Finally got the micro-scratches out of my baby! Read my story.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, CA
Congrats! She looks better than new. There's nothing more satisfying than detailing a car especially when you know you've done an outstanding job. I noticed you used all meg pads. Did you feel that using a harsher abrasive like maybe 3m compound to at least cut the process down at least one run w/ the PC? I can't wait till i get my PC 7424 im gonna just polish random cars in the neighborhood.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, CA
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 287
Likes: 2
From: GA
Driver
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Well as you read at first I tried 80 and that was not nearly abrasive enough, so thats when I when on to the 83. Had I started with the 83 yea I would have saved a lot of time, and for the next black car I know what already, but I wanted to be extra careful with my car. I was paranoid, what can I say?
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Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
From: Texas
My wife decided to take out a support pillar in a garage last year. How in the world it did not dent the fender, I'll never know, but never-the-less, it went to bare metal!
I don't think the black Obsidian has a clear coat on it. I could see no evidence of separate layers.
I took an airbrush and repaired it myself with some paint the dealer gave to me.
Came out very good.
Ben, you did an impressive job with that paint to say the least!
I have found that "SpeedShine by Griotsgarage.com is some of the best stuff for inbetween washes. His other car care stuff works really well also. I'm still partial to the Zymol wax that you have to store in the icebox though.
Cheers,
Old Oiler
I don't think the black Obsidian has a clear coat on it. I could see no evidence of separate layers.
I took an airbrush and repaired it myself with some paint the dealer gave to me.
Came out very good.
Ben, you did an impressive job with that paint to say the least!
I have found that "SpeedShine by Griotsgarage.com is some of the best stuff for inbetween washes. His other car care stuff works really well also. I'm still partial to the Zymol wax that you have to store in the icebox though.
Cheers,
Old Oiler
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 7
From: FL
Great improvement, but I think you should consider finishing with a finer cutting polish before waxing/sealing the next time. Your "afters" seem to show some marring/hazing in the paint which would be completely removed after a couple of passes with a less aggressive polish. A less aggressive pad can do the trick as well.
I'm a car care nut as well. I use Zaino products currently, but if you really want to see depth on black paint, try Pinnacle's Souveran wax...it doesn't last more than 3-4 weeks (pretty much the same as NXT, in my experience), but it looks amazing. When I used Sourveran, I used it as a topper on Klasse AIO - looked great, and AIO lasts nearly as long as Zaino.
I'm a car care nut as well. I use Zaino products currently, but if you really want to see depth on black paint, try Pinnacle's Souveran wax...it doesn't last more than 3-4 weeks (pretty much the same as NXT, in my experience), but it looks amazing. When I used Sourveran, I used it as a topper on Klasse AIO - looked great, and AIO lasts nearly as long as Zaino.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, CA
Yeah im gonna have to order 83 i don't have that in my arsenal. After i get my PC im going to do the clay polish, PC w/ 83 then AIO Zaino followed by NXT for LSP all applied by the PC. I have a huge amount of respect for you since you've basically went from no detailing experience to a guru in a few months. I've known about autopia and the PC for almost 7 years since my first car, but i've never manned up the courage to make the purchase for the 7424. I already have all of the consumer based Meg products and Most of the 1st and 2nd gen Zaino products and have allot of experience by hand. Your Post inspired me to finally get going and detail the "REAL" way. Thanks!
My wife decided to take out a support pillar in a garage last year. How in the world it did not dent the fender, I'll never know, but never-the-less, it went to bare metal!
I don't think the black Obsidian has a clear coat on it. I could see no evidence of separate layers.
I took an airbrush and repaired it myself with some paint the dealer gave to me.
Came out very good.
Ben, you did an impressive job with that paint to say the least!
I have found that "SpeedShine by Griotsgarage.com is some of the best stuff for inbetween washes. His other car care stuff works really well also. I'm still partial to the Zymol wax that you have to store in the icebox though.
Cheers,
Old Oiler
I don't think the black Obsidian has a clear coat on it. I could see no evidence of separate layers.
I took an airbrush and repaired it myself with some paint the dealer gave to me.
Came out very good.
Ben, you did an impressive job with that paint to say the least!
I have found that "SpeedShine by Griotsgarage.com is some of the best stuff for inbetween washes. His other car care stuff works really well also. I'm still partial to the Zymol wax that you have to store in the icebox though.
Cheers,
Old Oiler
Great improvement, but I think you should consider finishing with a finer cutting polish before waxing/sealing the next time. Your "afters" seem to show some marring/hazing in the paint which would be completely removed after a couple of passes with a less aggressive polish. A less aggressive pad can do the trick as well.
I'm a car care nut as well. I use Zaino products currently, but if you really want to see depth on black paint, try Pinnacle's Souveran wax...it doesn't last more than 3-4 weeks (pretty much the same as NXT, in my experience), but it looks amazing. When I used Sourveran, I used it as a topper on Klasse AIO - looked great, and AIO lasts nearly as long as Zaino.
I'm a car care nut as well. I use Zaino products currently, but if you really want to see depth on black paint, try Pinnacle's Souveran wax...it doesn't last more than 3-4 weeks (pretty much the same as NXT, in my experience), but it looks amazing. When I used Sourveran, I used it as a topper on Klasse AIO - looked great, and AIO lasts nearly as long as Zaino.
Thread Starter
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento, CA
