Polished Bliss: Another rock hard swirly one...
 

The second car done last week by Clark...

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Just finished this car this evening and shock it was another swirly one, why is it all the worst ones i do are generally ones with rock hard paint? :Whatever_ :D

Here's the car before i started yesterday morning:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3s.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3k.jpg

As it was pissing down yet again, i never took any wash process pics, but it was the usual steps taken - 2BM, clayed, wheels were cleaned with Menzerna 7.5 Gel, engine cleaned with Megs Super Degreaser etc...So i'll just crack on with the polishing stage :)

Polish:

Once inside and taped up, i took paint readings using the pocket sized gauge for the metal panels:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3d.jpg

And the Posi 200 for the plastics:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3zz.jpg

The car was healthy in most areas, showing an average of around 120 microns however the lower sections were in the 90's. A couple of areas were below 80 so these were taped off as this is pretty close to strike through level on most VAG cars. The bumpers/spoiler were around 100 microns so all in all pretty good :)

The paint was full of swirls and RIDS (which seems to be the norm lately!):

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3vv.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3ww.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3xx.jpg

Again, the pad used to correct the paint was the 3M Compounding Pad:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3t.jpg

This was used with IP 3.02@1800rpm's to good effect.

Test section before::

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3f.jpg

After:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...rk_VTR/Cs3.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3nn.jpg

A few more correction shots, the one below shows the typical RIDS that remained on a couple of panels:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3uu.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3l.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3e.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3a.jpg

The drivers door had a nasty scrape, so i polished this area with Menz Powergloss:

Before:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3m.jpg

After, not completely gone as it was too deep:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3g.jpg

Once all the rotary work was done i PC'd the front and rear lights:

Headlight before:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3h.jpg

After:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3b.jpg

I then machined the whole car again with a blue 3M Finishing Pad & Menz PO85RD@1800rpm's, this really helped bring the flake out in the paint :thumb:

Last job before the application of the wax was to touch in a few stone chips, using an artists paint brush:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3y.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3v.jpg

(sorry bout the blurry pic)

I switched the heater on for 5 mins which helped dry the paint really quickly. :)

Then out with the Vintage:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3o.jpg

This was applied by applicator pad as always and then left to cure.

The car isnt being collected until Saturday so Rich is doing the interior tomorrow, so i did the last few remaining jobs:

The tailpipes were in desperate need of a spruce up!

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3c.jpg

After some BF Compound and Unigrit 2000 they looked alot better:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3yy.jpg

The engine was dressed with 303 Aerospace Protectant:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3p.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3w.jpg

I then jacked up each wheel to get in to the inner rims properly as there were some tar spots i couldnt fully remove during the wash stage, this allowed me to dress the arches at the same time with All Season Dressing too :)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3i.jpg

Wheels were done with PW Wheel Sealant and the tyres were dressed with BF Long Lasting Tyre Gel, i also gave the glass a quick once over with Meguiars Glass Cleaner Concentrate.

A final wipe down with Field glaze was all that was left before i got out the camera for the after pics, i think i did a pretty good job of capturing the wetness the Vintage gives this time :)

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3mm.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3pp.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3z.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3x.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3tt.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3ss.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3rr.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3r.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3qq.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3q.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v..._VTR/Cs3oo.jpg

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...k_VTR/Cs3j.jpg

Thanks for looking as always :) :thumb:

Cracking results :thumb:

All the swirls and the scratches - dirty sponges/rotary brush car washes?

I really need to get my car done.

But alas you guys would be a little far for me to travel since I live in N.Ireland.

Whats with this picture though? the sparkle/fleck if thats the right words.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...k_VTR/Cs3r.jpg

Is that just as a result of your work, or a specific product or both?

Another great detail from PB:thumb:
Do you use the rotary to level the stone chip touch-ups once the paint has dried?

Looks like another excellent job!

outstanding results.

"Once all the rotary work was done i PC'd the front and rear lights"

what products did you use for that .....thanks

Aye, all of the above, plush a yard brush by the look of it! :D

The owner had a flakey clearcoat applied last time the wheels were refurbed, so nothing to do with us (well, apart from the fact that Poorboys Wheel Sealant does make flakes stand out more)! :)

Not usually; the usual process is to touch in, then flat back with wetsanding papers, then polish out the sanding haze with the rotary. However, in some cases (mainly when the chips are tiny) simple touching in without any flatting back is just as good a method; if you get the fill height right the final result looks great. So in summary, depends on the car and the defects present. :)

Light clusters: best to polish them using a dual action machine like a PC or the new Megs DA polishing machine, in order to keep temps down. Lightly swirled units generally respond well to Menzerna 106FA on a polishing pad, but older units as above often need Menzerna RD3.02 on a light cut pad to really restore them well. The technique is the same as for polishing paint. :thumb:

thanks PB makes never would have tryed that with out the nod from a pro..

Top job as usual. :notworthy