gmblack3
07-20-2007, 06:53 PM
This vette was in pretty good shape, the client wanted an exterior only one step polish.
Before pic:
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/562/img5296ui6.jpg
Bret started by rinsing the car off. Then Bret broke out the foam gun and used Zaino Z7 with it.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j15/gmblack3/th_eb798da2.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j15/gmblack3/?action=view¤t=eb798da2.flv)
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2926/img5302ky4.jpg
Bret then rinsed off the Z7 foam and we did a 2 bucket wash with Z7 and a 100% cotton chenille wash mitt. Wheels where cleaned last with a older mitt and the wheel barrels where cleaned with a long brush. The tires and wells where sprayed down with AM 777 APC and scrubbed with different brushes.
Then it was time to clean the fabric top. Bret used Raggtopp cleaner and the solid side of the new Ulti-mitt:
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2101/img5303mf9.jpg
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3011/img5305tt6.jpg
As you can see the Ulti-mitt worked perfect for this application, it provided a excellent combination of effective and gentle cleaning for the fabric top. The top was given a good rinse to ensure all the soap was removed.
Bret then did a nice slow trickle of water from the hose on all the paint which was followed with a gentle WW wipedown to remove any excess water on the surface.
We had another car to wash, so this vette was left out in the sun so the top would dry completely before we applied the Raggtopp fabric top protectant. We returned about an hour later, covered the glass and painted areas from over spray with some cotton towels. Bret applied the raggtopp protectant in one direction waited 10 mins for it to dry and then applied it in the other direction. That way he insured that the top would have adequate protection.
While the car sat in the sun we inspected the paint for defects:
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3804/img5306zz0.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/707/img5307qv0.jpg
We then moved the car inside and inspected the surface for contamination. It did not appear to be that bad, but we decided to clay the car anyway. We used Z-18 claybar and Z6 as a lube. As we expected the amount of bonded contamination was very low. Bret had did most of the rear decklid and this is what the claybar looked like:
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4232/img5309wd3.jpg
We wiped all of the Z6 off with a damp WW and followed with a dry one.
So it was time to start polishing. As this was going to be a 1-step polish there would be no wool on this car. So it was either going to be SIP with a orange CCS pad or 106ff with a white CCS pad. I installed a orange CCS pad on the metabo and gave SIP a spin. Just like Ryan and Todd say, very little of SIP is needed. I found about half of most other polished to work right.
I tried a few different methods, the first being to start at 600-800 and work SIP for 4 passes till it starts to turn clear, then bump it up to 1500-1600 to finish. Everything went smooth with this method. A few of the deeper scratches where not going to come out with SIP, but I did give it a second go. This time I started at 800 for a pass or two then cranked it up to 1600 for the remainder of the passes. The few deeper scratches still remained, but the surface had a nice gloss to it.
Bret had a go at his side of the rear deck lid. He first tried a yellow megs pad with 106ff which always brings out a nice gloss. He then switched to a white CCS pad as this is what we would both use w/ 106ff.
We then backed the car outside and prayed that it would not rain. Clouds where moving by very quick and we finally got a min to inspected for holograms and see what kind of results we where getting from SIP and 106ff.
This side got SIP x2 with a orange CCS pad:
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6428/img5311yh1.jpg
This side got 106ff with a yellow megs pad, then a white CCS pad.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9452/img5312ty4.jpg
The sun was not fully out in either pic and that was about the best we where going to get with pics in the sun. When the sun was out a bit more we where more concerned with hologram evualation.
So we decided to go with 106ff and a white CCS pad for this 1-step polishing process.
We also worked on a few defects. Bret wetsanded this scuff/gouge near the rear deck lid:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/8905/img5322tp3.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7441/img5323qo1.jpg
He was able to reduce it by half by using the 1500 paper. The defect was too close to the edge to risk more work. So it would have to do.
Some dumbashe (me) forgot to get an after pic of the area. :grrr
I worked on this scratch located near the driver door handle:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/7901/img5299zi2.jpg
Another defect located near the edge of two panels. I taped over both edges and use the green wool pad with presta 1500 polish. I made a few passes and let the area cool down, after repeating this process 3 times, we had a good reduction in the scratch:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/4222/img5321pf7.jpg
I moved the tape to the other side and did the same to the other panel. Again someone forgot to get a good after pic of the area. :o
Here is the method I used for cleaning up the area right below the door handle:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9060/img5318ec9.jpg
That is a edge 6" wave dual sided pad. I used some presta 1500 and worked the area 2-3 times by hand. The results are not perfect, but at least 70% of the defects are removed:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7960/img5319kg8.jpg
This is what the paint looked like after 106ff polishing:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/3903/img5313tj5.jpg
So after the polishing was complete we wanted an excellent base for Z5pro. So we went over the car with ZAIO and a green P2 pad both of use using the metabos.
Applied 2x of Z5pro with ZFX.
Applied 1x of Z2pro with ZFX.
Applied CS.
Applied Z8 1 hour later.
ZAIO applied to the wheels and glass.
Megs metal polish for the tips.
Final pics:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1807/img5329yt7.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9369/img5339ca8.jpg
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/5306/img5342li4.jpg
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/8483/img5330ar5.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5786/img5340uq7.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5124/img5325dc0.jpg
Before pic:
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/562/img5296ui6.jpg
Bret started by rinsing the car off. Then Bret broke out the foam gun and used Zaino Z7 with it.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j15/gmblack3/th_eb798da2.jpg (http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j15/gmblack3/?action=view¤t=eb798da2.flv)
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2926/img5302ky4.jpg
Bret then rinsed off the Z7 foam and we did a 2 bucket wash with Z7 and a 100% cotton chenille wash mitt. Wheels where cleaned last with a older mitt and the wheel barrels where cleaned with a long brush. The tires and wells where sprayed down with AM 777 APC and scrubbed with different brushes.
Then it was time to clean the fabric top. Bret used Raggtopp cleaner and the solid side of the new Ulti-mitt:
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/2101/img5303mf9.jpg
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3011/img5305tt6.jpg
As you can see the Ulti-mitt worked perfect for this application, it provided a excellent combination of effective and gentle cleaning for the fabric top. The top was given a good rinse to ensure all the soap was removed.
Bret then did a nice slow trickle of water from the hose on all the paint which was followed with a gentle WW wipedown to remove any excess water on the surface.
We had another car to wash, so this vette was left out in the sun so the top would dry completely before we applied the Raggtopp fabric top protectant. We returned about an hour later, covered the glass and painted areas from over spray with some cotton towels. Bret applied the raggtopp protectant in one direction waited 10 mins for it to dry and then applied it in the other direction. That way he insured that the top would have adequate protection.
While the car sat in the sun we inspected the paint for defects:
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3804/img5306zz0.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/707/img5307qv0.jpg
We then moved the car inside and inspected the surface for contamination. It did not appear to be that bad, but we decided to clay the car anyway. We used Z-18 claybar and Z6 as a lube. As we expected the amount of bonded contamination was very low. Bret had did most of the rear decklid and this is what the claybar looked like:
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4232/img5309wd3.jpg
We wiped all of the Z6 off with a damp WW and followed with a dry one.
So it was time to start polishing. As this was going to be a 1-step polish there would be no wool on this car. So it was either going to be SIP with a orange CCS pad or 106ff with a white CCS pad. I installed a orange CCS pad on the metabo and gave SIP a spin. Just like Ryan and Todd say, very little of SIP is needed. I found about half of most other polished to work right.
I tried a few different methods, the first being to start at 600-800 and work SIP for 4 passes till it starts to turn clear, then bump it up to 1500-1600 to finish. Everything went smooth with this method. A few of the deeper scratches where not going to come out with SIP, but I did give it a second go. This time I started at 800 for a pass or two then cranked it up to 1600 for the remainder of the passes. The few deeper scratches still remained, but the surface had a nice gloss to it.
Bret had a go at his side of the rear deck lid. He first tried a yellow megs pad with 106ff which always brings out a nice gloss. He then switched to a white CCS pad as this is what we would both use w/ 106ff.
We then backed the car outside and prayed that it would not rain. Clouds where moving by very quick and we finally got a min to inspected for holograms and see what kind of results we where getting from SIP and 106ff.
This side got SIP x2 with a orange CCS pad:
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6428/img5311yh1.jpg
This side got 106ff with a yellow megs pad, then a white CCS pad.
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9452/img5312ty4.jpg
The sun was not fully out in either pic and that was about the best we where going to get with pics in the sun. When the sun was out a bit more we where more concerned with hologram evualation.
So we decided to go with 106ff and a white CCS pad for this 1-step polishing process.
We also worked on a few defects. Bret wetsanded this scuff/gouge near the rear deck lid:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/8905/img5322tp3.jpg
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7441/img5323qo1.jpg
He was able to reduce it by half by using the 1500 paper. The defect was too close to the edge to risk more work. So it would have to do.
Some dumbashe (me) forgot to get an after pic of the area. :grrr
I worked on this scratch located near the driver door handle:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/7901/img5299zi2.jpg
Another defect located near the edge of two panels. I taped over both edges and use the green wool pad with presta 1500 polish. I made a few passes and let the area cool down, after repeating this process 3 times, we had a good reduction in the scratch:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/4222/img5321pf7.jpg
I moved the tape to the other side and did the same to the other panel. Again someone forgot to get a good after pic of the area. :o
Here is the method I used for cleaning up the area right below the door handle:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9060/img5318ec9.jpg
That is a edge 6" wave dual sided pad. I used some presta 1500 and worked the area 2-3 times by hand. The results are not perfect, but at least 70% of the defects are removed:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7960/img5319kg8.jpg
This is what the paint looked like after 106ff polishing:
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/3903/img5313tj5.jpg
So after the polishing was complete we wanted an excellent base for Z5pro. So we went over the car with ZAIO and a green P2 pad both of use using the metabos.
Applied 2x of Z5pro with ZFX.
Applied 1x of Z2pro with ZFX.
Applied CS.
Applied Z8 1 hour later.
ZAIO applied to the wheels and glass.
Megs metal polish for the tips.
Final pics:
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1807/img5329yt7.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/9369/img5339ca8.jpg
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/5306/img5342li4.jpg
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/8483/img5330ar5.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5786/img5340uq7.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5124/img5325dc0.jpg