How do I polish my car?

[Gillie]

With the wifes Disco 2 coming on the market in the near future I would like to give it a polish and a detail before we put it on the market.
The problem I have is that the car is a deep metallic burgundy which looks sensational when washed but shows every mark.
I remember the first weekend we got it, I took it up the back shooting only to find scratches running the full length of the vehicle when I got back. The marks are from blackberries mainly and are by no means deep but in the right light are dissapointing to look at!
Consequently it rarely goes off road and I have always gone a flat colour for 4WD's where these marks don't normally show and are easily buffed out.

In the past I have tried a fine cutting compound but you can see the marks that this makes and leaves a most unsatisfactory job.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to polish this car and the best way to get these minor marks out?

I polished the white disco 1 we had and the white Defender 130 in the past and have had no problems with a base colour but I am stumped how to polish metallic paint and get rid of marks. HELP :(

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/560.jpg

[ATH]

I've much the same problem as I have a metallic silver plastic Prado which looks terrible when dirty and scratched (OK I know they look terrible to most LR owners anyway) and I feel compelled to clean the damn thing.
That is another reason I'm thinking Defender/Troopy for the near future. Which ever it is will get a good polish to start with then a wash when it rains apart from if we've been on the beach and then it'll get a good clean up.
Apart from spending a lot of dollars on a detailer, what's the best way to get these finishes to look real good for selling?
Just a lot of elbow grease I suspect and good waxing. Damn, I hate hard work.
AlanH.

[p38arover]

I get a professional. He's doing mine tomorrow.

[Gillie]

I get a professional. He's doing mine tomorrow.

the problem with some of these "professionals" is they use a buffer and they then burn the paint through on ridges in the panel work and there come back is the paint was a bit thin there!

hope you get a good one Ron

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Needs to be done with a machine buff. Metallics are clear coated.
I used do detailing for show cars years ago and won a bunch of show n shines with my Fatboy I had a few years back.
Metallics need specific types of pads to stop the swirl marks when using a buff and high quality super fine finishing cut polishes like 3M Finesse.
Don't use silicone polishes and if you have in the past, you need Prepsol or similar silicone remover before cutting as the silicone will clog the buff pad and make it harder to polish.
If you take it to a pro, and I would go to a specialist panelshop or detailer, let them know if you have used silicone on it previously.
With doing it properly, the hardest part is masking everything off so plastic trim and the like doesn't get stained by throw off polish and get permanently marked by buff pad burns.
*****DON'T USE LAMBSWOOL PADS*****
has to be foam finger pads, basically the foam egg crate looking pads and there are different pads for cut, finish cut and polish/waxing.

Throw some of this at the detailer you choose and you'll stand less chance of getting ripped off or a bodgy job done ;)

Cheers

Andrew


Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[p38arover]

the problem with some of these "professionals" is they use a buffer and they then burn the paint through on ridges in the panel work and there come back is the paint was a bit thin there!

hope you get a good one Ron

I hope so, too. He's done my car a couple of times before.

[MEANZ06]

hope you get a good one Ron

i have a good detailer here but i think it might be cost prohibitive to send him your way... :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/558.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/559.jpg

[Narangga]

With the wifes Disco 2 coming on the market in the near future I would like to give it a polish and a detail before we put it on the market.
The problem I have is that the car is a deep metallic burgundy which looks sensational when washed but shows every mark.
I remember the first weekend we got it, I took it up the back shooting only to find scratches running the full length of the vehicle when I got back. The marks are from blackberries mainly and are by no means deep but in the right light are dissapointing to look at!
Consequently it rarely goes off road and I have always gone a flat colour for 4WD's where these marks don't normally show and are easily buffed out.

In the past I have tried a fine cutting compound but you can see the marks that this makes and leaves a most unsatisfactory job.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to polish this car and the best way to get these minor marks out?

I polished the white disco 1 we had and the white Defender 130 in the past and have had no problems with a base colour but I am stumped how to polish metallic paint and get rid of marks. HELP :(

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/560.jpg

If you want it done properly then get it done properly. Check out a repair place locally with a good reputation.




*****DON'T USE LAMBSWOOL PADS*****

Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

For the uninitiated I agree.

[85 county]

i have a good detailer here but i think it might be cost prohibitive to send him your way... :D

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/558.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/559.jpg

WOW

[Gillie]

I get a professional. He's doing mine tomorrow.

What should I expect to spend for somone to come and polish the car?

[Tombie]

What should I expect to spend for somone to come and polish the car?

Last time I had my street ride done it cost $600.00

[B92 8NW]

Oooh, polishing porn, can I play too?:D


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/540.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/541.jpg

[dullbird]

I will get my car polished as soon as the roof is painted.....:)

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Last time I had my street ride done it cost $600.00

That's about on the money for what I used to charge for show work and that was about 10 years ago.
For a sale type detail on a car it's probably now around $300 and I would expect just a bit more for a 4wd. Really comes down to how much work has to go into it. With a bit of bush pinstriping I would say $450ish.




Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[DiscoMick]

What do you experts think about the advice in the article on polishing in the latest 4WD Action mag?

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Havent seen it. Curious tho....

Can you post it up??


Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[tailslide]

... With a bit of bush pinstriping...



Oh dear, there is even a name for it.:o And I thought it was just me.;)

Have been collecting a few of these on my outings, the salt bush at Two Rocks was particularly harsh.

Cheers
Ron

[Gillie]

I was quoted $300 from a place in Wangaratta and $275 from a place in Wodonga. Both wanted the car for two days.

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Oh dear, there is even a name for it.:o And I thought it was just me.;)

Have been collecting a few of these on my outings, the salt bush at Two Rocks was particularly harsh.

Cheers
Ron

From the depths of my thought process that one!! Maybe I've coined a phrase!! Pretty much describes it though.


Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[p38arover]

Mine cost me $200 today but it was looking very, very dull. It needed cutting back as it was very badly oxidised.

[2 rocks]

Oh dear, there is even a name for it.:o And I thought it was just me.;)

Have been collecting a few of these on my outings, the salt bush at Two Rocks was particularly harsh.

Cheers
Ron

Oh yes there is...and oh yes, it is... :p
Cheers
Mike

[RobHay]

I have found 'T-Cut' to be particularly good and I believe that you can now buy it for metallic paints as well.

http://www.carbasics.co.uk/what_is_t-cut.htm

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

I have found 'T-Cut' to be particularly good and I believe that you can now buy it for metallic paints as well.

http://www.carbasics.co.uk/what_is_t-cut.htm

Good for the average short term polish but it contains silicone, doesn't perform well under a buff and still requires an ultrafine final finishing pass before waxing.
Being a mid cut, the silicone will hide any polishing marks left and become quite evident once the silicone wears off much like Meanz' black bonnet pic i.e. the halo rings around the sun.

Cheers

Andrew


Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[HangOver]

$300-$600 :eek::eek:

Wash it with a hose, bucket of water, washing up liquid and a soft sponge
shammy leather dry
t-cut, (less is more)
good wax

< $50 ;)

[Tombie]

Dish washing liquid is a sure way to rust a vehicle.

Wrong sort of detergent!

[Narangga]

That's about on the money for what I used to charge for show work and that was about 10 years ago.
For a sale type detail on a car it's probably now around $300 and I would expect just a bit more for a 4wd. Really comes down to how much work has to go into it. With a bit of bush pinstriping I would say $450ish.




Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.


Oh dear, there is even a name for it.:o And I thought it was just me.;)

Have been collecting a few of these on my outings, the salt bush at Two Rocks was particularly harsh.

Cheers
Ron


From the depths of my thought process that one!! Maybe I've coined a phrase!! Pretty much describes it though.


Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

I thought everyone called it 'bush rash', same as we do up here.

[RobHay]

Good for the average short term polish but it contains silicone, doesn't perform well under a buff and still requires an ultrafine final finishing pass before waxing.
Being a mid cut, the silicone will hide any polishing marks left and become quite evident once the silicone wears off much like Meanz' black bonnet pic i.e. the halo rings around the sun.

Cheers

Andrew


Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

Thought he wanted to mickey it up for sale....time the silicone wears off, he has the dollars in his account.

[FISHGUTS]

I thought everyone called it 'bush rash', same as we do up here.
Stuuu,

Bush Rash is for Defers & Discos and for the oypaloy Rangies its called Bush Pinstriping :D:D:D

Cheers,

Peter.

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Thought he wanted to mickey it up for sale....time the silicone wears off, he has the dollars in his account.

True, but I'm also thinking for those that aren't selling and want to keep and those who are selling and are lacking a good supply of elbow grease ;)



Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[Narangga]

Stuuu,

Bush Rash is for Defers & Discos and for the oypaloy Rangies its called Bush Pinstriping :D:D:D

Cheers,

Peter.

:Rolling: :Rolling: :Rolling:








:wasntme:

[B92 8NW]

What's the issue with silicone anyway? A quick Google reveals arguments either way, with no real definitive answer.

[Tombie]

What's the issue with silicone anyway? A quick Google reveals arguments either way, with no real definitive answer.

Walk into a crash repairer or autorefinisher carrying a can of silicone spray!

Prepare to be set upon!!!! :D

[B92 8NW]

Walk into a crash repairer or autorefinisher carrying a can of silicone spray!

Prepare to be set upon!!!! :D

For the average turkey who has no intentions of having their car refinished in the future, I meant:D.

[Narangga]

For the average turkey who has no intentions of having their car refinished in the future, I meant:D.

You could say its all water of a turkey's back. :angel:

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

For the average turkey who has no intentions of having their car refinished in the future, I meant:D.

Silicone is the equivalent of DDT, AIDS, bird flu and SARS all rolled into one little infection package in a paint shop.

Extensive work required to remove it and even sanding dust with it will contaminate a whole paintshop.



Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.

[RobHay]

True, but I'm also thinking for those that aren't selling and want to keep and those who are selling and are lacking a good supply of elbow grease ;)



Sent from my backyard TeePee using smoke signals.


Whatever happened to the Boy Scouts 'bob-a-job'

[V8Ian]

Walk into a crash repairer or autorefinisher carrying a can of silicone spray!

Prepare to be set upon!!!! :D
Or Armour All your dash next door! :mad:

[dullbird]

Polished today :)..although I think its hard to tell :lol2:...first polish in 3 years of ownership!!!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/01/337.jpg