imported_TLMitchell
New member
Cover all the bases.. just buy one of everything and get it over with! (you're welcome, Jack)
Bill got great results with a DA and finishing polish on that truck. Then again, Bill gets great results on everything due to his level of experience. A beginner starting out is liable to get as many recommendations as there are respondents... everyone has their own preferences of tools, materials and techniques.
You'd do well to immerse yourself in the myriad detailing Forums online and see as many methods as possible then boil things down and decide for yourself how hog-wild you want to go. One can quickly find themselves with thousands of dollars invested in tools, supplies and chemicals if you're not careful. Don't ask how I know this. :doh:
On an '81 I'm guessing you may be dealing with single-stage paint. If so this would be a good thing as SS can be one of the most rewarding restorations. Once you abrade a thin layer of oxidation and dead paint off you're left with shiney new paint that's never been exposed to the world. :thumbup:
To determine whether you're dealing with SS or base coat/clear coat apply any run-of-the-mill polish or cleaner wax to an inconspicuous spot and give it a rub. If you have light green color on your applicator and are rewarded with a shiney spot you have single stage paint and you just removed some of it.
Mike Phillips did an extensive article on restoration of vintage single stage paint by hand using Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze, a non-abrasive pure polish. Posting links to other sites is generally frowned upon but you can search it out on Meguiar's Online or Autogeek Online. It will be worth the effort. Take a look at all the threads with newbies asking for advice and you'll quickly see some common threads and recommendations then you can decide for yourself how deep you want to get into the project and at what cost. Sorting through every bit of advice and recommendation can become utterly confusing to the unitiated.
TL <---utterly confused