|
|
|
|
|
I thought I'd share this since it's a retro car  The car was brought over to me to see how much of the colour could be restored without having to go for a full respray. The front wings and bonnet are being painted soon so these were left alone, polishing wise. Starters.     First up, the car was rinsed off and a soon to be released pre-wash liberally applied over the car.   This stage softens the dirt sitting on the vehicle and makes it easier to remove with a pressure washer - helping with the contact wash. While that was dwelling, the wheels, tyres and arches were cleaned. Embedded brake dust removed from the wheels too.  I then thoroughly cleaned all the window and door seals, as well as grills and tight spots with a selection of detailing brushes.  The car then received a two bucket method wash before being dried, tar removed, re-washed, dried and taken inside to be clayed.  There was some glue residue from an old sticker on the back. this was safely removed before claying.  Gone  I now had a good chance to have a look at the task in hand properly. As time was limited, colour restoration was the aim here, rather than full swirl removal. It's a track car  The front doors had been painted in the middle section at some point.   I masked off a section of the roof and trialed a few combos. The paint was very hard so chasing swirls would have taken too long. Something that removed the top layer of oxidation and finished well was what I needed.   Making a dent in it 3/4 of the roof done.  Moving onto the passenger side.   Drivers side.  A noticeable difference between the completed rear quarter and unpolished door.  Once the polishing stage was complete, the paint work was wiped down to remove oils and create a clean surface for the wax to bond to.    All the trims, rubbers and plastics were dressed to nourish and prevent them from perishing. Exhaust tips were polished. Glass cleaned, polished and rain repellent applied. The tyres were dressed and wheels sealed.  And complete.   I cleaned and waxed the engine bay too. It'd be rude not to show you...   And here's some before it was collected.      Thanks for reading  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proof that track cars don't have to look like curse word, great job
|
| |
|
|
Ray Singh
Posted a lot
More German exotica in my garage now
Posts: 1,984
|
|
|
|
|
Well done. That looks brand new plus some.
I am impressed.
|
| |
|
|
jonxs
Part of things
Posts: 650 
|
|
|
|
Another great job mate well done. That ramp place looks familiar, is it the one in Barton road Bletchley? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nice work. Valeter / detailer myself so I know the hours that have gone into that finish.
I'd like your opinion please, as I run a business I tend to use more mainstream products, Autoglym, Meguiars, a lot of trade products bought bulk through my supplier for tar and glue remover etc. I notice you're packing some nice products there, how different are they from the lesser product lines or are they basically the same but smell nice and come in a funky tin? I do use a few Surf City Garage products imported from the US, in particular a quick detailer with carnauba wax in it, it's a good top up between full waxes. Expensive, but a great product.
Anyhoo, here's a recent bit of my work below. Swirl reduction and removal of surface contaminants. Looking to grow the detailing business, better paid but more to the point more interesting and more satisfying, especially when you have smiley customers pleased with their shiny cars.
Adrian
|
| |
|
|
|
|
fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
|
|
|
|
|
Great work, Looks as new.
Well, better than new
|
| |
'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks everyone it was a challenge for a small car, having several different paint types. But it was worth it in the end. Jon - that's the place. It gives me a much better environment to work on the cars. Nice work. Valeter / detailer myself so I know the hours that have gone into that finish. I'd like your opinion please, as I run a business I tend to use more mainstream products, Autoglym, Meguiars, a lot of trade products bought bulk through my supplier for tar and glue remover etc. I notice you're packing some nice products there, how different are they from the lesser product lines or are they basically the same but smell nice and come in a funky tin? I do use a few Surf City Garage products imported from the US, in particular a quick detailer with carnauba wax in it, it's a good top up between full waxes. Expensive, but a great product. Anyhoo, here's a recent bit of my work below. Swirl reduction and removal of surface contaminants. Looking to grow the detailing business, better paid but more to the point more interesting and more satisfying, especially when you have smiley customers pleased with their shiny cars. Adrian Thanks Adrian. You're right about the amount of hours that go into these jobs. Unfortunately I only had one day to work on this one. 10 hours in total, without machine work on the front wings and bonnet. Autoglym and Meg's make some very good products. But it'll depend on whether you use the trade lines or retail line bits. Price wise. For paint enhancement or correction, you will have your work cut out using off the shelf products and pads as there's no easy combos for any two cars. The lexis looks like it has come up very well. What was your process on it? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
That looks wonderful... What a top job!
|
| |
***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I only had 6 hours on the Lexus, had to squeeze it in between a morning school run and the owner's wife picking up hubby after work. To speed things up the car was already pretty good, the chap keeps it clean.
Process was...
* Light spray with a weak TFR solution to loosen the dirt
* pressure washed
* hand washed
* tar and glue remover to remove road residue
* clay bar (I use a Faraclar clay mit and Meguiars detailing spray)
* machine polish - I use a Faraclar scratch removal compound that breaks to a fine polish as you work it and a foam waffle plate.
I tend to start offside front and work clockwise round the car, funny how you develop these little rituals but they work. I also work a small patch at a time and don't move on until I'm happy with it.
* Wash again, in fact washed twice because I found some little specks of cutting paste residue hiding in the gaps.
* Dry
* Wax - I used trade grade Pink polish, the wax that puts the shine into a thousand forecourts. I can hear you gasping already!
Other than that dressed the tyres and windows wiped over with Autoglym glass cleaner.
As always could have used more time, the swirls were just visible still, however the customer was well happy.
The thing with detailing is that there's always new things to learn, if you really start getting into it the amount of stuff out there is mind boggling, so it's always good to swap notes with what others are doing.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good job on that golf, bringing that red back from the brink can be a bit of a task! Have you got any to tips for removing that lichen type stuff that grows on ageing rubber trims!
Retroade,I know the pink polish you mean, I bought a big can a few years ago and it's still going strong, it might not have a fancy rep, but it's good stuff.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good job on that golf, bringing that red back from the brink can be a bit of a task! Have you got any to tips for removing that lichen type stuff that grows on ageing rubber trims! Retroade,I know the pink polish you mean, I bought a big can a few years ago and it's still going strong, it might not have a fancy rep, but it's good stuff. That lichen comes off fairly easily, get a decent pressure washer and chase it out. Always cleaning it off cars, makes a decent car look manky. Then finish up with a plastic / trim gel. Buy a good one and it will rehydrate the material, plastics fade because they've gone dry and a good gel will feed oils back into the material, much like feeding leather. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good work gents. Especially like the Golf.
|
| |
Jaguar S-Type 3.0 SE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cheers retroade, I'll give it a shot.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good job on that golf, bringing that red back from the brink can be a bit of a task! Have you got any to tips for removing that lichen type stuff that grows on ageing rubber trims! Retroade,I know the pink polish you mean, I bought a big can a few years ago and it's still going strong, it might not have a fancy rep, but it's good stuff. That lichen comes off fairly easily, get a decent pressure washer and chase it out. Always cleaning it off cars, makes a decent car look manky. Then finish up with a plastic / trim gel. Buy a good one and it will rehydrate the material, plastics fade because they've gone dry and a good gel will feed oils back into the material, much like feeding leather. I find it better to get into the rubbers with an all purpose cleaner and brushes. A decent cleaner should kill it off so it won't grown back. And as retroade said, a good product to nourish and stop the rubbers from perishing. |
| |
|
|
