why I did the hood 3x and the rest of the car 2x. Anything I could feel with my fingernail I disregarded as being beyond my expertise at this time.



The Intensive Polish got rid of the hazing with no trouble at all. I followed my pattern of cleaning and inspecting, to get the places I might've missed. At this point the car looked beautiful.



I will add here that I worked under two stands of 1200 watt "headlights".



The Final Polish absolutely brought up a level of smoothness and glossiness that was obvious. This was actually the step that floored me! Actually, the only sections that I did twice here were the ones that I couldn't inspect directly, like the lower parts of the doors and fenders, and the parts of the upper surfaces that, when looked at obliquely, I could see needed a bit extra work. For much of the car, once was enough; this is where I got the "red glass" look. Older red Miatas are not basecoat/clearcoat; the paint actually has the appearance of a highly polished milky red gemstone rather than the glassy look of clearcoat.



The PWCL I think I could have skipped, but it made me confident that I'd removed ALL the polishes.



And, Souv on red needs no further explication from me.



For almost all of the work I had the PC set just a hair under 4. For the DACP, closer to 3.5. On a couple problem areas, using the Intensive Polish I set it to btween 5 and 6.



This is my second total PC on this car; the first time through, I used "ScratchX" and Meg's High Gloss Polish. That gave me gloss, but entering the garage I could see all the scratches I'd left behind, and, in direct sunlight, the spidermarks. Mind you, everyone else thought it was drop-dead beautiful, but I knew that it wasn't! (Do you know that feeling?) Now... those marks are gone. I kilt 'em.



There are still some marks that will always be with me, familiar but annoying; but they are more like the battle scars of a daily driver rather than symbols of ignorance, carelessness, and neglect. For pure shine, I'm confident that this is as cool as this car has ever looked, including the day it was painted.



OK, now you're going to smack your forehead and groan.... Fillers? What are fillers...? If I didn't use fillers, then that means those marks are G-O-N-E GONE!



And that, I suppose, is the benefit of asking open ended questions rather than researching for specific solutions! Could I have done an even BETTER job if I'd've used a product with "fillers"?!



LOLOL, it never ends, does it?



I'm doing my Dad's Trailblazer today! Now THERE's a test of stamina, that thing is HUGE compared to my Miata. At least it's gray, and 5 years newer!



Mosca
 
Mosca,



Battle scars, yes. You have the right attitude. I'm striving for ruggedly handsome.



Your experience with the Final Polish is exactly what I am hoping for. I'm still experimenting with heavy stuff, trying to make some of the scarring more like, maybe, inoffensive birth marks. But the FP is what I am really eager to try.



Somehow I doubt that you are smacking your forehead and groaning. You are obviously aware that you could have easily used a coat of Vanilla Moose or GEPC or IHG just before the wax. And you still can, when you're ready for your next waxing. Here's a thought. Sometimes less is more, and I wonder if that stuff might actually detract from your FP shine.



A couple of things for you to ponder if your dad's Trailblazer is anything like the size of my Explorer: 1) The paint area is roughly 135 times larger than that of a Miata, and 2) tell your dad not to ignore the roof. You have to be around 6'6" to even see the roof, let alone wash it. Unattended bird poop can eat through the paint like you wouldn't believe, and you would be hard pressed to write it off as battle scars.
 
I know the IHG, but what is GEPC?



I truly was unaware that some products have fillers and others do not! I searched for specific knowledge about decreasing levels of abrasiveness, and noticed that people were happy with the Menzerna products. I read the advertising blurb in the Autopia Store and bought the stuff. I like the fact that it has no added scent, just a clean, industrial smell. And, ordering the kit with the pads simplified any possible confusion, AND, it came with super instructions, above and beyond what I'd consider basic. I did ask a specific question about the relative levels of abrasiveness among DACP, #9, MIP and MFP. I was going to apply #7, but it was just the way I wanted it after the MFP; I couldn't imagine the #7 improving on it.



The Trailblazer went well. I used NuFinish on it, because he's 75 years young and NOT a car care nut; the next time it gets done is when I tell him I'll do it. And, doing the Trailblazed disabused me of any notion of ever doing this professionally on the side; I'd DIE at the very first Suburban or Excursion!



Mosca
 
I know what you mean I have a 2500 quad cab 4X4. It is a chore to wash, clay, polish, and wax that sucker but well worth the effort.
 
GEPC is P21S Gloss-Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser. I've noticed lots of folks use it after polishing, just before applying carnauba. It's a mild polish (but is it abrasive? dunno), and maybe adds some oils to enhance gloss. I could be wrong about its filling/hiding properties. It must do something besides cleaning, because freshly polished paint is already clean.



Anyway, 3M Swirl Mark Remover and others, and many "glazes," fill in those scratches and defects that your polishing couldn't get rid of to make them less visible. Unlike you, I'm not sure they would do me any good because I need a long-term sealant such as Zaino or Klasse, and the fillers are probably long gone before the sealant process is finished.



It's hard for me to imagine that any of these products is going to improve on the job you did, but you can always experiment. It won't degrade the polishing you have already done.
 
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