Guru ADVICE wanted

[Joe K -- 01 Green]

I've been on this site for a while--I think it's terrific and extremely helpful, though there are a few over the top, but hey it's clean fun.

1-I have a 98 Explorer Black that has always disappointed me re: the condition of the hood--short of a repaint, I'd like to see if I can "work" this thing back to some acceptable state. Between general oxidation, birds, and trees it's a lot rougher than the rest of the vehicle. I recently did my first clay job, on this car, great technology but you could see in the hood, it just wasn't enuf.

2-Since my HS days when I saw a friend of mine take "rubbing compound" to a nearly new 62 Chevy I have avoided the heavy duty side of detailing, sticking with AIOs, etc.

Recently, by virtue of info here--clayed my Miata and did Zymol; case closed will do Zaino this fall. But again, the hood on this car could have used a little more, some sap residue and a stain.

3-Just acquired my m-in-laws 93 Galant, sort of a medium metallic blue; aside from the dents and some deep scratches, 98% of the paint is in good condition. Let's call this my "practice vehicle"



There actually is a point to this....How can I learn about heavier cleaning approaches on the Galant, that I can apply to the Explorer and maybe the Miata.

a-should these approaches be machine oriented?

b-I don't have a PC; got a Waxmaster from Menard's(it's OK, you can laff) maybe a good excuse to get a PC?

c-what flavors and compounds do you guys recommend?

d-should it be a "family" of products--like only Meguiars, for example



Your advice and guidance is much appreciated.

 

[shaf]

Hello Joe, as per the usual routine for questions like this, I will suggest the Autopia eBook (new one in the making) as well as the articles in the Learn! link above and in the Hall of Fame.



Let me take a stab at this though:

a) Machine application isn't always necessary, but it really helps. I don't know the exact conditions of these cars, but I imagine they could use some swirl removal if you've never polished some of them before. This is especially true for older cars owned by others like the 93 Galant. It's usually educational to at least attempt hand polishing though, just to get a feel for things (that's just my opinion though).



b) If you can afford a PC, get it. It is easy to use and safe, but capable, and makes a great long-term investment.



c) What polishes and/or compounds you'll need will depend on how much damage you need to fix - they're strictly "use as needed" products. I recall that Brad B. has a lineup of only 3 products of different strength and he says this takes care of almost everything for him. This is a good approach and easier on the pocketbook too.



d) Don't worry about brands or "families" or "systems" too much. You just have to be (mainly) aware of 1) How strong a product is 2) What it contains (fillers, wax, etc) and 3) Is its usage suitable for you? This will require some research and reading, but basically you just decide how strong you need something to do a job, then pick a product that sounds right for you.



HTH, good luck!