*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

you still think the rubbing compound is too abrasive? The cleaner/wax only touches the fine scratches, I have a ton of deeper ones that won't go away with that. I tried a new finish scratch remover last time then the turtle hard shell ontop....still didn't do it.

 

If possible try the rubbing compound in an out of the way space on the truck. Rubbing compound is one step away from a wet sand correction on the clear coat.

Post up a pic of the discolored area on the Tacoma.

You are heading in the right direction when you do not have access to a real buffer.

 

Haven't got to my truck yet, but used the GF's car as ginny pig Her paint was so oxidized She cleaned with soft scrub or sum shit and didn't wax it a long time ago! There was black embedded into the paint, Tried to use just the polish first and made the hood look worse. Jumped right into the Rubbing compound and it was pulling the black right out, then the polish, and finished er off with the hard shell wax Turned out awesome! Shit was work tho, the rubbing and polish compound was a bitch to wipe off, was working hard to get the paint clean. Wax was a breeze...used a cheap votozone 6" buffer to apply, then wiped off by hand...whew.

 

Parked my truck at school and after getting out I noticed the sprinklers turned on and got it wet. It dired up and left deposits. That night tried washing my car and the deposists are kinda still there. Whats the best way to get calcium deposits off my windshield?

 

Hey Guys - need some professional advice.
I am the original owner of a 2008 Rad Red DCLB TRD Sport with 100k+ miles. I have never detailed the vehicle personally or professionaly nor do I have any experience doing so.

I have been hand washing the truck regularly since i bought it (+/- once a week). Except in the winter where i use a no-touch car wash - mainly to keep the salt and dirt off.

See attached pictures. You will notice a couple of things. Some staining below the antenna mount and the front bumper and mirrors are faded.

How do i remove that stain?
How do i "bring" back the color and shine on the bumper and mirrors?

Also, i want to detail the truck myself.

What kits do you recommend?

Thanks in advance,
Ric

 

Do you want to get a machine kit or would you be doing this by hand?

 

I guess it would depend on how much time the machine kit would be saving me and the $$$ of course.

 

Alright TW detailing nuts I gots a problem

I got fed up of my trail stripes and other misc scratches all over it (and actually had a laugh while going over it as many of the scratches have funny stories to go with them) and decided to get rid of all of them I could. So I washed it real good and went to town with some sandpaper I intentionally sanded too far on one spot in the bed so I knew just how far I could push the clear coat. I wet sanded all the scratches with 1000 then 2000 and all looked pretty good. I wasn't having much luck with the rubbing compound at first but switched up my tactic for applying it. I was rubbing it on with a rag and then using my random orbital buffer with a wool bonnet to buff it off. I then started actually applying it with the buffer and working it in real well with it then wiping it off by hand. It looks like I expected it to at this point... Most of the scratches are gone now and most of my truck has a dull (but smooth) looking finish to it. I started in on the polishing compound tonight and kinda hit a road block. It's just not shining back up. I am still using the same buffing method and am assuming it's either how I'm applying to polish (random orbital buffer with a wool bonnet, hand wiping it off) or the actual type of polish I'm using (turtle wax polishing compound). What should I try now? I just want her to shine again so I can wax it and never touch my baby with sandpaper again haha.

 

Just saw this post haha... I searched the thread first before posting like a good boy but didn't see this. I'd wait if I were you... I already inadvertently became your guinea pig. I am even using the exact same products (except I got the paste versions rather than the liquids). Read the post above for the full story.

 

I have an interior scratch on the driver side door panel. It's not extremely noticeable, but I know it's there. Any suggestions?

 

The machine kit will save you a lot of time versus hand polishing. It will also be much easier on the body as polishing by hand is tough. Look into one of the porter cable

$139 7424xp PORTER-CABLE Car Polisher and Buffer, 6", Orbital, Variable Speed (7424XP)

7424xp polishing kits at some of the online detailing stores such as autogeek, detailedimage.com, or detailesdomain.com and find a kit that fits your budget. The meguiars microfiber polishing kit along with a pc7424xp will polish your truck plus many other vehicles before you run out.

 

Thanks Josh!

 

So after claying my car I found I had almost no Maguies Color-x left. Trips to 5 stores later and I couldnt find it anymore.

I am pretty confused regarding compounds, polishes, ect...and just go by this threads reccomended products.

Is there a commonly found alternative I can use?

My paint is in good shape and some of the compunds and polishes looked oretty agerrsive to my paint.

 

I used clay bar, Meguiar's Ultimate Compound, then Meguiar's NXT 2.0 Sealant and my truck looked great. I have a superwhite though. Meguiar's products can be found at Autozone.

 

No color-x anymore at the local autozone, maybe its been discontinued.

I just ended up using the clay bar and then waxing it with the Maguires #26. The Ultimate compound seemed to be for really trashed paint jobs and I was scared to try it. They also had some ultimate one for a deep gloss finish, that didn't seem like it would be good for a Desert Sand color. But I have know idea what the color-x stuff did or what it was ie...compound, polish, etc....

 

Just bought my '02 Radiant Red in January and got a color matched Leer topper in March. The topper is now beyond the 90 days recommended for the paint to completely dry and I feel the need to clean/polish/wax the whole thing. The previous owner kept it garaged and the paint is in very good condition and I want to keep it that way.

My plan is to clay bar the entire truck and I'm wondering if I should go ahead and do the topper at the same time? Also the PO had a factory PlastiBra installed. Do I just polish/wax it like the rest of the paint? Also what is good for polishing the chrome on the grill surround and bumpers?

 

Its not going to hurt to clay bar the whole truck and topper. The topper should not have many contaminants being as it is so new.
You can polish the clear bra just like the rest of the truck, just do not use an aggressive polish. Same goes for the chrome on the grille and bumper.

 

The truck and topper has been outside in some pretty dirty places since I've had it and the topper has never had a thorough cleaning while the paint was "drying". That's why I figure I need to do the whole thing.

As for the polish, as you can see my paint is in very good condition. I just want to remove any surface scrapes (limbs, dog claws, nothing deep) and make it shine. Any suggestions on what polish to use?

 

Are you going to be using a machine or doing all of this by hand? And do you want to order online or buy over the counter products?