hey guys i need serios help. my car is an 09 TC never been wax as far as i know and the previous owner has scratches/swirl marks on the paint. what do i need to do to get it back to new or better. should i use compount then wax, or clay bar compound then wax? i have a turtle 5-6 in buffer? and what ind of pads to use? im really new and dont want to f*** up the paint. thanks everyone.

 

use Meguiars Gold Class Carnuba wax and a hand applicator and see how that works and go from there, if you dont know how to use an orbital buffer you will **** your paint up bad with wicked swirl marks

 

Watch all of this, all the way through and you will learn a **** ton. i spent a long time doing this stuff the wrong way and this guy helped so much. have quesitons after watching? just comment on the vid and he alwys answers

you will realize that its all common sense and not rocket science real quick

washing

polishing (what will remove your scratches and ACTUALLY make it shine)

wax (to protect your shine, not MAKE it shine, like what ppl think it does)

 

Wax really doesn't do anything other than protect your car. Sealant is where your get most of your shine. Get a porter cable buffer to polish to start off. You can not screw anything up at all with one of those. Usually goes claybar- polishing with a hard compound then work up to a medium then soft- sealant - than wax. Adams.com can help ya alot learning


Edit: just saw the post above me.. Follow that . Junkman is one of Adams biggest helpers

 

Glad you could piggy back me man!

yep, it can take a day or so provided how bad your paint is and how far you wanna take it with polishing, but polishing is what will remove your scratches.

two bucket washing prevents ever getting scratches again

claybarring removes oxidation and contaminants on your paint AFTER washing

polish remove scratches and swirls

sealant/wax to protect

 

No problem It's a task to keep your paint looking good lol. I usually have 20hours into correcting my paint every spring.

 

If your paint really needs some restoration, I would highly recommend you take it to a professional and get it restored back to as new as possible. That way you have a fresh slate to start with. Clay baring and buffing can be risky business, especially*if*you've never buffed before.

 

thanks everyone for all the input.
i think you got a point TommyP i really don't wanna F*** it up and for now i will probably spent less just taking it in then buying everything to get me started.

for future reference i will be getting some kind of started kit though so i can learn to do myself.

 

as posted above. seems like everyone else pointed you in the right direction and just take a saturday and TAKE YOUR TIME lol this will be a 8 hour process! specially if your car has not seen much attention

 

My car needed this, and like you I was hesitant on what to do, how to do it, and didnt want to make it worse.
I followed a video from the guy on that racing channel on YouTube, and 11 hours later my car looked better than new.

Just take your time once you decide the steps your going to take.

 

Sub'd so I can find the videos later.

 

Im sorry, i was wrong, I followed these two videos from the smoking tire on youtube. Great results. Very pleased.

 

always good to watch some car cleaning info.
smoking tire had me laughin when he was cleaning out the exhaust tips

 

Subd

 

I bought my car brand new so i kept up with the waxing and never taking it to a car wash. But over the years they fine scratches started to annoy me. I worked at a detail shop but only did interiors. So I asked if they would detail my G5 after i stopped working there. When i went and picked up the car I could not believe how nice it looked. The metallic in the paint you could really see. He told me he used a reg foam pad for the buffing and then orbital to put the wax on. I now bring him the car once to twice a year. I wish i new how to use a buffer i would do it myself.

 

I like a couple people above me use the adams products. I was like you at one point and nervous about correcting my paint with a machine. I didnt wanna make things worse. So i held off and kept doing things by hand. One day just decided to jump into it. Order a complete PC kit from Adams and when I used it for the first time ever (after watching the volume 8 vid) I was blown away how well it came out. It seriously looked like water. I did the trunk lid from start to finish to make sure I could do it. It came out perfect and better than new and it was bad!

Best part about the adams stuff is that the pads and polishes/compounds are color keyed so its impossible to mess up.
Steps I use when I do details
Wheels/tires
Engine
2 bucket wash ( 2 different wash mits)
Sheet rinse
dry with detail spray and drying towel
Clay bar
*depending on how bad paint is* Severe swirl and haze remover with PC
Swirl and haze remover with PC
Fine Machine Polish with PC
Machine Super Sealant with PC
Brillant glaze with PC
*on my personal vehicles* End with Americana Wax by hand
*on "customer" vehicles* End with Buttery Wax by hand (unless they want the Americana that cost more)
Use VRT on all plastics in engine bay, Tires and all rubbers/black plastics on exterior of vehicle
Then use Glass Cleaner to clean all windows
And Last use Glass sealant to end the detail.

Thats how I do it and it works for me. depending on how bad/big the vehicle is, It could take anywhere from 8 to 30hrs to do it right.

Biggest tip i can give you is TAKE YOUR TIME, DO NOT RUSH, when you rush thats when bad things happen.

 

In for future ref.

 

Wash car, dry car, claybar car, use meguires ultimate compound by hand or carefully with a foam pad on your orbital buffer then wipe or buff off with microfiber cloth/pad. Repeat process until all swirl marks are gone then use meguires ultimate polish with a new foam pad or by hand them microfiber cloth/pad to remove it. This will give a deep shine. Then wax the car. I love the Turtle wax ICE paste wax because you can apply it to everything including the black plastic and rubber trim on the car and it will protect it and make it shine. It also lasts for up to 6 months outside in the elements whereas all others I have tired last a few weeks in the weather.