used porter cable 7424xp and still have sun fade!!

[traksta15]

I used my pc 7424xp to polish my tonneau cover on my 03 silverado. I started out by washing with dawn to remove any previous waxes/grease, etc then used a meguiars claybar, then started with the pc.



My process with the pc was poor boys ssr2.5, started on speed 2 to work the polish in, then went to 3 then once I could see the polish "disappearing" I went to 4, then back down to 2 to finish it up. I worked in approx 18"x18" areas, then went to poorboys ssr1 using the same process. My tonneau cover is smooth as glass now, but it`s still faded. What do I need to do?

[kb2ehj]

Is this a plastic cover?



If it is. Get yourself some PB Trim Restore and treat it with that.

[traksta15]

no it`s fiberglass

[Scottwax]

You aren`t using nearly enough speed with the PC. Need to have it on 6 to polish. Use enough pressure to lightly bog the machine than let up just enough to bring the speed back up-use that amount of pressure when polishing. Move the pad at 1" or so per second with 50% overlapping passes.



The tonneau cover has a gel coat and Poorboy`s polishes aren`t really strong enough to work on it. Both Meguiars and Collinte make gel coat specific polishes that should work better.

[traksta15]

ok, so i need to wash it again with dawn to take everything off, then use the pc on 6? Do i need to start low then build up to 6? or just straight 6 the whole way?

[Scottwax]

ok, so i need to wash it again with dawn to take everything off, then use the pc on 6? Do i need to start low then build up to 6? or just straight 6 the whole way?



You don`t need to wash it with Dawn. Polishing is going to take everything off anyway. Start off on 5 to spread, up to 6 to work in.

[imported_paintxpert]

2003 Silver or gray? Does it need paint? Florida SUN? Fading is a big issue with grey and Silver. You also need a rotary polishing procedure done to actually rejuvenate the piece. FRICTION and knowledge are of PRIME importance here. Which products using the proper machine and pads are the BIG questions.

[traksta15]

2003 arrival blue, ill try it again tonight with the higher speeds. I have pics but I`m on my blackberry. Ill post them up inside the hour.

[wannafbody]

Is this a single stage paint or base coat/clear coat? If it`s clearcoated and faded no amount of polishing will restore it to the original look.

[traksta15]

im pretty sure it`s not single stage, the paint didnt come off when I was working on it.

[imported_JoshVette]

I`m thinking those covers aren`t painted to the highest standards and probably what you`re seeing is not "hazy" paint, it just looks dull cause it`s got a super lot of orange peel in it. Plus the fiber glass could be rougher under the paint thus causing the paint to look dull.



I`ve seen paint with such thick OP that it looks very dull. Only one remedy for that.



Josh

[LS1-MEX]

i would use m105 and the pc on 6 with a lc orange pad.....it make take a couple passes but it should bring it back to life......let us know how it goes

[traksta15]

before:



http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/traksta15/IMG_0552.jpg?t=1274060311

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/traksta15/IMG_0555.jpg?t=1274060328





after:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/traksta15/IMG_0225-1.jpg?t=1274060374

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/traksta15/IMG_0231-1.jpg?t=1274060405

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/traksta15/IMG_0231-1.jpg?t=1274060405

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g249/traksta15/IMG_0217-1.jpg?t=1274060501





But today when I woke up, it was back to where it was in the beginning, it just has a smooth as glass finish.



What should i do? It looked great last night!

[imported_JoshVette]

The paint is rough, those reflection shots are hazy cause the paint is physically rough (not flat like glass) the flatter the paint is the more clear the reflection will be.



The reason it looks so bad in the day light is due to more light hitting the roughness and refracting (light bouncing in many different direction) thus causing a hazy effect. In your garage at night there is very little light in play.



If the paint were physically flat the light would bounce in one direction giving a very clear and distinct reflection.



Josh

[traksta15]

that makes sense. I can`t get to it tonight, so it`ll probably be tomorrow.