|
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
08-29-2011, 12:52 PM | #1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 133023
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit
Vehicle:2005 WRX STi Silver |
Getting Deep Shine Back
I need some help getting the deep shine back on my Silver STi. I'm talking about the shine where you can see yourself in the car from 10 feet away as it seems like every picture of a detailed car on this forum you can do. I can clean the car all I want and it looks good close up, but when I walk about 10-20 feet away the paint almost looks dull. Any ideas on this? The last time I waxed the car these are the steps that I took:
1. Iron X 2. Wash 3. Clay bar using detailer spray 4. Hand wax using Mothers Cleaner Wax. I did not wash between clay bar and wax. I don't have a machine polisher/orbital so everything I can do has to be by hand. What can I do and use to get that deep shine back to the finish and do it all by hand? I have done a lot of searching but everything seems to talk about using a machine to wax. Thanks. |
08-29-2011, 01:29 PM | #2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 83167
Join Date: Mar 2005
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: Columbia, SC
Vehicle:2002 Wrx MBP |
I used meguires scratch-x followedby nxt. It did pretty goos- took a while to wax the car twice by hand though
|
08-29-2011, 02:00 PM | #3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 15934
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Yorkville, IL
Vehicle:2021 GTI Cornflower Blue |
I'll be up in Detroit in Late Sep/Oct to do some detailing. If you'd like, I can let you know when I finalize the plans. Do you know mykrrrr? I'll be crashing at his place while I'm up there.
|
08-31-2011, 04:35 AM | #4 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 175840
Join Date: Mar 2008
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Madison, WI
Vehicle:2005 LGT Wagon 1999 Sentra SE-L |
A picture is always appreciated.
You're fighting an uphill battle. Light colors are conducive to looking shiny and clean, unfortunately not so much for producing excellent reflections. There are basically three things that would be preventing good reflections, 1) Clusters of super-fine scratches (AKA swirl marks or spider webbing) that are breaking up and refracting the light as it bounces off your paint. 2) Oxidation of the clear coat that would create a dull hazy appearance. Now, this is not a common occurance on modern clear coats, especially one from 2005. But it is certainly not unheard of, and is a definite possibility. 3) An unevenness in the texture of the paint. This is a by-product of modern OEM paint finishing methods, and the lack thereof. Most cars come delivered with what I consider to be less than acceptable levels of orange peel, and unfortunately factory paint is too thin to allow much to be done about it. Since you will be working by hand your results will be fairly limited, but I'm sure significant improvements can be made! Problems #1 and #2 can most likely be fixed by compounding and polishing the paint. Meguiars Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish (the successor to Scratch-X) are a very popular option for those who work by hand. Just wash the car as you normally would, skip the Iron X and claybar (no need to do that again so soon), and begin to rub the paint down using Ultimate Compound followed by Ultimate Polish. Once done it is a good idea to wash the car again to clean off any residual polishing oils before waxing, this will leave you with a truer finish and a longer lasting wax. |
09-07-2011, 12:36 PM | #5 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 133023
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit
Vehicle:2005 WRX STi Silver |
Quote:
|
|
08-31-2011, 11:10 AM | #6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 151683
Join Date: Jun 2007
Chapter/Region:
MAIC
|
^^ very well said.
Hand polishing just can't compete with a machine, but M105 does pretty well by hand, followed by a nice polish and sealant. I really like Meguiars #21 synthetic sealant to finish up. |
09-07-2011, 12:39 PM | #7 | |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 133023
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Detroit
Vehicle:2005 WRX STi Silver |
Quote:
Just so I understand clearly, you would recommend using the M105, then a polish, and then the Meguiras #21 to seal everything up? What polish do you recommend? |
|
09-07-2011, 03:54 PM | #8 | |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 25187
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: So. CA
Vehicle:2020 Forester 2010 Challenger R/T |
Quote:
On another note, UP is not actually a successor to Scratch-X 2.0. If anything, it has more in common with Swirl-X but all three are stand-alone products (UP was apparently brought in to better fill the role of a follow up polish for UC). ….a lot has to do with marketing as well as the formulations. What all of these products do have in common though is that they are part of the Meguiars consumer line and therefore formulated to be more “bubba-proof” for the average Joe (to work well by hand or DA). ….they are also derived from the same SMAT technology as there professional polishes (i.e. M105 and M205). Fyi.... Just be aware that UP is apparently laden with polishing oils (much more so than Swirl-X). These can have the tendency to hide some minor imperfections. This could either be a good or a bad thing depending on your goals. However, if you’re trying to correct blemishes and want to make sure the level of success you are having with this product, you will need to either wash the panel you are testing with a strong soap solution (as mentioned) or use a paint-safe solvent/solution to wipe it down after polishing. ….odorless mineral spirits or a 10% IPA solution (i.e. IPA mixed with distilled water) should do the trick. |
|
09-07-2011, 12:42 PM | #9 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 15934
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region:
MWSOC
Location: Yorkville, IL
Vehicle:2021 GTI Cornflower Blue |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
where to get deep scratches fixed | 2.5 Blue Roo | Mid Atlantic Impreza Club -- MAIC | 16 | 07-14-2006 10:02 AM |
I get my car back...I get my car back! | mexicanpizza | Bay Area Impreza Club Forum -- BAIC | 13 | 10-10-2002 01:23 AM |
Is it possible to get DEEP into the 12's for less than $4k? | mark5211 | Proven Power Bragging | 8 | 07-15-2002 07:00 PM |
Wes...get you deposit back & get this | FreeBMW | Mid West Subaru Owners Club Forum -- MWSOC | 3 | 05-12-2002 02:49 AM |
I'm gonna get my car back...I'm gonna get my car back... | MPREZYA | Southern California Impreza Club Forum -- SCIC | 17 | 03-23-2001 10:40 AM |