Paint correction process

[VA929RR]

From my limited time here, I've gained tons of knowledge about my new to me Denali. Some go big on mods. Some on systems... My thing is paint... I HATE seeing a vehicle with thousands spent on mods meanwhile the paint looks like someone washed it with sandpaper..... So I'm going to try to pay back some for the help with a DIY on my correction process. I'll try to be as detailed as possible but will probably skip some common sense things.

I can't stress enough the need for good equipment... Nothing will deflate your confidence and results worse than using $1 microfiber towels from China or rushing... This is not a weekend project to do it right. I figure it will take a good 16 hours per quarter on this big ass truck. So you do the math. Good thing is, once it's done, take care of it and you'll be good till you sell it and get the next project. As will anything, they'll be maintenance....

I'll start with a pic of the truck and the "REAL" look of the paint. This is after it's been washed and blown dry... Looks great right??



Now really look at the paint... It looks like Charlotte's web after an all right party...

 

[VA929RR]

Yeah.. Those scratches are almost non existent looking from 5' away... But I assure you, they are nasty and are there.... So first step is to clay bar the hell out of the pass side rear qtr... I'll start the process now. I'm pretty sure I don't have to explain the clay bar process. It's pretty self explanatory... Just when you think you've got all the contamination off, do it again... You should be able to put a plastic bag on your hand and gently rub your hand across the paint. If it's smooth, you're done. If you still feel rough spots, you're not done.....

Now that I've got this started I'll update it about once a day when working on it...

Just so everyone knows what I'm using for the claying process.

2 60gram bars of clay.. The clay maker is irrelevant as all US clay is made by the same company and repackaged. Mothers quick detailer for the clay lube (any auto detail juice will do. Anything cheap is fine. I just had a shit ton of mothers laying around received as gifts) and a few *********** towels from The Rag Company for "clean up"..

For the actual correction process... I'll use a Porter Cable 7424XP and 5.5" orange and white hex logic pads.

The compounds I'll use are Meguiars m105 as a first step and Meguiars m205 as a 2nd step... Other than a final wax or sealer when I'm done, that all folks... I say that's all, but if it was that easy, we'd all do it....

I'll update as I go along. Before and after each step.

If there are questions, feel free to fire away........

 

[VA929RR]

In case there were any "thoughts" that clay baring your car would remove scratches, here's your proof it removes NON of them... And the paint "feels" smooth as glass after I clay'd it...

 

[DisplacedBuckeye]

I'm probably going to be tackling this on my next long weekend. The previous owner for my Denali took pretty good care of it, but it looks like they liked to use automatic car washes only.

 

[VA929RR]

The above paint condition is exactly what an auto car wash does......

 

[VA929RR]

The PC I'm using... Orange pad with M105

First few passes on M105


After last pass with M105...




Now on the the M205 on this small section..

I'm doing about a 2X2 section at a time..

 

[VA929RR]

205 and a White Hex Logic pad...

 

[VA929RR]

Just keep in mind, while the Orange pad and the 105 will remove scratches, it will create its own also. Hence the second pass with a less course white pad and a polishing compound like 205.

 

[VA929RR]

And a small section, completed.... Sigh... So much more to do.... [emoji17]



The way paint should look... Like you're looking into a mirror....

I'll finish the qtr and then seal it... Then get a beer and wish I would have done more.... Ha

 

[Goodinblack]

I use ultimate compound and ultimate polish from megs. Which is the consumer version of 105 205