2007 Black Corvette - Complete Paint Correction

[David Fermani]

This past weekend I had the opportunity to work on this 2007 black Corvette. The vehicle was dropped off at my house late afternoon Friday and the owner allowed me all weekend to make sure the vehicle was brought back to better than new condition. This client recently had this vehicle “professionally� detailed at one of S. Florida’s premier Car Washes and their “technician� created extensive clear coat marring. This marring was initiated from their failed attempt to gently buff the surface with a cutting wool pad coupled by piss-poor technique & silicone fortified compounds and glazes. After installing deep buffer gouges throughout the entire vehicle, the shop covered up their mess with a healthy portion of silicone based LSP. Late Friday night, my 1st concern was to thoroughly

remove/decontaminate/cleanse the finish of all possible waxes, dirt & silicone so that the correction process could be performed without any hiccups. I knew as soon as I took my garden hose to the hood that the already dulled finish was coated with a healthy portion of LSP. The water was beading like it was just freshly waxed.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black008.jpg



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After power washing the exterior to loosen any and all loose dirt & grit, I proceeded to presoak each section with a strong mix of Auto Magic (AM) Red Hot degreaser and hand washed the surface with Dawn soap.



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After rinsing, the water on the surface was laying flat and there was little to no beading. After rinsing the exterior and engine compartment, I clayed all the painted exterior surfaces with AM blue Clay Magic & AM Body Shine lubricant. After drying the finish with terry cotton towels, I 4000 grit sanded the surface using Lacquer Thinner as my gliding lubricant. Because the finish was contaminant free by this time, the 4000 grit sandpaper barely induced any further marring into the finish. This process finally insured that there would not be anything on the surface that would interfere with the buffing process to follow.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black061.jpg



Here’s what the buffer pad damaged finish looked like under Halogens at night:



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Here’s what it looked like in daylight. The finish was so marred up, that it gave off the illusion of having metallic paint!



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black038.jpg



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After taping off all critical areas where my buffer pad could inflict marring/burning, I started off leveling the finish down with Meguire’s 105 compound with a fresh Lake Country Purple Foamed-Wool (PFW) pad. This product instantly cleared out any and all micro marring and left the finish with a nice glossy finish under 500 watt halogens. After working the my 1st pass for about 20-25 seconds, I laid down another bead of product and refined the compound induced marring by buffing for 10-15 seconds and then wiping the buffed section.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black053.jpg



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I propped the hood & trunk open with stacks of towels so that I could safely buff each panel edge without fear of burning:



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black071.jpg

[David Fermani]

Test Panel:



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black055.jpg



Here’s how it looks after 105 via PFW:



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black062.jpg



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black065.jpg



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http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black068.jpg



After buffing the entire car, I then high pressure washed it again to remove any and all compounding dust and residue.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black078.jpg



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After experimenting with several Menzerna polishes and pads densities, I decided on going with Super Intensive Polish (SIP) with LC white CCS foam pad as my middle stage treatment. This step by itself refined the gloss and removed all micro marring that the 105 installed in the finish. After final micro fiber wipe down, I finalized the buffing process with 3M Perfect-It 3000 Ultrafina SE (swirl eliminator) with a LC blue CCS foam pad. This final step insured that the finish would be “buffer trail� free and in addition would even out the dynamics of the gloss.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black077.jpg



After glazing over the finish, I then re-washed the vehicle again. This time with Meguiar’s 00 Hi-Tech car wash soap. I prefer using this product right before applying a paint sealant because it does a great job of gently cleaning the surface of all lubricating oils and doesn’t contain any protectants that would interfere with most sealant’s bonding/cross-linking properties.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black083.jpg



Here’s some late evening sun shots right before sealing:



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black084.jpg



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Toward the end of this 12 hour paint correction, I applied 2 thin coats of 1Z Einszett Glanz Wax “Hart Glanz� sealant by hand. I called it quits for the day and in turn this allowed for this sealant to fully cure overnight. The next morning I applied 2 light coats of Zymol Carbon and was completely impressed with how black, deep and shiny the finish appeared in day light.



1Z/Zymol stacker:



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black154.jpg



Interior received a very quick wipe down/vacuum and all the inner/outer weather-stripping seals were coated with 1Z Gummi Pfledge. The roof panel was removed so to gain access to clean/protect inner seals.



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Engine just was rinsed and wiped down.



http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black116.jpg



Unfortunately, there was hit & miss cloud patches (see clouds in reflections) and full sun shots per were “prime pickins�.



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[Evenflow]

Amazing write up and before and afters. That car was REALLY hacked up. Nice correction :waxing:

[BigJimZ28]

looks great

one question ........ why is you kid playing with your wool pad?

[Kyny]

Hi, David

Amazing Work like always.



Elkin

Zymol :xyxthumbs

[somebody]

wow good turn around I can`t believe some of those "professional" detail places that just swirl the paint even worse then it was to begin with. That black looked very deep in the final pictures. Also how did you like the 3M product, has it easy to buff off?



-Brandon

[ajnavo61490]

nice work, man

[imported_gators241987]

I dont comment here often, but great job. You did an awesome job. I have yet to use the 1Z glanz wax, any other sealant its comparable to?

[imported_shine]

Great job. It`s a shame what those "professionals" can do, but it keeps you in business. :goodjob

[joyriiide1113]

I dont comment here often, but great job. You did an awesome job. I have yet to use the 1Z glanz wax, any other sealant its comparable to?



Good job David. Seeing you buff in person, I have no doubt the finish was spectacular.

[dmw2692004]

great correction! sounded like the car wash "technician" really knew what he was talking about ...not.

[Legacy]

Terrific turn around, excellent write up and photos.

[DW849]

This is a great shot: http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll128/protecht561/2007Corvette-Black133.jpg



By the way, why do you use laquer thinner for wetsanding? I`ve used carwash soap before just never heard of using laquer thinner.

[Thomas Dekany]

Great work David!!!

[imported_rydawg]

Great work David and great write up!