It's about time that I earn my title around here....

Technically, I moderate all detailing threads. And yet, I've not once shared my detailing "credentials." Well, I've spent the last four days buffing out the Trac--the first full buff since I got it three years ago. And, damn, it needed it. But, now I am happy I own black again. It looks so good when pristine. (Thus, when it rains on it, I will hate the color once again.) The process is below.

Before:

It's dirty there, but even washed, the swirl marks were horrendous. I have a garage at school, but no time to buff and the apartment lease clearly states "no car washing" in the garage. So, I would take it to a local detailer who did an okay job--except that he used filler, and not true cutting, polishes. Thus, after a few washes, all the swirls came back. When you want something done right, you do it yourself--because I am home for a little while, I broke out the Porter Cable and my cutting polishes. Well, I started on Saturday. I should be finished tomorrow (with the mop-up detailing). Here goes....

The process (I went body panel by body panel, starting with the hood [stupid], roof [should have started here], front fenders, front, driver's side, passenger side, rear.

(a) Wash with Dawn.
(b) Rinse.
(c) Wipe down with denatured alcohol (takes off sap, of which I had a ton).
(d) Wash with Dawn.
(e) Rinse.
(f) Use Dawn soapy water and clay bar body panel.
(g) Wash with Dawn.
(h) Rinse.
(i) Dry with microfibers.
(j) Apply Sonus SFX-2 moderate cutting polish with Porter Cable 7424 and Sonus SFX-2 white pad.
(k) Wipe residue.
(l) Apply Sonus SFX-2 moderate cutting polish again (it was badly swirled and needed two shots).
(m) Wipe residue.
(n) Apply Sonus SFX-3 light [final] polish/glaze with Porter Cable 7424 and Sonus SFX-3 blue pad.
(o) Wipe residue.
(p) Apply Jeff's Werkstatt Acrylic Prime sealant.
(q) Remove residue.
(r) Apply Jeff's Werkstatt Acrylic Jett spray sealant.
(s) Buff out with microfibers.

Thus, it took me four days to do the exterior. But, the proof is in the finish.

After:

Tomorrow I have to get it inspected, the tires rotated and the oil changed. After, I'll clay bar the rims, lightly buff them, and apply both sealants. The tires will have some dressing applied, and any rubber will be treated with 303 Aerospace Protectant.

I likely left out some details. I'll add them if I think of it.

Questions? Ask! That's what I'm here for.

 

[Glen4X4]

The aftermath looks great. I may have to just do that to the explorer, it shines and can see yourself in the paint but it has a distorted look. Awesome job. Going to have to take notes for myself.

 

[cybergasm]

Dawn? I always thought it was a major no no to use dish soap on automotive finishes?? thought it would prematurely f*** up the paint?

 

[Glen4X4]

I did too, my dad had used Joy on his because he wanted something kind of tough but yet something he wouldnt have to worry about hurting the paint on his explorer.

 

[FROADER]

I've always used dish soap for washing vehicles.

That looks amazing and better than new, Adam!! I soooo don't have the patience for that kind of work. Good think I have 2 white vehicles. : Well, one really, I haven't "washed" the explorer since I got it. It's been rinsed, but not washed.

Again, very impressive.

 

[Paraphoe]

Excellent work, Adam. Let me know if you're ever around Nova this year, I'll have you do mine . I'm heading back down tomorrow.

 

[Flounder]

Dawn? I always thought it was a major no no to use dish soap on automotive finishes?? thought it would prematurely f*** up the paint?

It depends. Don't ever, ever, ever use Dawn regularly. It strips wax in a heartbeat. It does not strip sealants as easily, however.

I use Dawn to strip the finish so that all that is left is paint. Even though the clay bar and the buffing will strip the paint, it's old habit (from my days using Zaino). Since I have owned the Trac, I've used Dawn perhaps three times (sadly, that's how often I waxed it myself--I need to get out of the suburbs and into a house sooner than later).

I soooo don't have the patience for that kind of work.

In honesty, neither do I. I cannot wait to be finished. But, it's the nature of the work. It's tedious, repetitive, and the perfectionist in me kills it (i.e., why I had to buff twice with SFX-2). But, the outcome is worth it.

Excellent work, Adam. Let me know if you're ever around Nova this year, I'll have you do mine . I'm heading back down tomorrow.

I actually thought--what if I had an Explorer.... I'd have more roof real estate to do and no easy way to get at it. With the Trac, I moved the front seats up and popped through the moonroof. For the back, I stood in the bed. You normal Explorer folks have it tough, even with a moonroof.

As for Nova, I'll be back sometime next weekend. I spent ten weeks there while working for Duane Morris LLP (two last names--everyone asks). I'm in no hurry to get back to the educational experience.

 

[Glen4X4]

Your right with the explorer lol when I put nu-finish or turtle wax on it, its me havin the doors hangin open standin on the inside there and standing on the rear bumper or back tires trying to do the roof, I'm like around 6ft tall and i still gotta do that just to do my roof on the sport: lol

 

[Paraphoe]

I actually thought--what if I had an Explorer.... I'd have more roof real estate to do and no easy way to get at it. With the Trac, I moved the front seats up and popped through the moonroof. For the back, I stood in the bed. You normal Explorer folks have it tough, even with a moonroof.

As for Nova, I'll be back sometime next weekend. I spent ten weeks there while working for Duane Morris LLP (two last names--everyone asks). I'm in no hurry to get back to the educational experience.

Yea, waxing my roof sucks, I never do a particularly good job up there.

If you're around Nova feel free to shoot me a PM - I'll be there most weekends.

 

[Flounder]

The sun set a bit, so I could not do a full sun-on shot of the finish. But, you can see the clarity above. Here's the final product.

I'm going to rest now (5 days total....).

Oh yeah, those are my 31.5's. Don't laugh, Jason.

 

[Paraphoe]

Wow, looks amazing.

 

[JDraper]

Nice...wanna come do the Mach??:

 

[Flounder]

Nice...wanna come do the Mach??:

An interesting byproduct of polish is polish dust. To remove it, I would have to drive the Mustang at a high rate of speed on 322. So, assuming this is included in the process-sure!

In reality, I can't imagine the Mach needing me. From what I recall, it was in beautiful shape in June!

 

[Perry]

Dawn? I always thought it was a major no no to use dish soap on automotive finishes?? thought it would prematurely f*** up the paint?

If you want to get rid of wax, dirt, grease, etc. using Dawn works great. It gets you down to the base so you can start building your wax again...Before my dad does any bodywork on a vehicle we make sure & wash it with Dawn to get rid of all wax & grease.

A friend of mine used to show his truck & he was always complaining that it didn't shine like everyone else's, yet he waxed it all the time. One day I was at his house & he was out washing his truck & I noticed the Dawn bottle so I asked him if he used that every time & he said; yes he did. I explained what he was doing & after he quit using Dawn & he waxed it a couple times it started to look like he wanted.....

Just thought I would share.

 

[gomach1]

great job, my X might have some hope now....

 

[BWilliams]

Holy crap... that looks better then most new cars on dealer lots around here. Great job!

 

[hardywo]

So if not Dawn (I usually use dollar store dish liquid myself), what do you recommend for regular washing (w/o waxing)? I've tried a few different car washing mixes over the years and nothing seems to soap up as well as dish liquid. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mylomeister]

Wow...looks great!!

 

[SkanlaxJMO]

wow great job

 

[carguy101]

wow that looks amazing and i know what i want to do to mine now