How can i tell if my paints "dead"?

taco502001 · 10-24-09, 01:12

I just had it taken to a professional detailer and they did not even wash car before they took buffer to it and are trying to say my paint is dead and that there is not much they can do with it. Mind you it is 38 yrs old original lacquer paint but they said they could not use any other pad but extremely fine with a turbo cut polish as it takes paint off. No crap its lacquer paint there is no clear coat.

Anyways how can i tell if my paint really is dead, and if not what can i do myself to correct this?

efnfast · 10-24-09, 01:38

What do you mean by dead? Paint peeling, or is it just heavily oxidized?

If it's almost 40yrs old though, I dunno, may be time for a re-paint; I think it's served you well to last this long. ..... I suppose worst case is you treat it like any single stage and polish it as you normally would and if it comes out great, great, if not, re-paint.

Setec Astronomy · 10-24-09, 02:02

Being a "professional detailer" doesn't mean much around these parts. I hope the paint being "dead" isn't a result of their work. How about a little more info (what kind of car, storage conditions, etc.), and some pictures. 38 years makes it a '71 (or repainted then)...been a few 60's cars here brought back from the dead.

Turbocress · 10-24-09, 02:08

sounds like he hasnt worked with single stage before... tried to polish out a section, found the color on his pad, and assume you have no clear coat left.... try to explain to him about that, but if this guy didnt bother washing an area before doing the test spot, you should take it somewhere else.... try to locate a detailer on the boards here, im sure someone near you could at least do a test spot and tell you wether or not it needs a repaint for a very cheap price

Atlantic Euro · 10-24-09, 05:02

Post some pix. I've seen very old paint where the primer has literally begun to shrivel and crack, or deteriorated to the point where the paint is essentially oxidizing from the inside out.

That said, tired single stage paint can come back a long way:
(believe it or not, this is after washing...)

taco502001 · 10-24-09, 05:14

sorry they are not really good photos car is 71 dodge demon curious yellow with 47k original miles. Paint was heavily oxidized by sitting in the sun for last month in and a half because I had no storage, but like you said he got worried as soon as his pad turned yellow and did no aggressive polishing, and tried to say something about black trailing but I did not see it.

Hey, Moe! · 10-24-09, 05:31

They didn't wash it before taking a buffer to it? What? No claying after washing?

That is one huge red flag.

I'm sure that other detailers who hang out here can point you in the right direction.

I like the car. It takes me back to high school.

Turbocress · 10-24-09, 05:54

ok, well heres something to think about. that car has a single stage paint, even a light polish is going to put color on a pad, the guy doesnt know what hes doing, use someone else.

that paint looks like its in decent condition though, doesnt look like there are any areas that look like they are severely worn out or couldnt be brought back. sometimes paint can LOOK like its done for, but its really just a small amount of the top layer that has oxidized over from poor maintenance.

and that "black trailing" im willing to put money on it that it was the dirt he didnt think he saw on the surface after just trying to polish dirty paint.

if this helps, look at this picture, your car might be able to be restored as long as the right person does it, but its hard to tell you 100% without seeing it in person and doing a couple spots on it, but it doesnt look horrible

check out some of the ressurrection threads in the before and after and you can get an idea of it

unleashedfury · 10-25-09, 01:46

From what I seen in your pic's It dosen't look "that bad" and could possibly be ressurected.

It will be time consuming but if you really want it to bling. It will be worth it in the end.

I can't believe the "professional detailer" took a pad to a unwashed car. Knowing that is it single stage paint though your not going to want something too agressive.

Accumulator · 10-25-09, 08:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by taco502001

sorry they are not really good photos car is 71 dodge demon curious yellow with 47k original miles...

Wooh-hooh, cool old MOPAR you got there

Don't let morons work on your car...PLEASE...it's much too nice for that.

SS can be brought back right up to the point where you run out of paint and hit primer. Yeah, checking/cracking is another problem (and one that can't be fixed without repainting), but it's something that can almost always just be lived with if/when originality means more than cosmetic perfection.

PLEASE don't repaint it. Even if it's an old repaint instead of original paint it's better with that than with some checkbook-restoration-paintjob like most such cars have these days. Single stage rules on older cars.

You sure it's lacquer? IIRC MOPARS of that era (my family and I had 'em from '66 until the early '80s) were enamel

Anyhow...

There are some good threads on how to resurrect ss paint. I'd absolutely use a Meguiar's-centric approach and the short answer here is "talk to Mike Phillips. Seriously. From pre-treatment with M07 to when/why to switch between M205 and M80, he can guide you in the right direction. And, heh heh, it'd mean a lot less typing for me

If he doesn't see this thread, you might contact him via PM or at AutoGeek.

The black hood will take a little special care to do right. I never let mine get all that bad and if it's really oxidized you need to be careful you don't end up making it look weird by polishing it incorrectly (ask Mike, he'll know what I mean).

Really, you can bring that thing back no matter how bad it is, assuming it's not showing primer break-throughs everywhere, and even then I'd rather work with the paint that's on it than repaint...repainted old cars are a time-a-dozen IMO but those with older paint have character.

If, for some reason Mike can't help with this, post back; I don't want you to think I'm blowing you off, but he has more experience with bringing paint like that back from the dead.

bufferbarry · 10-25-09, 09:26

Bring that car to me. I'll show what it should look like. Find an excellant polisher and pay to have it done right. That is a mighty fine machine you have there. Good luck. And no your paint isn't dead.

MuttGrunt · 10-25-09, 09:30

Taco, I'd be glad to help you out with this. Where in Michigan are you located? If nothing else I can come on out and give you an estimate and chat a little bit.
-Marc