A black G35 illustrates the importance of proper washing.
- Thread starter imported_Picus
- Start date
jimvegas00
New member
Very, very nice turnaround. :drool:
imported_Picus
New member
strauss said:
The camera is a Canon 300D (rebel) with a 17-35mm lens + some off camera flash (the off camera flash is why the garage pics come out). Settings are all auto since I don't know any better. My wife is a pro photographer, so I get to steal some of her gear when i take pics of cars. I just wish I knew what all those manual settings were!
Cheers guys.
klnyc
Deep scratch guy.
Excel Job my man. Knowning black car, did you wash outside and dry inside in garage?
104deg it insane, we going getting 110deg this afternoon
104deg it insane, we going getting 110deg this afternoon
imported_Picus
New member
klnyc said:Excel Job my man. Knowning black car, did you wash outside and dry inside in garage?
104deg it insane, we going getting 110deg this afternoon
Ah, I lucked out on that part. The owner knew that we were on a timeframe so it was washed before arriving. I used spray & wipe to wipe it down then went right to clay. The clay did very little; being only a year old it didn't have much rail dust/tar etc on it... just bad scratches.
I wasn't going to do anything outside that day, too hot!
Thomas Dekany
New member
Excellent work.
I hate infinity's black paint.
I hate infinity's black paint.
Ben Kenobi
I hear the '55s are in
You did a beautiful job, maybe with different products you could get the polishing steps down. It's hard to believe that the paint was only a year old. It sounds like Nissan needs to improve on their paint. Maybe this is why they are going to their "self healing" paint, lol.
One thing... for the life of me I don't understand why you use PB's NL on exterior trim. :nixweiss
One thing... for the life of me I don't understand why you use PB's NL on exterior trim. :nixweiss
imported_Picus
New member
Ben Kenobi said:
Thanks.
Which different products do you mean? I tried to keep the steps down but no luck on this one. Normally I'm good at minimizing the steps needed, especially on black G35s (we have a long relationship!), but I think my first two steps were just so aggressive to remove all the marring it just made for more steps to bring the paint back smooth.
And ya, no more "local wash place" for him... I couldn't believe it was an '05 either.
You don't like NL on exterior trim? I use it all the time and really like it. Goes on without streaking, gives a nice black matte look, lasts awhile... I've tried a ton of exterior trim dressings and always seem to come back to it or Z16. What's your preference?
(edit - I just checked poorboys site and I see they list it as an interior dressing. I never realized that hah! Since it says tires on it I figured it was good for exterior. In any event, I am going to keep using it on exterior since it works...
)
Ben Kenobi
I hear the '55s are in
My my you're quick! I was thinking in regards to polishing. I won't comment on Infiniti black paint as you're the expert. I will talk to a detailer we both know and see if he can recommend anything that may help you out. I've read of poor results with NL on trim. Since PB's says it is for interior (but then contradicts lower on the web page) I just use it there and love it. Besides with it being as much as it is I don't want to waste it.
As for my fav's I'd say Vroom Protectant, PB's TR, TW Platinum dressing. I use a bunch of different tire dressings, Vroom, Mother's FX, Meg's Hot Shine, TW, and for my personal use Mother's Reflections. Like you I like the deep matte look.
As for my fav's I'd say Vroom Protectant, PB's TR, TW Platinum dressing. I use a bunch of different tire dressings, Vroom, Mother's FX, Meg's Hot Shine, TW, and for my personal use Mother's Reflections. Like you I like the deep matte look.
imported_Picus
New member
Ben Kenobi said:
Cool. Normally with black Infiniti paint in moderate-poor shape I can go PG/orange @1500, FPII/white @1200 then either LSP or finish with FPII/white via PC. This is the first one I've had 4 real polishing steps on; the additional one (which was the IP/orange via PC) was because I still had a ton of haze after OHC. I could have gone FPII/white on the rotary but I think I would have ended up doing FPII/white via PC anyway. But ya, I'm always up for recommendations.
Thanks for the tips on exterior dressings. I have a gallon of NL so I am not short on it and have had really good luck with it (which is why I use it). I use it on the interior too of course. I've been meaning to try the TW Platinum and Mothers Reflections so maybe those will be on my next purchase.
Picus, I'm in agreement in that the Infinit paint is difficult. Jay (a new member of autopia) just bought one (black too), but before he could bring it home the stealership "prepped" it for him (3 times) and put a few really deep swirls in it; Sullybob (Autopian) was helping me that day and he said he could feel the scratches with his fingernail (I forgot to feel). Anyways, not realizing how deep they were, I hit it with the rotary (green Propel) and FPII. Then again. Then again. Then finished with PC with Blackfire's 106FF. But still, some reminants of the swirls remained 
, but we had removed more than enough clear coat.
Also, I found the paint to be VERY soft - the only polish that would not degrade the finish left by the rotary/FPII was the Blackfire SRC (106FF) finish; and, the FPII with the Green Propel II would not finish down via rotary without leaving slight halograms - both indicating the paint is very soft.
, but we had removed more than enough clear coat. Also, I found the paint to be VERY soft - the only polish that would not degrade the finish left by the rotary/FPII was the Blackfire SRC (106FF) finish; and, the FPII with the Green Propel II would not finish down via rotary without leaving slight halograms - both indicating the paint is very soft.
I like your style, and I'm with you - on really soft black paint, I basically perform the same sequence: on moderate/heavy swirls I tackle with PG via rotary, FPII via rotary, and then quick couple passes of 106FF via PC (with any other polish line, it would take 4 steps to remove same level of defects). If it's really hammered, it will take 4 steps (time for wool).
If the paint isn't soft, I leave the PC step out.
If the paint isn't soft, I leave the PC step out.
Picus said:Cool. Normally with black Infiniti paint in moderate-poor shape I can go PG/orange @1500, FPII/white @1200 then either LSP or finish with FPII/white via PC. This is the first one I've had 4 real polishing steps on; the additional one (which was the IP/orange via PC) was because I still had a ton of haze after OHC. I could have gone FPII/white on the rotary but I think I would have ended up doing FPII/white via PC anyway. But ya, I'm always up for recommendations.
Thanks for the tips on exterior dressings. I have a gallon of NL so I am not short on it and have had really good luck with it (which is why I use it). I use it on the interior too of course. I've been meaning to try the TW Platinum and Mothers Reflections so maybe those will be on my next purchase.
imported_Picus
New member
Ya, that's exactly my experience with Infiniti paint; Scott's too I think. The paint is very easily marred and polishes down poorly, so it almost always requires more finesse than harder paints. I'll often do IP/orange x2 rather than PG/yellow x1 and get the same results, but in the end its better because it introduces less micromarring. Obviously that has to do with your second point about how easily most polishes/pads marr the paint. Using PG on any pad leaves you with good results, but SO much micromarring it takes a ton of steps to get it all out. On most paint you can follow with FPII via rotary and go right to LSP (so ya, leave the PC out entirely)... on this paint it you get so much micromarring that you need intermediate steps not only to remove all the hazing, but not to introduce more, so you go IP/rotary, IP/PC, FPII/PC or IP/FPII/106FF... It's infuriating.
Ben Kenobi
I hear the '55s are in
Picus said:Thanks for the tips on exterior dressings. I have a gallon of NL so I am not short on it and have had really good luck with it (which is why I use it). I use it on the interior too of course. I've been meaning to try the TW Platinum and Mothers Reflections so maybe those will be on my next purchase.
If you have a gallon of NL I can see why you would use it. You'll have to order Reflections online as you can't even get it here as it's not imported. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and order the rest of the Reflections products online as I really do want to try them out. Looking at your photos again I can see with the hazing and mirco-marring why you'd have to add in that extra step. Loving the G series styling and technically wise, not a fan of their paint though. I have enough to do without worrying about finicky paint!