*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Just picked up a sport hood. The paint is in overall good condition but in certain spots, you can tell the clear coat has seen better days. How can I restore this, or can I? There seems to be a build up of a tree sap-like substance in a few places as well. Scrape it? Try and clay bar it?

 

Line-X it!

 

Did you Line-x yours?

 

Unlike

 

I will after someone puts the 1st scratch on my truck. Going to Line-X the exterior with Line-X Body Armour. And throw all my wax away!

 

Are you serious about this, because I'm really considering it if my paint ever starts looking shitty. I was going to spend $1500-$2000 on some ceramic pro, but I'm starting to think of just saving that for getting Line-X in a few years. I wonder how that would affect the resale though, probably wouldn't help at all lol.

 

Yeah I'm going too. Think it will be cheaper than trading for a new one in a different color. It won't help the resale value for sure but if I Line-X it I'll keep it till I die or win the lottery and then I'll give it to someone that needs a dependable vehicle.

Got a quote to get my hood and cab roof done for between $550.00 to $675.00. Thought about getting those done 1st but I may just wait.

 

There's several places up around St. Louis that do Line-X, but I don't know for sure if they do the body armor. I know there's one in Columbia Missouri that does it for sure. Doesn't it only take a day or two to do the entire exterior?

I'm loving my Black truck, I just have to wash it once a week to keep it looking nice lol. Plus I work at a dusty ass cement plant, it gets covered in dust. I've been looking at good local detailing shops, for when it's really cold out and Crappy.

 

Yeah. The Ultra takes a little longer. Below is the letter from a shop over at east St. Louis. (Belleville,IL.)


Everett,
The Ultra coating is our new, thin film, protective coating. We typically spray our Line-X Platinum coating on exteriors because it is less expensive and quicker. Applying a Platinum coating to the hood and roof of your Tacoma would range in price from $550 to $675 and would take about 3-4 hours to complete. The same application in Ultra would take 2 days (due to the use of a primer) and would cost an additional $150 to $200. The Ultra has a satin like finish and the Platinum has a gloss finish. We don't have a true matte finish. Please call at your earliest convenience to discuss the application.

Thank You
Randy Blecha
Line-X of Southwest Illinois
618-222-1800
Providing Solutions for All Your Protective Coating Needs.

 

The "Ultra" is short for "Ultra Body Armour." They do it also.

 

Oh ok. So any place that has the ultra, they will do the body armor.

 

Yeah. But you can call or stop in and talk with them. If I get mine done I'm getting the "Ultra" I'll just get a rental car and leave it with them for a couple days.

 

I think it looks really good, from the pictures I've seen. I would like to see some examples up close and in person though, and I would want to know how it holds up after several years, fading etc.

 

http://linexoc.com/n-10724-line-x-exterior-spraying-myths-and-answers.html

It is not suppose to. Scroll down on that link and read the myth's.

 

I would expect it to eventually fade. Have yet to see anything that doesn't fade with time. May be several years before it happens.

 

water spots on glass and mirrors driving me crazy. what do yall do about that?

 

Distilled white vinegar. . It works on paint too, but on paint start with 3-1 or 2-1 water-vinegar and work your way up all the way to straight distilled vinegar if needed. You'll have to apply wax again if used on paint, it will remove the wax.

 

Thankfully I haven't polished or waxed yet. ;D

 

Make sure you rinse it off good after using the Vinegar, that's kind of obvious but just letting you know. It won't hurt paint or clear coat as long as you rinse it off with water. but you wouldn't want to let it sit on it for hours and dry.

 

Wouldn't that basically un-do what I just did though? Do I need to rinse glass?