Latest details v.truly frightening Sonoma and I tried Glare too

S

Scottwax

New member
burlyq sent me some Glare to try. I really didn't know much about it, so I searched their website. I'm not too sure about the virtures of 'glassplexin' and I seriously have my doubts about 5 years durability....but it is easy to use and has a very nice clear shine. I guess the best way to describe the look is the clearcoat looks thicker. Very slick too, right up there with UPP and Zaino. It will leave residue in between body seams so you do have to watch that. It is also pretty expensive, $35 or so for 12oz but I probably got a 2 oz sample and so far, I've done 2 SUVs and a small truck and still have enough left for another average sized vehicle.



2002 GMC Yukon XL. Detailed it last June, then again last Sunday. It was in remarkably good condition considering since I detailed it 9 months ago, it only gets tunnel washes. Paint had been deep polished last time, so this time it just needed Klasse AIO with a Meguiars polishing pad and Glare by hand.



1052002_YukonXL_side1.jpg




1052002_YukonXL_rear.jpg




1052002_YukonXL_hood.jpg




================



2002 Lexus LX470. Regular wash customer. Last detail was early November with #80 and #16. Paint still looked really good. Applied Glare by hand. It did remove a slight amount of paint (black Lexus have single stage paint jobs) but way less than a cleaner/wax or traditional liquid wax would have. It did make the Lexus look a touch darker.



Since I see this vehicle regularly, I can keep track of how Glare holds up.



1052002_LX470_front.jpg




1052002_LX470_rear.jpg




1052002_LX470_side.jpg
 
1996 GMC Sonoma. A regular custumer of mine inherited it from his wife's Grandfather. He warned me in advance, as far as he knew, other than *maybe* being run through a gas station car wash a couple times, it had never been washed or waxed at all. It only had 23,000 miles on it but the paint was just horrible. Scratches, scuffs, bird bomb and sap etchings, etc. Honestly, the hood and roof need to be repainted due to bird and sap damage (it had been sitting under live oaks for the last 2 years) but he just wanted me to polish it out as best I could because he was just going to use it as a 'chore' truck.



The interior wasn't any better. Apparently, the guy was a chain smoker and regularly spilled drinks. Filthy and it reeked. Definitely had my work cut out for me.



Before shots:



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_before1.jpg




1051996_GMC_Sonoma_before2.jpg




I should have used flash on this pic but you can see some of the stains where the sun is shining. For some reason, there was cat food all over the floor. :nixweiss



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_before3.jpg




This is after washing and claying. I used Long-Haul's degreaser on the wheels and fenderwells.



Doesn't look too bad here, eh?



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_after_washclay1.jpg




Look closer. ;)



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_after_washclay2.jpg
 
So you just left all of the scratches in the hood? What would you have used on the hood with the PC if you were to remove those scratches?

How long does a hood like that usually take you to perfect?
 
I started off with Clearkote's Compound and a burgandy Meguiars cutting pad. Not sure if CC is out yet but if not, it will be shortly. The instructions say to use half of what you would normally use and you'd better believe it! Use too much and it leaves a haze of product on the paint. Cut back and it clears out much like #80 does. Spread it out at a moderate pace and a speed of 5, then worked it in very slowly with the speed on 6.



I then used #80 with green (lite cut) Propel Pad, using the same polishing technique as I did with Ckearkote's Compound.



Here you can see the bed is half polished:



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_bed_half_polished.jpg




Then completely polished. Not sure why this shot came out darker.



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_bed_polished.jpg




After interior shots. I used a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on all vinyl and my Woolite/water mix on carpets and seats. I couldn't get every stain completely out and obviously couldn't do anything about the plethora of cigarette burns but it came out better than I expected.



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_after_interior2.jpg




1051996_GMC_Sonoma_after_interior1.jpg
 
mrecktid said:
Did those tires have the white walled lettering? Is that Armor All dressing? seems a bit dull, but other than that, nice restoration.
Click to expand...



Black lettering. Yes it is AA and the tires are on the verge of dry rot. I highly doubt they've ever been dressed. I believe the owner is going to put new wheels and tires on it anyway.
 
oh my.... that truck was HORRID!!



Actually still is horrid with some of the too-deep-to-remove damage, but looks one hell of alot better than it did! :cool:
 
Hey Scott, nice job on the Sonoma. That thing must have been a pain in butt.:D



In this pic, the haze is caused by using too much Compund Moose?



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_bed_half_polished.jpg
 
Awesome transformation on the Sanoma. Even though it can be alot of work I enjoy working on vehicles that need some TLC (every now and again, I'm sure it can get old) just to see how better looking the outcome will be.



I assume you used good ole' Armor All on the tires. They look like they soaked it all up, as they were probably just as thirsty as the paint was.



Nice work as always Scott
 
O4cobra said:
Hey Scott, nice job on the Sonoma. That thing must have been a pain in butt.:D



In this pic, the haze is caused by using too much Compund Moose?



1051996_GMC_Sonoma_bed_half_polished.jpg
Click to expand...



No, the whole truck was hazed like that. The right side of the picture shows the truck as is after washing and claying. The paint almost looked oxidized. The way the light was filtering in through the open warehouse door is why it looks like it does. Some of that side has shade on it which hides the haze.
 
tdekany said:
Excellent work on the Sonoma!!! How long did it take?
Click to expand...



I spent around 5 hours on it, 2 of that just polishing. He told me not to kill myself on it since it is headed for a life of abuse anyway. Otherwise, I probably would have used VM on it too.
 
You do good work Scott. I am glad you gave Glare a shot. I can save you the trouble, it doesn't last 5 years, lol. It can last almost a year, but after a couple months the beads are very large. The recommended application is to cut it in, and then apply second coat by hand, sorry if I didn't pass those instructions on. One coat by hand works too, but maybe have a problem getting the durabilty. Even though the beads get large it seams to take a good long while before sheeting or gathering. There is a website that sells it for 2/$49, but I still think that's too much personally. Rate it from 1 to 10? I would give it a 7, about the same as Tropicare IMO.
 
awesome transformation on the sonoma! weird how after a wash and clay it looked like it was just polished. and nice work on the other two vehicles. :)
 
Scott, the owner of this vehicle doesn't deserve someone with your outstanding talent to have their truck detailed by you. He obviously won't appreciate what you have achieved for him. What a shame.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top