I have wet sanded 1000, 1500, 2000. Ready to buff using Eastwood rotary buffer and a foam pad. I have picked up Maguire medium and fine cut cleaners. I didn't get the heavy cut stuff for fear of overdoing things. Any tips and tricks appreciated. I have youtubed a lot and have some idea....but appreciate any wisdom shared. I also have Maguire swirl remover from a previous job. For polishing. Wish me luck....
Spray bottle. Water is your friend. Wet is good. Careful on high spots, stamped edges. Stuff like that. Good luck!
I guess the big question is how do I know when I've buffed enough? Just from the level of shine? Is it better to hit everything once then evaluate, or go section by section?
With 2000 grit it's going to shine up pretty quickly , that doesn't mean it's buffed tho, a light color is especially deceiving, you want to buff under florescent lights, get down and rock your head using the light to look for scratches when they gone move on, work an area size of a shoebox at a time
I can use the cutting juice to smooth things out where needed correct? Then polish to get the deep shine?
The compound is only going to pull the scratches out, it's not going to do any leveling, but yes your "shine" is done with the Polish You could safely make 10 to 15 passes over a shoebox size area without checking it, and will probably be pretty well buffed should take about 2sec each pass buffer on like 3 or 4 speed setting
I've gone around the entire surface with medium cutter a foam pad at 1500rpm. It shines up a bit although it looks a little hazy. I tried a 1ft square of swirl remover applied by hand, and it appears as a window in the haze. Under just the right lights in the garage this morning I saw every defect, drip, run, pit, pock, fly and rock in the clear. Almost had a heart attack. However, I took the car outside for a wash n rinse, and in full sunlight the car is gorgeous. So much improved from before all the work. There are spots I will sand and buff a little more and the gloss brings them out. Then i think maybe i will go over the car once with the fine cutter, then the swirl remover.
I see what you mean about the fluorescent lights. They really do illuminate all the scratches from sanding. thanks for the tip.
I got the car put back together today. Quick oil change and its back on the road! I learned a lot on this job. It was frustrating to feel like I knew nothing. You can watch a million videos and talk people up til you think youre an expert but doing it is the only way to learn a skill like this. Ive gained a lot of respect for the amount of effort bodymen put into their work, and for professional results. Funny thing: I re-cleared my mirror again yesterday because it got dropped. With all Ive learned from doing and redoing the car, The clear laid on there like glass. I had to laugh. My next car will be great. Not that I'm not happy with this one. I got the result I was going for, aafter a lot of work and perseverance. There are still visible sanding scratches in the right light. There is still light oem style orangepeel. But the car looks great. I can chase after the little things at my leisure now that the "big" is done. I do notice that the paint, while very shiny, has lost a little of its "depth" compared to when freshly cleared. Is this just a matter of more buffing and or polishing? It is not at all hazy. Its just doesnt look fathoms underwater like it did before sanding and buffing. To the track!
I bit the bullet today, started wet sanding clearcoat. 1st victim, the trunklid. 1000, 1500, then 2000. Gonna do it once more with 2000, then the HF 10amp variable speed sander/polisher is going to make an appearance. I picked up supplies, and am ready to give it a spin.... I'll start on the left with the Ultra-Cut Compound with a wool pad , then Fine Cut Cleaner with a foam pad , followed up by the Ultra Finishing Polish and a foam pad. I'll try and sand out a body panel a day after work ,maybe save the cut n buff for the weekends. Wish me luck.....Jim/Rott
Work an area the size of a shoe box at a time tilt your head and check your progress as you go, white is deceiving, work each area for 2min before checking it. Your axles are boxed and ready BTW
Awsum, need to get the Lark mobile again so I can get my snowblower in the garage and be ready for the first snow. Sent ya a PM regarding payment. I have 4 coats of clearcoat on , then a sanding with 800grit, followed by another 3 coats, so I have some product to work with . I'm going to concentrate on trunklid ,doors, then body itself so I can start assembly . Your advice/insight is always appreciated Ethan. Jim/Rott
