Detailing the Cobalt...
#1
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Detailing the Cobalt...
Hey guys figured I would make a thread to kill some time. For about the last week I have been cleaning and detailing the **** out of my car. I had a TON of very small scratches all over the car from the previous owner. After reading and reading I found a method that I think has worked for me.
1) Started off with the two-bucket wash method. Found this method useful by watching the Junkman200 video. I used some Meguires car wash solution..
2) Next I decided that the car could use it so I clay-barred the car
3) Decided to get a Porter Cable 7424XP. When reading and watching videos about how to get out the scratches the census was too do a full cut/polish. I picked up the Meguires Pro Line M105 and 205. Here are a couple of pictures to show the before and after..
Before...
After...
As you can see this method of applying the M105, removing, then applying the M205 worked very well!
4) I applied wax to the entire car.
Just wondering some of the methods other use? Any tips or tricks or products that you have used that have worked well for you...
I found that the M105 is VERY dusty, kind of a PITA...and then the M205 is oily. The 205 doesn't bother me cuz I think they do it to sort of make it a filler so no biggie...
1) Started off with the two-bucket wash method. Found this method useful by watching the Junkman200 video. I used some Meguires car wash solution..
2) Next I decided that the car could use it so I clay-barred the car
3) Decided to get a Porter Cable 7424XP. When reading and watching videos about how to get out the scratches the census was too do a full cut/polish. I picked up the Meguires Pro Line M105 and 205. Here are a couple of pictures to show the before and after..
Before...
After...
As you can see this method of applying the M105, removing, then applying the M205 worked very well!
4) I applied wax to the entire car.
Just wondering some of the methods other use? Any tips or tricks or products that you have used that have worked well for you...
I found that the M105 is VERY dusty, kind of a PITA...and then the M205 is oily. The 205 doesn't bother me cuz I think they do it to sort of make it a filler so no biggie...
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Haha you have no idea how annoying all those swirl marks were getting. They have been there since I got the car last summer I was just way too lazy to **** with it. Black looks sooooo good when it's clean tho, keeps me coming back for more!
#6
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when clean,black looks very good.
usually when i detail the paint on my car,which usually is about 3-4 times a year. i usually use dawn dish soap,it gets all the **** off your car thats been building up. then i clay bar and go from there.
my friend is a auto body guy and before i stored my balt,we clay'd,waxed and compounded it. he pulls out this water bottle with this yellow lookin **** in it and he said its some new stuff a guy from his work mixed together and has been using it on customer cars at his work. well,we tried it out on my car and im not kidding you,ive never felt a car so smooth and i detailed cars for 5 years lol it made me kinda iffy at first but my car turned out perfect when we were done.
usually when i detail the paint on my car,which usually is about 3-4 times a year. i usually use dawn dish soap,it gets all the **** off your car thats been building up. then i clay bar and go from there.
my friend is a auto body guy and before i stored my balt,we clay'd,waxed and compounded it. he pulls out this water bottle with this yellow lookin **** in it and he said its some new stuff a guy from his work mixed together and has been using it on customer cars at his work. well,we tried it out on my car and im not kidding you,ive never felt a car so smooth and i detailed cars for 5 years lol it made me kinda iffy at first but my car turned out perfect when we were done.
#7
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the film your seeing with 205 is a good thing.
a lot of companies have products that will leave the film. main reason is when theres a transparent film it means the product has broken down. also it makes life easy wiping it off and not putting any marks back into the paint.
any cutting compound will normally dust up. its the nature of the beast and anyone that uses a rotary polisher knows how bad it cant really get. thats why i wash my car between setups and air dry it with compressed air(i have a 3 stage dryer system on the air line so no need to worry about compressor water or oil)
a lot of companies have products that will leave the film. main reason is when theres a transparent film it means the product has broken down. also it makes life easy wiping it off and not putting any marks back into the paint.
any cutting compound will normally dust up. its the nature of the beast and anyone that uses a rotary polisher knows how bad it cant really get. thats why i wash my car between setups and air dry it with compressed air(i have a 3 stage dryer system on the air line so no need to worry about compressor water or oil)
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I use a Dewalt DW-P849X with a wool pad and a foam pad. Normally use 3m compound and polish or Ill use wizards products. Either way it will get rid of paint imperfections. I must say if you have no experience with a buffer I wouldnt attempt it. OEM clear coat is very thin.
#9
I used the Meguires yellow clay bar wet it with the Meguires gold instant detailer, then wax it with Meguires Next Gen teck 2 synthetic wax. looks and feels smooth as hell.
#10
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I use the portercable on mine also. Correct the paint once in the spring and usually late summer. I always foam my car to try and cut down and having to touch it to wash it.
All Adams Polishes here
All Adams Polishes here
#12
Glad you checked out the junkman videos dude. Your paint definately looks better now. Probably putting a paint sealnt over your freshly.polished paint would be best and then wax.
Either way... Cant wait to get me a 7424xp. My cars always had a million little haze marks and has never been polished. Once its polished ill know for sure that none of those marks are coming from me.
Either way... Cant wait to get me a 7424xp. My cars always had a million little haze marks and has never been polished. Once its polished ill know for sure that none of those marks are coming from me.
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Oh I also picked up that Garry Deans Infinite use Boost Juice as a quick detail spray. Stuff is great, and its nice that it's a concentrate so I don't have to keep buying it!
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It was pretty straight forward. Adam I wouldn't mind planning a day where you came down and I could show you a few tricks and tips. My paint is MUCH smoother and it's nice cuz it's not dull. Paint pops out at you now
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Haha yea. I still have my buddies so I am gonna do a paint corrector on it. Then put down a final really nice wax. Should be good all summer and winter. Then turn around and do the same thing next spring lol
#23
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If it's oily (it's full of silicones and petroleums) then it's really only covering swirls and not correcting them. How do you like the porter cable?
What color pads are you using? wool? Foam?
What color pads are you using? wool? Foam?