I wanted to take a few minutes and share my experience doing my first paint correction and detailing session on our 03 Mach 1. When I started researching this process, I had basically no knowledge as evidence by my original thread.
http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...-school-me-on-how-to-detail-my-Mach-correctly
Over the last several months, I researched the process and techniques based off of suggestions from SVTP, Mike Phillip’s Autogeek videos, and Junkman2000 videos from youtube. I found these videos to be very helpful for explaining proper technique and what products do what and how to go about correcting the car. I also wanted to thank SVTP member Luke who provided me with a lot of great suggestions and information along the way. Over the past 3 days I spent somewhere between 20-25 hours working on the car.
After researching products and methods based off of suggestions and user reviews, I placed my order on Autogeek for my supplies. Here is what I used:
-Porter Cable 7424 XP
-5” Lake Country Backing Plate
-Meguiars Clay Kit
-Meguiars DA Microfiber Cutting Pads 5”
-Meguiars DA Microfiber Finishing Pads 5”
-Meguiars D300 Correction Compound
-Meguiars D301 Finishing Wax
-Blackfire Wet Diamond
-Assorted Microfiber Towels
-Microfiber Applicator Pad
-Foam Applicator Pad
Here was my Process:
1. - Strip wash on the car. I used regular Dawn for the strip. After drying the car and feeling the paint, I could tell it stripped off all remaining polish wax .
2. - I used the Meguiars Clay kit to clay the entire car minus the spoiler, trim, and flat black stripes. Remaining detail spray was wiped up with a Microfiber following the clay on each section
3. - Final wash with Dawn to clear off anything remaining following clay
4. -I took the DA with the cutting disc and D300 and went around the entire car starting at the roof. After each section, I wiped excess polish away with a MF towel. D300 instructions say to use a speed of 4800 for application. I used a speed setting of 5 on the PC and then did 5-6 section passes in each area. I used a MF hand applicator for areas I could not get the DA at.
5- -Following the D300 I then began to repeat the same process with the finishing disc and D301. For the 301 I used a speed setting of 4 and did 3 or 4 section passes in each area. I used a MF hand applicator for areas I could not get the DA at.
6. - I then reviewed my work and found a handful of areas that I was not satisfied with so I went back with the 300 and worked those areas again, followed by 301 to finish the sections.
7. -Once satisfied with the polishing, I applied the Blackfire Wet Diamond to the entire car less the spoiler, shaker, and flat black stripes. I did this by hand with a foam applicator pad. I let the product dry so it started to haze and then wiped it off with a MF towel.
Impressions of Products:
-Dawn seemed to work well for the initial strip wash
-The clay kit did its job. It was a lot of work but I understand why it has to be done prior to ever taking a polisher to the car
-The PC 7424XP was easy to use for a first time detailing session and seemed to apply everything nicely.
-The 300 correction compound goes on easily and it does not take a lot of product to work a section
-The 301 is even easier to put on than the 301
-The Blackfire went on nicely and a little bit seems to go a long way, especially once the product was worked into the applicator pad.
Overall Project Summary:
I worked in my garage the entire time except the wash. The biggest problem I faced was bad lighting and it probably made the job tougher than it needed to be. During each day I did the polishing it was overcast or raining heavily so I was unable to use sunlight to look for imperfections my lights didn’t pick up. The body lines on the Mach also gave me some trouble for working the polisher across the panels. The hand applicators did not seem to work the 300/301 in as well as the machine did. The weather cooperated yesterday and I got it out of the garage to look over the results. I did find a few areas I did not work all the swirls out but you have to look pretty hard for them. Most were in areas I had used hand applicator pads. The roof and trunk were loaded with swirls and they are all gone now. There were some noticeable scratches on the car that while not totally removed, are taken almost completely out.
For my first time going through the process I am happy with the results. The car is not a show car or trailer queen so I can live with a few imperfections. The paint is as smooth as glass and really pops now like never before. Overall I think it looks really good. Below are some iPhone pics from yesterday when I got it out of the garage to check out the total project. I don’t think the pictures really do it justice but it is better than nothing for now. I welcome any questions or criticisms of my process and am looking forward to gaining experience and working on our other 2 cars (daily drivers) this fall.
Thanks for Reading/Looking!
http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...-school-me-on-how-to-detail-my-Mach-correctly
Over the last several months, I researched the process and techniques based off of suggestions from SVTP, Mike Phillip’s Autogeek videos, and Junkman2000 videos from youtube. I found these videos to be very helpful for explaining proper technique and what products do what and how to go about correcting the car. I also wanted to thank SVTP member Luke who provided me with a lot of great suggestions and information along the way. Over the past 3 days I spent somewhere between 20-25 hours working on the car.
After researching products and methods based off of suggestions and user reviews, I placed my order on Autogeek for my supplies. Here is what I used:
-Porter Cable 7424 XP
-5” Lake Country Backing Plate
-Meguiars Clay Kit
-Meguiars DA Microfiber Cutting Pads 5”
-Meguiars DA Microfiber Finishing Pads 5”
-Meguiars D300 Correction Compound
-Meguiars D301 Finishing Wax
-Blackfire Wet Diamond
-Assorted Microfiber Towels
-Microfiber Applicator Pad
-Foam Applicator Pad
Here was my Process:
1. - Strip wash on the car. I used regular Dawn for the strip. After drying the car and feeling the paint, I could tell it stripped off all remaining polish wax .
2. - I used the Meguiars Clay kit to clay the entire car minus the spoiler, trim, and flat black stripes. Remaining detail spray was wiped up with a Microfiber following the clay on each section
3. - Final wash with Dawn to clear off anything remaining following clay
4. -I took the DA with the cutting disc and D300 and went around the entire car starting at the roof. After each section, I wiped excess polish away with a MF towel. D300 instructions say to use a speed of 4800 for application. I used a speed setting of 5 on the PC and then did 5-6 section passes in each area. I used a MF hand applicator for areas I could not get the DA at.
5- -Following the D300 I then began to repeat the same process with the finishing disc and D301. For the 301 I used a speed setting of 4 and did 3 or 4 section passes in each area. I used a MF hand applicator for areas I could not get the DA at.
6. - I then reviewed my work and found a handful of areas that I was not satisfied with so I went back with the 300 and worked those areas again, followed by 301 to finish the sections.
7. -Once satisfied with the polishing, I applied the Blackfire Wet Diamond to the entire car less the spoiler, shaker, and flat black stripes. I did this by hand with a foam applicator pad. I let the product dry so it started to haze and then wiped it off with a MF towel.
Impressions of Products:
-Dawn seemed to work well for the initial strip wash
-The clay kit did its job. It was a lot of work but I understand why it has to be done prior to ever taking a polisher to the car
-The PC 7424XP was easy to use for a first time detailing session and seemed to apply everything nicely.
-The 300 correction compound goes on easily and it does not take a lot of product to work a section
-The 301 is even easier to put on than the 301
-The Blackfire went on nicely and a little bit seems to go a long way, especially once the product was worked into the applicator pad.
Overall Project Summary:
I worked in my garage the entire time except the wash. The biggest problem I faced was bad lighting and it probably made the job tougher than it needed to be. During each day I did the polishing it was overcast or raining heavily so I was unable to use sunlight to look for imperfections my lights didn’t pick up. The body lines on the Mach also gave me some trouble for working the polisher across the panels. The hand applicators did not seem to work the 300/301 in as well as the machine did. The weather cooperated yesterday and I got it out of the garage to look over the results. I did find a few areas I did not work all the swirls out but you have to look pretty hard for them. Most were in areas I had used hand applicator pads. The roof and trunk were loaded with swirls and they are all gone now. There were some noticeable scratches on the car that while not totally removed, are taken almost completely out.
For my first time going through the process I am happy with the results. The car is not a show car or trailer queen so I can live with a few imperfections. The paint is as smooth as glass and really pops now like never before. Overall I think it looks really good. Below are some iPhone pics from yesterday when I got it out of the garage to check out the total project. I don’t think the pictures really do it justice but it is better than nothing for now. I welcome any questions or criticisms of my process and am looking forward to gaining experience and working on our other 2 cars (daily drivers) this fall.
Thanks for Reading/Looking!
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