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Help Requested Detailing Black Truck

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by TheNatural, Oct 25, 2016.

  1. Oct 25, 2016 at 2:00 PM
    #1
    TheNatural

    TheNatural [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Fort Nelson, BC
    Vehicle:
    '12 DCLB
    Lots of bolt on chrome stuff
    My Black 2012 paint has seem some better days. I was hoping you experts could help me restore it. I have been waxing it twice a year since I bought it and it comes out nice where it is in good condition, but it has a lot of blemishes from offroading and carelessness that I'd like to fix. I've listed specific problems below; please chime in if you have a solution for 1 or more. I'm planning on getting a 6" DA polisher after reading this section a bit, so if you have any recommendations on one of those I'd appreciate that too.

    1. The truck is covered in light scratches in the clear coat from tree branches (aka pinstripes). I've tried meguiars scratch x 2.0 on the pinstripes, between my regular polish and waxing steps, which has improved them but not really gotten rid of them.

    2. One fender has some overspray grey primer from when I painted the sliders. I tried a clay bar but wasn't able to get it off with that.

    3. Another issue i have often (although not right now) is sap falling on my truck. I'm not sure how to properly clean it without damaging the paint.

    4. lots of rock chips. I picked up a paint pen from Toyota to fill them in, but is there anything else I can do to make it blend in better?

    5. i have a couple small-ish dents in my tailgate I'd like to pop out. Is tapping them from behind with a rubber mallet a good idea?

    Currently my routine is:
    -try to keep it clean
    -sometimes before the step below I use a clay bar, but not all the time
    -twice a year I apply mothers california gold pure polish, followed by pure brazilian carnauba wax. i do it by hand (don't own a polisher).

    How do I make it better?
     
  2. Oct 25, 2016 at 5:20 PM
    #2
    ace96

    ace96 Well-Known Member

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    Western KY
    Vehicle:
    '11 SWB DC TRD SPORT
    AVS bug deflector, Weathertech digital fit floor mats, TRD skid plate w/ Sockmonkey decal, SOS Cocept sliders w/ Line-x, Pioneer 3500, Hybrid Audio Technology Mirus 6X9s & 6.5s, back up cam mod, Wet Okoles-front & rear, TRD exhaust, 17X9 XD Spy w/ Falken Wildpeaks, Avid light bar
    Start researching pads and polishes. I would recommend Shine Supply Classic Cut. It can be used as a one step process for correcting and finishing.

    After correcting lay down a good sealant or coating. Waxing twice a year with Carnuba is not nearly enough. Most waxes should be monthly. Where as a sealant is 6 months or more.

    Clay bar should remove overspray. What bar where you using? If it's big box then you need a more aggressive/better clay.

    Check out some videos from Larry at Ammo. He has a great video for fixing paint chips.

    To make better. Start with strip wash, clay bar, paint correction with machine. Then find a quality sealant or coating if you prefer.
     
  3. Oct 25, 2016 at 5:40 PM
    #3
    TheNatural

    TheNatural [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lots of bolt on chrome stuff
    Thanks for the info. I'll look into the shine supply you mentioned.

    When you said a good sealant or coating.. is the wax I have been using okay or do you recommend something better/different?

    I have been using a mother's clay bar. Having not ever learned anything about detailing, the mothers products seemed good to me. Do you have a recommendation for a more aggressive product, or somewhere I could find more info on them?

    I'll give "Larry at Ammo" a Google too.
     
  4. Oct 25, 2016 at 6:01 PM
    #4
    TheNatural

    TheNatural [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That larry has some good videos! I found one where he "compounded" an older pickup with scratches that looked like mine. Came out amazing.

    Not particularly impressed with his paint chip video. That's basically what I've been doing, but I was hoping for a technique that would leave a smoother surface rather than my obvious looking touch ups. I guess if I fill the paint chips before applying the compound I will smooth it out?
     
  5. Oct 25, 2016 at 6:33 PM
    #5
    ace96

    ace96 Well-Known Member

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    '11 SWB DC TRD SPORT
    AVS bug deflector, Weathertech digital fit floor mats, TRD skid plate w/ Sockmonkey decal, SOS Cocept sliders w/ Line-x, Pioneer 3500, Hybrid Audio Technology Mirus 6X9s & 6.5s, back up cam mod, Wet Okoles-front & rear, TRD exhaust, 17X9 XD Spy w/ Falken Wildpeaks, Avid light bar
    Wax is okay for a garage queen or a show car. I would recommend Adam's Paint Sealant or Chemical Guys Jetseal. Check out Adams Polishes, Shine Supply, and Autogeek.
     
  6. Oct 25, 2016 at 7:06 PM
    #6
    TheNatural

    TheNatural [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lots of bolt on chrome stuff
    Thanks. I'll order up some of the Adam's Paint Sealant. I put some in my Amazon cart and it's a little more pricey than I'm used to, but if it lasts 6 months instead of 1 I'll be way ahead. Plus.. I hear new paint jobs aren't cheap either.

    For a DA polisher, what do you think of this Presa one? It has good reviews on Amazon, but is only 600W while some of the more expensive ones seem to be around the 900W mark.
     
  7. Oct 26, 2016 at 5:46 AM
    #7
    ace96

    ace96 Well-Known Member

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    Western KY
    Vehicle:
    '11 SWB DC TRD SPORT
    AVS bug deflector, Weathertech digital fit floor mats, TRD skid plate w/ Sockmonkey decal, SOS Cocept sliders w/ Line-x, Pioneer 3500, Hybrid Audio Technology Mirus 6X9s & 6.5s, back up cam mod, Wet Okoles-front & rear, TRD exhaust, 17X9 XD Spy w/ Falken Wildpeaks, Avid light bar
    I have never seen that DA. I would recommend either a porter cable 9424 or Harbor Freight carries a nice entry level.
     
  8. Oct 26, 2016 at 8:29 AM
    #8
    TheNatural

    TheNatural [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Lots of bolt on chrome stuff
  9. Oct 26, 2016 at 8:43 AM
    #9
    ace96

    ace96 Well-Known Member

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    Vehicle:
    '11 SWB DC TRD SPORT
    AVS bug deflector, Weathertech digital fit floor mats, TRD skid plate w/ Sockmonkey decal, SOS Cocept sliders w/ Line-x, Pioneer 3500, Hybrid Audio Technology Mirus 6X9s & 6.5s, back up cam mod, Wet Okoles-front & rear, TRD exhaust, 17X9 XD Spy w/ Falken Wildpeaks, Avid light bar
    Whoops my fat fingers got the best of me. Yes, 7424xp. I actually started with this version. Vibrates like a SOB but gets the job done. Will take some getting accustomed too. I have since upgraded to a Flex 3401.
     
  10. Nov 3, 2016 at 7:34 AM
    #10
    sy272004

    sy272004 Well-Known Member

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    3" lift. 33" tires. Headlight Retro, intake, exhaust
    If you want cheap good sealant then go with collonite 845, lasts about a year, can put couple coats on and it will work great and easy to apply.
    Harbor freight has it too,
    They also have meguairs m205 and m105, this is great combo for compoubd and polish, m105 is my go to compound.

    Pads i would get 4" pads and backing plate, they easier to work with and better correction, less product wasted
     
  11. Nov 3, 2016 at 7:39 AM
    #11
    spiralout462

    spiralout462 Well-Known Member

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    Head to autogeek.com the forum members are super helpful and intelligent. it is a very active community! I too have a 2012 black tacoma. single stage 202.
     
  12. Nov 3, 2016 at 7:40 AM
    #12
    sy272004

    sy272004 Well-Known Member

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    Yours is single stage paint?
     
  13. Nov 3, 2016 at 7:47 AM
    #13
    2004TacomaNavy

    2004TacomaNavy Well-Known Member

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    All Pro rock sliders, U-Bolt flip kit, Shock mount relocation tabs, All Pro Billy 3" lift front and back, 2014 Tundra Bed Rail tie down system, Fuel 17X8.5 Wheels on 32's, LED front light bar, Raptor style grill W/lights, Tinted Headlights w/LEDs, ARB Dual Air Compressor W/ 2 Gal. Tank, Smoked Tail Lights, Double Din Sat radio w/ back-up camera, Redline Hood Struts, ARB Dual air compressor W/ 20 Gal. air tank, Sig P320C Security System!
    Go to this web site below:
    https://www.ammonyc.com/

    When you get to the home page, click on the VIDEOS tab. He is a pro and provides great videos on everything you are wanting to do and do it the correct way.
    They are easy to understand and follow and he gives great recommendations on equipment and types of products.

    If you are going to wet sand your clear coat (and you will have to, to get rid of some of the defects) it's a good idea to get a hood or fender from a junk yard to practice on. This will give you the chance to get used to it and familiar with the process before doing yours and worrying about making a fatal mistake.

    Brian
     
  14. Nov 3, 2016 at 7:48 AM
    #14
    outlawtacoma

    outlawtacoma Well-Known Member

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    I just detailed mine up last week ago and I will say that it looks better than new.
    Here is what I did.
    1) Wash with Meguirs Gold wash and a chenille wash mitt.
    2) Dry with Microfiber drying towel.
    3) Mothers claybar to remove contaminants in paint.
    4) Polish with Meguirs ultimate polish.
    5) Spray with Mothers Spray Detailer (California Gold - comes with Claybar kit).
    6) Waxed with Meguirs Black Wax.
    7) Spray with Mothers Spray Detailer again. (Note: I used more than one bottle total).
    - Use only microfiber cloths to remove polish, wax and spray detailer.
    The shine was amazing!
     
  15. Nov 3, 2016 at 7:49 AM
    #15
    2004TacomaNavy

    2004TacomaNavy Well-Known Member

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    Trucks and cars have not used single stage paint for a long time. All cars and trucks are base coat/clear coat, two stage paint system. You might be able to order a truck with single stage paint if it's a fleet truck.
     
    FFBlack likes this.
  16. Nov 3, 2016 at 9:10 AM
    #16
    sy272004

    sy272004 Well-Known Member

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    Some base model hondas came with white single stage paint, sometimes they miced clear into base coat i think
     
  17. Nov 3, 2016 at 12:52 PM
    #17
    TheNatural

    TheNatural [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Wow this thread is getting lots of replies today. Thanks guys. I'll check out the products you've recommended above when I get home tonight. I'm not that concerned about saving a buck to go with "cheap" products, but I definitely don't want to spend a fortune on luxury stuff either.

    One question I have is: how many times can I do a paint correction with a polisher and compound before I run out of paint? I'm planning on continuing to use the truck in a way that generates a lot of pinstripe scratches and I don't want to overdo my maintenance to the point of damaging the truck.

    I've been pretty busy and haven't ordered stuff quite yet. I've gotten a few suggestions and I'm working through them to try and get as much from 1 place as I can to cut shipping down. Being in a remote town and in Canada makes shipping costs a pretty big factor when I buy little stuff like bottles of compound.

    So far my shopping list is:
    -7424XP DA polisher (available on Amazon or at Canadian Tire for just over 200 CAD, which is ~150 USD)
    -High quality microfiber towels to replace my bargain bin jumbo bag
    -Pads for the polisher. This is where I haven't made any real progress yet, but I think you've given me the resources to figure it out.
    -A better aggressive clay bar. Chemical Bros seems to have some in varying levels of agressiveness but I haven't settled on them yet.
    -A good compound (haven't settled on one yet, maybe 2 if I go with a 2 step correction process?)
    -Adams Paint Sealant (available on amazon)

    anything I'm missing? I already have a good car wash mitt and soap.
     
  18. Nov 3, 2016 at 1:04 PM
    #18
    sy272004

    sy272004 Well-Known Member

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    How many times u can polish depends how agressive compound is and pad you using, usualy compounding removes 1-2 microns of clear. Have to check thickness of paint if i dont forget. Usualy cars have 100-130 microns of coating on panels, about half is clear coat but, the uv agens are usualy at top of clear coat from what i heard, at top 12microns of clear coat. If u gona do just polishing u can do it plenty of times, u can use paint glaze between polishes to fill in scratches so u dont have to polish or compound and remove clear coat. Usualy polish one a year after winter and salt season

    U cant go wrong with meguairs m105 and m205 combo, those are usualy avaliable at autoparts stores
     
  19. Nov 3, 2016 at 3:50 PM
    #19
    2004TacomaNavy

    2004TacomaNavy Well-Known Member

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    I should have been more specific. Yes the 2012 Tacoma is a base coat/clear coat paint system.
     
  20. Nov 3, 2016 at 5:30 PM
    #20
    ace96

    ace96 Well-Known Member

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    Go with bigger pads than 4 inch. You will be forever trying to correct with 4 inch pads. Megs makes good stuff but there are other compounds/polishes out there that are easier to work with and just as effective.
     

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