Detailing Guide

[RobAGD]

I have recived a few PM's from users asking me to repost up some stuff I posted from the South East Shindig and a few other post about detail your cars paint using a PC and Meguiars products.

So here is a list of what I would suggest for someone to have handy to do almost a pro detail using the Porter Cable line of Random Orbital Polishers/Sanders.

I made a list of what I think people really should have for doing full on complete paint detailing, defect repair. This is a basic kit I am looking at seeing if one of the online shops will put together for me/us. There are a few small things that are not in this kit, but most of that can be found at just about any Pep Boys, AutoZone, AdvancAutoparts etc, and ill list those items at the end.


Meguiars G-100 ( Comes with W64-DA Backing Plate and 1 8006 Pad )
3 8006 Pads Polishing Pad
2 9006 Pads Finishing Pad
1 7006 Pad Cutting Pad ( THIS NEVER GETS USED ON THE PAINT )
2 X4003 Micro Fiber Bonnets (2 per kit )
1 M8332 #83 Dual Action Polisher Cleaners 32oz
1 M8032 #80 Speed Glaze 32oz
1 M0716 #7 Show car Glaze 16oz
1 G1016 Smooth Surface Clay Kit ( 100g Clay, MF Towel & 16oz Spray Detailer )
1 D15501 Last Touch Spray Detailer 1 gallon
1 D20155 Bottle 32oz ( Last Touch )
1 D110516 Standard Sprayer


Now your choice of one of the following :


M2116 #21 Synthetic Sealant 16oz ( Blend between NXT Wax and #20 Sealant )
G12718 NXT Generation™ Tech Wax 18oz
M2616 #26 Hi Tech Yellow Wax 16oz
G7016 Gold Class Liquid Wax 16oz


Now pricing on this from Meguiars web store was in the $420 range, don't pass out yet because there are a few things to go over and some other options.

The G-100 is the same as the Porter Cable 7336 and 7424 Random Orbital Polisher/Sanders BUT the g-100 carries with it a life time warrante vs the 1 year on the PC units. The G-100 also comes with the W64DA backing plate and 1 8006 pad.

So if you Opt out of the G100 that takes off $225 ( thier price ) and you can find the PC's around around $100 + $20 + 15 for the backing plate and pad so thats saves you ~ $90

This will be enough product to do several cars several times. I am looking to talk to ADS to see if they will offer the package I have put together and see what kind of pricing I can get. They are a tad cheaper across the board then Meguiars web store by about $2 an item, and thier 6 pad pads deal is hard to beat.

Other things that I would say should be in a kit would be tube of ScratchX, NXT Metal Polysh, #17 Plastic Cleaner, #18 Plastic Polish.

Also you can use differnt waxes, I just mentioned 1 as that would be the choice in a kit package.

-Robert

[RobAGD]

OK guys here is some of the info that I was passing along to people at the shindig. Ill also have links to the Store and the MOL ( Meguiars Online Forums )

First off what I was doing :

On my car as I was mostly up on the defects that I can actually fix ( swirls and small scratches ) I just applied a #7 Show Car Glaze for the event using a 8006 pad w/ the Porter Cable 7336 ( there is another version of the same tool call the 7424 I think, and Meguirs sell it as the G-100 )

To use the Meguiars pads you need a #64-DA backing plate, and the pad, you can if you like use the 9006 pad as well for Glazes, it comes down a little to personal preferances.

Apply @ Speed 4 to 5 and work a small 18x18" area untill the product is almost clear but not completely dry. Then wipe of with fresh MF towel.

After that I could have laided down and LSP ( Last Step Product ) Wax, Sealant what ever you like. You can use NXT Wax, #26 Yellow, #21 Synthic Sealant, #20 Sealant, #16 Wax, Garys Paint Sealant. Just about anything, it just depends on what you like.

For the show I left it just the Glaze as it leaves a very rich deep and wet look which is nice for shows. It wont last long but it looks great at a show.

Now for BrilliantBlackHemi's hood there was a lot of scratches as best guess is the dealer monkey used a scrub brush on the paint when they wash it. I would have thought that I could get them all out. I didnt, I got about 90% on the finish just using the PC orbital BUT I did make a VAST improvment in the over all look and finish of the hood. It will need more work with a Rotory tool ( which I have but I am not skilled with yet ) to make it 100%.

I started with a small area for testing to see what I would need to fix the finish. I started with :

PC + 8006 Pad and #83 Dual Action Polish/Cleaner Speed 5 I did about 1x1' area and worked it in with about 10-15lbs of pressure the results were ok but there was still a lot of scratches, so I applied again and again it got a bit better, so on when a 3rd application at that point I was making no more progress. Next step was #80 Speed glaze on a new 8006 pad also at speed 5. After that all the scratches that were left were rather deep, so it was a matter of just making it look as good as I could. Next went on #7 Show Car Glaze which is a Pure Polish, no abrative materials and lots of oils that are good for your paint ( speed 5 on a 8006 or 9006 pad 9006 is prefered).

For the LSP I used some #21 Synth Sealant as I had not used it yet ( just got it actually ) PC set to Speed 3 and a fresh 9006 pad, work it into the paint for a consistant uniform finish, wait for it to dry ( Waxes and Sealants are the only products from Meguiars that HAVE to dry, all the other products you take off while still wet )

I use MF bonnets on a 7006 pad to remove the wax/sealant.

Now, if I was a little more confident in my skills with the Rotory I would have started with the 8006 pad and #83 at about 1500 rpm to work the deeper scatches out follow with PC and 83/8006 and 80/8006 7/9006 and wax.

When you are doing this you are removing very very small amounts of the finish, so you ALWAY want to start with the least abrasive action first. As you get more experance you will be able to get a good feel for what a finish will need, just remember not all paint is created equal.

Now for the links :

Meguiars Online (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/index.php?s=)
General Info on finish work, detailing and care, they also sell via a online store

ShowCarGarage.com (http://www.showcargarage.com/)
Run by 2 car crazy guys, Mike Phillips also run the MOL site, and this is his personal/bussines site - His "How to Use the PC for ShowCar Results" DVD is OUTSTANDING, I highly suggest this for someone that wants to learn to use the PC or G-100 buffers

Auto Detailing Solutions (http://autodetailingsolutions.com/Porter%20Cable%20Specials.htm)
Good place online to get Meguiars products, good priceing and fair shipping

Suggested Viewing

How-To use the PC for Showcar Results (http://www.showcargarage.com/index.php?page=1960Corvette) If you really want to see how to use a PC to do a car right and see technique used live and give you a great idea how things sould LOOK and Arm Speed and all that other fun stuff GET THIS DVD !

Suggested Reading

Using the G-100 / PC 7336 to Remove swirls (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2965)

Testing for presents of wax (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6825)

Removing a Defect by hand w/ ScratchX (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1516)

Product, Pad and Speed settings for the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2524)

I think that covers a lot of it, Ill edit as needed for typos and stuff as I notice them. I hope this helps out with all the questions and stuff people had at the Shindig. If you have more post it here or PM me and I'll try to get to it asap.

-Robert

[RobAGD]

holder

-R

[RTjunkie]

Yeah buddy! You rock Rob, thanks for merging the other stuff and making this post.

I think a Mod should sticky this thread!